KubuntuMaverickFasterLogin
Launchpad Entry: kubuntu-maverick-faster-login
Created: 2010-05-16
Contributors: RomanShtylman
Packages affected:
Summary
Logging into a kde session takes a long time. From the point the user hits the enter key on the login screen, to when they can use their desktop varies in length (due to how and when services are started).
Release Note
This section should include a paragraph describing the end-user impact of this change. It is meant to be included in the release notes of the first release in which it is implemented. (Not all of these will actually be included in the release notes, at the release manager's discretion; but writing them is a useful exercise.)
It is mandatory.
The end user impact would be a faster login experience. From when the user hits the power on key to when they can use their desktop will be faster.
Rationale
The goal of a user powering on their computer or logging in is to USE their computer. Every second they are not doing that is the computer doing something they don't want.
User stories
Tom boots his computer and is presented with the login screen. He enters his credentials and hits the enter key to login. Instead of being presented with his desktop, he is looking at random icons fading in (sometimes glitchy) in an attempt to notify him that his desktop is loading.
Assumptions
Minor tweaks will be enough to get some user visible speed improvements. I.E. major infrastructure does not have to be changed, that is outside the scope of this spec.
Implementation
The first part will examine the possibility of getting rid of ksplash entirely and extending kdm greet to show a simple spinner while the main desktop is loading. The second part will look at the various services that are started to make sure they are not taking too much time in their synchronous construction but instead deferring work asynchronous to desktop startup. The final part will be to create a bootchart of the loading and work with upstream to examine any pressure points.
UI Changes
No more ksplash No more login and logout sound.
- - Logout sound is a blocker for logout and is not needed to notify the user of their action. - Login sound will not be needed as we hope to have the desktop loaded quickly and read to use. The login sound does not always play on time and thus ruins the login experience.
Code Changes
/usr/bin/startkde will be modified to not launch ksplash kdm_greet will be modified to not disappear until the desktop is loaded.
Migration
User workflow impact is meant to be minimal and hopefully the login experience will be improved.
Test/Demo Plan
Make sure that removing ksplash does not prevent some needed system components from running.
Unresolved issues
BoF agenda and discussion
Logout: drop logout sound Login: faster without ksplash? faster with ksplash simple? gets blocked even after ksplash disappears until the sound is called New ksplash theme: - Start out with simple splash code - Give it the pretty Plymouth theme background - Pretty up the progress bar a bit investigate kdmgreet. idea: keep kdmgreet showing until plasma is ready, no need for separate splash network manager kded module adds a lot to the delay on roman's machine, should be fixed if we're changing to NM plasmoid