Thank you, Ubuntu Tweak will continue

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First, I would like to thank you all, who left your message here, who forked Ubuntu Tweak at Github. I was really moved!

You made me know that Ubuntu Tweak is still valuable, and as the first software project I made 5 years ago, it is just like my baby, I don’t really want to give up the development.

I will explain something in this post, hope this time everything is clear.

You’re wondering that what the “free” meaning in “If making free software is not free any more”. I’m sorry for this, because English is not my native language, I should give enough information about “free”. Here I mean “freedom”, just like I wrote in my Chinese blog.

Why I don’t feel freedom? These days, I spent a lot of time on this project, I was always thinking about the motivation. Back to 5 years ago, I developed it just because of my practice on Linux programming, I felt freedom when I make things on Linux (Although I didn’t have developing experience on Windows and Mac then). But now I don’t feel any freedom about developing this software any more. The initial motivation is changed, and I’m still looking for new motivation.

This is because the new release of Ubuntu Tweak 0.8.0 makes me feel a lot of pressure, the high network traffic made the server almost out of bandwidth. This project gives me more pressure than happiness, I found there is a lot of work to do:

  • Optimize the server side
  • Optimize the client side
  • Add support and do more tests on Ubuntu 12.10
  • More work that I wrote in 0.8.0 release
  • …

I never felt that I have so many work to do, even more than my daily work. As Ubuntu Tweak 0.8 comes, it is not a simple desktop application, it has became a C/S application. In the past, I can release a new version, then take a break for days, and start developing new feature again. But now, when I release a new version, I have to monitor and maintain the server, I’m the only one to do all the work from developing and maintaining the server side to the client side.

I never felt such pressure from development a free software, especially when you have so many users. It’s hard to find a way to balance my current work, my personal project and my life, find which is more important. I don’t really want to have “two jobs”, it’s hard to balance.

With all of this, especially the increasing work from Ubuntu Tweak, I felt the things just became out of control. So I decided to stop and take a break.

I got no pressure from any other ones, I just made this decision by myself. There’s no relation to Ubuntu/Canonical. I do have some thoughts on the amazon search result, but as you see, you can turn it off now. About the donation before downloading Ubuntu, it’s OK, I think I can also try such way to receive donation for Ubuntu Tweak.

I hope you understand what I’m writing, I have a little confused for myself. I do like developing Ubuntu Tweak and receiving the likes from you. I just don’t like the current status that I have spent so much time on it.

Thanks all of you, with your words and support, I have changed my mind, the development of Ubuntu Tweak is not going to stop, although the development will slow down, the “Apps” will come back until I solved the network traffic/bandwidth issue. I will finally find out which is more important to me, and then make some changes, maybe try to make Ubuntu Tweak a donation/paid project so that I have chance to work full time on it. At least, I will never kill Ubuntu Tweak, my first software project, and also the longest project I’ve been working on, Ubuntu Tweak is my baby. It’s clear.

And…Here’s Ubuntu Tweak 0.8.1, actually I have done it before my last announcement.

It just fixed some bugs and works better on Ubuntu 12.10:

First, add the lost of “Apps” shortcuts, although the “Apps” is not working now.

The QuickLists Editor is working under Ubuntu 12.10 now, with the support for ordering Unity specific items.

And one more thing: Love Wallpaper HD, this is made by Kevin and me and added by accident. I plan to add this feature in the future. But when packing for 0.8.1 I forgot to disable it. Anyway it still works, and you can choose the wallpaper you want by double clicking on it.

Download Ubuntu Tweak 0.8.1

Here’s deb link (PPA is ready), and the release notes.

I think everything will go well.

405 thoughts on “Thank you, Ubuntu Tweak will continue”

    • 謝謝：您願意為ubuntu tweak繼續努力。因為有Ubuntu Tweak
      讓我得以有繼續使用Ubuntu 的動力。沒有了Ubuntu Tweak
      會讓Ubuntu 變得難用。謝謝您很多，加油。

      Reply ↓

  2. Pingback: Ubuntu Tweak 在宣布停止维护之后又宣布继续开发维护 | 三人行

  4. A real heartfelt experience Mr Tualatrix Chou!!And being the end user,all that I can say is that I would like you to take your time and continue the development of this amazing software which is the strongest reason why noobies like me make the shift to Ubuntu,making it the most wonderful linux flavour that it is!!!Wishing you all success and joys ahead…

    Reply ↓

  9. buddy, you did an excellent job, and those who can’t afford paying 89€ for windows (like me), know very well about the importance of your work.

    Reply ↓

  12. Meu amigo, é pessoas como você que me inspiram em ajudar as pessoas com um proposito de poder ser útil e não somente visando o lucro a qualquer custo!
    Concordo com sua posição sobre as doações para dar continuidade ao projeto e deixo aqui minha sugestão de fazer como o wikipedia, fazer uma campanha anual para arrecadar fundos para o projeto, e é claro deixar a opção para doações por livre espontaneamente vontade.
    Estou muito feliz por seu retorno, sempre que instalo o Ubuntu para meus alunos seus software é o primeiro que indico! Espero que a Canonical contrate seus serviços e que você ganhe fazendo o que mais gosta “Cuidando de seu bêbe”

    Um viva ao Linux e aos seus desenvolvedores!

    Reply ↓

    • Firstly I think you must be appriciated for the Mr chou’s excellent work —-ubuntu-tweak,though I could’t understand what you said .where do you come from ? what is the language above? I really can’t got what you said .Hope you can write in English or Chinese . thanks for your great supports , on be half of Mr Chou ,who comes from the same country as me.

      Reply ↓

      • It’s portuguese, follows translation:

        My friend, people like you inspiring me to help other persons by not looking only at the price tag!

        I agree with your suggestions about the tips to help you continue with the development and I’d add that you could run anual campeings to obtain fund, such as wikipedia.

        I’m very happy that you get back, after installing Ubuntu to my students the first thing I suggest is to get your software!, I hope that Canonical get you a job so you can earn money and keep taking care of ‘your baby’

        Cheers for Linux and its developers

        Reply ↓

  15. Why you just not move site to github pages as a `static site` (either made by hand or with a generator like dockpad, jekyll, hyde)? No more hosting and server monitoring problems, no more extra costs (all money will be put to development process since project is open-source, so github will host it free of charge), comments (if needed) might be handled through external service like Disqus, etc.

    Currently, all downloads are made available through Launchpad, domain might be rebinded to Github Pages so this part also is not in a conflict with this idea..

    Reply ↓

  19. I understand where you are coming from, with the confusion of things and being overwhelmed. In addition, if you make Ubuntu Tweak a donation/pay project I will personally will support the idea. I love UT and appreciate the hard work.

    Reply ↓

  25. 我是一名大学生，同时是ubuntu的爱好者。看到ubuntu tweak停止开发的消息（http://imtx.me/archives/1764.html）的时候，那是一种多么沮丧的情绪。
    看到您的这篇博文，由衷的感到开心。作为ubuntu的新手，真的很谢谢您所做的工作。

    Reply ↓

  27. Wow i just got the news you decided to keep on developing!
    THANK YOU very much for everything, it is much appreciated! Much love from exactly the other side of the globe!

    Reply ↓

  28. English (and its variants) has absorbed much from other languages, and is indeed messy.
    To improve clarity, I recommend “freed” for describing free-as-in-freedom, and “free” only for free-as-in-no-charge. Best regards.

    Reply ↓

  31. Pingback: Instalando a ferramenta ubuntu-tweak no seu ubuntu 12.04 ou 12.10 | Blog Amilton Cavalcante

  32. No words can express my feelings after reading this post, though it may be a little late. Now , i am a Chinese student in university ,thank you for your decision to continue your ”baby”. Thank you …no Ubuntu-tweak ,no ubuntu ,I think.

    Reply ↓

  33. Oh ,my god . i have forgot one important thing. good luck for the approaching Beijing Marathon competition. ha ,ha ,you are the best .I think you can do it .Come on !

    Reply ↓

  34. Great job!

    It’s a shame Canonical still hasn’t recognized how important your work is and offered support (not to mention including Ubuntu Tweak, which a must-have).

    Reply ↓

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  37. From a long-time Linux and Ubuntu user who tried this great little app today for the first time: this one should be in the default install :) . Keep up the great work, and thanks again.

    Reply ↓

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  44. Thanks. I love your work. When the notice came that you will stop the project i was worried, but now i understand how you fell about it.
    That’s a great program.

    Reply ↓

  46. Oh wow, this is excellent news!

    Ubuntu Tweak was one of the first apps I picked up when I switched to Ubuntu a number of years ago. I’m currently on the Mint subdistro, but it was such an indispensable tool, and I was sad when things paused with Unity and Gnome 3.

    I started looking for alternatives just a few days ago and today I see things are back on track. Bravo, sir, bravo! This makes my life so much easier (especially as I had to replace my system recently).

    Reply ↓

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