##(see the SpecSpec for an explanation) * '''Launchpad entry''': UbuntuSpec:unity8-legacy-app-support * '''Created''': 21-Oct-2014 * '''Contributors''': Stephen M. Webb * '''Packages affected''': <> == Rationale == A large pool of existing applications built on Ubuntu and X11 exists and is unlikely to move at a reasonable rate to newer Ubuntu technologies (Unity 8 and Mir). To retain the value proposition of Ubuntu running Unity 8, it is necessary to provide a mechanism to minimally support the existing legacy applications without modification. This specification outlies the requirements and proposed solutions for providing this mechanism. == User stories == * a bespoke application used in an educational institution for student-teacher communication * commercial (closed source) software * applications packaged for other Linux distros ir Ubuntu flavours == Requirements == 1. install unmodified DEB packages into a system-image/click-based environment 1. run legacy applications in a contained/isolated environment 1. provide an X11 service for the legacy application, running on a Mir surface 1. provide a minimum required session environment for the applications (eg. gsettings, environment variables) 1. provide startup handshaking for the X server (server/window manager/renderer) and app startup 1. provide a helper application to launch and monitor the application (tears down the runtime on application shutdown) == Specification Details == * have updated x.org+XMir packages available in a PPA * push Xmir back end upstream to x.org * modify DEB installation to use bindmount area and extract .desktop file * changes for (SIGSTOP) startup sequencing (X11-WM-Renderer) * create LXC stuff for bindmounting local dirs * write helper app for launching/monitoring containner ---- CategorySpec