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NOTE: This page is part of the Ubuntu Specification process. Please check the status and details in Launchpad before editing. If the spec is Approved then you should contact the Assignee, or another knowledgeable person, before making changes.

• Launchpad entry: https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/consistent-login-screen

• Packages affected: gdm, fast-user-switch-applet

See also:

• ConsistentLoginScreen - old sprawling version of this spec

• FaceBrowserLogin - proposal to change the login screen look-and-feel

Summary

Currently, "fast user switching" and logging in and out can generate very confusing results: black screens, needing to type passwords more than once, accidentally logging in twice as the same user (which breaks Gnome, etc).

Also, currently Ubuntu has three different login screens for (1) first user login, (2) unlocking the screensaver and (3) login as a new user when another user's screen lock is active. This is inconsistent and confusing.

User Interface

• There will be a single screen used for logging in, user switching, and screen unlocking.
• The automatic screensaver will switch to that screen. "Switch users" will also switch to that screen.
• Logging in will automatically switch back to (and unlock) an existing session if there is one, or start a new one if not.
• You will never be offered a new session when you already have one unless you manually switch VCs.

Design

The login screen will be detached from the user's session and run in a different dedicated X server on a dedicated VC; arrangements will be made to automatically switch back and forth between VCs as appropriate. Logging in will switch to an existing session and unlock it.

This will need changes to gdm and fast-user-switch-applet and quite probably the screen locker too.

Related bugs

The user confusion caused by (and bugs triggered by) the current situation can be seen here: https://launchpad.net/bugs/45254 https://launchpad.net/bugs/51580 https://launchpad.net/bugs/40011 https://launchpad.net/bugs/39936 (and dupes) https://launchpad.net/bugs/67628 https://launchpad.net/bugs/64023 https://launchpad.net/bugs/65975 https://launchpad.net/bugs/67730 https://launchpad.net/bugs/68361

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