Features/Empathy

= Empathy =

Summary
Set Empathy as the default IM client

Owner

 * Desktop SIG
 * Email: fedora-desktop-list@redhat.com

Current status

 * Targeted release:  Fedora 12
 * Last updated: 2009-09-02
 * Percentage of completion: 100%

Empathy 2.27.3 has replaced Pidgin as the default IM client in rawhide.

The current release in rawhide is 2.27.91.

The geolocation feature has been enabled. Note: GTalk's server does not support geolocation publishing.

Detailed Description
Ubuntu is also looking at switching to Empathy in their next release, see https://blueprints.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+spec/desktop-karmic-messaging-and-communication-selection.

In the F10 cycle, GNOME added Empathy. During discussion this Ubuntu evaluation was cited. General consensus was that we would like to revisit Empathy for next Fedora cycles, keeping track of which issues have been fixed in the Ubuntu evaluation, as well as any we want to add.

Benefit to Fedora
Stay in sync with upstream. Get an IM client that is closely integrated with the rest of the desktop.

Scope
Outstanding issues:


 * Track bugs to be fixed upstream
 * #548717 Collapsing "Advanced" section doesn't return Accounts window to original size
 * #548716 First text field when adding account (e.g. "Login ID") isn't focused by default
 * #548707 "New Account" title and "I already have an account" checkbox are contradictory
 * #548704 "Add" button requires further action but lacks an ellipsis
 * #548712 "Create" button in Accounts window doesn't create an account
 * #535042 All IRC chats are titled "Conversation" instead of with channel name
 * Fedora issues are tracked in the Empathy Default IM client tracker bug


 * Reevaluate Empathy around alpha time

Test Plan
For Empathy:


 * Try various protocols: XMPP, MSN, etc.
 * Try using Fedora Talk.
 * Try Google Talk/XMPP.
 * Look at the things that were called out in the Ubuntu review. Have they improved ?

User Experience
For upgrades, Pidgin will remain the default. For new installations, we'll use Empathy.

Dependencies
The geolocation feature depends on a newer libchamplain. libchamplain has not been ported to the clutter 1.0 api yet. Upstream plans to sort this all out in time for Gnome 2.28.

Contingency Plan

 * Stay with Pidgin as the default IM client.

Documentation

 * See the Gnome 2.24 release notes
 * Also see the Empathy wiki

Release Notes
Fedora 11 includes the latest version of the Gnome desktop. Gnome 2.24 included a new instant messaging application, Empathy, that replaces Pidgin as the default instant messenger in Fedora.

For more information about what is new in Gnome, see the Gnome 2.24 release notes.

Comments and Discussion

 * See Talk:Features/Empathy