Currently in the Natty Blueprints there is a blueprint to drop GDM (Gnome Display Manager) for LightDM a new multi-platform Display Manager.
The advantages of using LightDM instead GDM are according to launchpad blueprint:
– Faster – the greeter doesn’t require an entire GNOME session to run
– More flexible – multiple greeters are supported through a well defined interface. This allows Ubuntu derivatives to use the same display manager (e.g. Kubuntu, Lubuntu etc).
– Simpler codebase – similar feature set in ~5,000 lines of code compared to 50,000 in GDM
– Supports more usecases – first class support for XDMCP and multihead.
Note: this blueprint is marked with a “low priority” tag on launchpad so it may not end up landing in 11.04.
In related news a new default user avatar has landed in Natty.
LightDM Homepage: http://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/LightDM
Ubuntu Forecast 
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Well, thats EXACTLY what Ubuntu needs, especially when it is still impossible to install debs to your local user account and whilst some basic tasks on Ubuntu are still impossible.
Rather than cooperate with the community, apparently, Linux needs yet another duplicate application, to spread resources further. It’s almost as though Ubuntu are intentionally trying to spread resources extremely thin and sabotage Linux. They don’t seem to play nice with others.
“Well, thats EXACTLY what Ubuntu needs, especially when it is still impossible to install debs to your local user account and whilst some basic tasks on Ubuntu are still impossible”
Since when is this necessary? If it is your machine, then you have access to the administrative account, so use it. If it is not your machine then you shouldn’t be installing crap on it.
“Rather than cooperate with the community, apparently, Linux needs yet another duplicate application, to spread resources further.”
This proves just how little you understand about Linux and FOSS.
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As a programmer; I see Ubuntu is taking huge efforts to ensure what it brings is the best for the average consumer. Meaning it’s employing the “Process, Security, Robustness, Office/Development/Home/Pleasure OS” of a heavyweight Linux distribution yet still requiring the user simplicity for the office environment. This is essential if Ubuntu will one-day become the mainstream OS of choice. And I agree that as it is still missing some basic function like user application installs and other key fetues that are holding it back it’s making the right decision in not jumping on the bandwagon just to get to somewhere it should not be taken.
It’s actually a good thing. GDM/KDM both kinda suck AND each require their own environment to run. Others miss features.
We just need a simple DM that supports XDMCP and other such features, and is themable and depends on as little as possible.
Additionally it should probably support AIGLX.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this became the default for KDE.
Then again, KDE are planning to re-write KDM for Plasma, which could potentially provide stuff like battery status/volume control independent of log-ins and better integration with PAM.
Interesting things going on in one of the most boring pieces of software on the computer…
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