| Automatix development comes to an end |
Mar. 28, 2008
 Love it or hate it, anyone who runs Ubuntu has at least heard of Automatix. This program made it possible for any Ubuntu user to easily add a host of new programs and media codices to a desktop. Now, however, Automatix's developers are being pulled away to other projects, so they have announced that they will no longer be working on their popular software installation program.
In a note on the Automatix Web page, the project's lead developer, jtbl, wrote, "Well the day has finally come, development of Automatix has been discontinued. We are doing this, NOT because we think Automatix is no longer necessary on Ubuntu and Debian, but because all of the Automatix developers have become wrapped up in more pressing commitments."
This, however, doesn't mean that the Automatix service is disappearing. In an addition to his original note, jtbl continued, "The site will stay up for a few more months, and as long as it's up Automatix will still run."
Automatix, a graphical, user-friendly interface for adding popular programs to Debian-based distributions, has long been mired in controversy. Its fans like it because it makes it easier to add many desirable programs, such as the w32dvdcodecs codices for Windows media, Java and Google Picasa.
Its critics dislike that it makes it so easy to obtain proprietary, and possibly illegal, programs like the aforementioned w32dvdcodecs. There have also been persistent rumors that Automatix isn't safe, or that it removes some Ubuntu/Debian source repositories or makes it impossible to update Ubuntu/Debian after it's been installed. Automatix has always denied these claims.
In my own experience, with Ubuntu, Debian and MEPIS distributions, I have never seen any sign of such problems. In fact, I recommend the use of Automatix.
Another possible reason, although not mentioned in the announcement, for Automatix's development coming to a close for now is that other Debian/Ubuntu-based distributions, such as Freespire/Linspire with CNR and Mint, either include their own tools to make downloading popular proprietary programs mindlessly simple or, as in Mint's case, already include them. In short, there's less of a need now for a specialized application installation program such as Automatix.
-- Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
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