This suggestion must be reworked. Maybe it will be completely rewritten.
We must reduce the number of apps that come with the base distribution. Look at Linux: most distributions are packed full of software (and many games) and I still can't get the most basic work done.
Put the function first and then a list of apps that solve the task in an acceptable way (Haiku should replace each with one simple app per function). Only mention good apps in the example list! Please don't add Unix geek stuff like console apps. Depending on the number of applications we could consider releasing two editions. Everything in Base Distribution is automatically installed.
Please put apps that are available for BeOS at the bottom, so we can find the more important tasks first.
Base Distribution
Needed in daily use:
Default Install
- native media player (native widgets (MediaPlayer)) with playlist, encoder/ripper (same function), CD/DVD/Blu-Ray-support, mass tagger, http-stream-client (Video: BeOS:Video Lan, but simpler, Audio: Win:WinAmp)
- simple CD/DVD burning app with UDF and full multisession support (Win:Nero Express)
- simple imaging app (extend ShowImage to scale, cut, and convert images and have minimal set of filters)
- scanner interface
- easy to use, binary package manager
- Java
- synchronization app for folders, mobile, PDA (Java:DirectorySynchronize, Win:FMA, maybe OpenSync-based?)
- TV app (simpler than BeOS' one, more auto-detection)
- PDF/PS/DVI reader (BeOS:BePDF + Win:GSview + Win:Yap)
- instant messenger (BeOS:im-kit?, Win:Miranda, Gaim)
- archiver, integrated into Tracker (BeOS:Beezer?, Win:7-Zip)
- browser (BeOS:Firefox) or a native one like Net+ (see Talk:Software_Wishlist)
- real email client with IMAP and LDAP support (BeOS:Thunderbird)
- simple text editor (BeOS:StyledEdit)
- address book (BeOS:People)
System Tools
- FTP-client with SCP support
- BitTorrent client (OSX/BeOS:Transmission); integrated into browser or global download server???
- file system encryption (Win/Linux:TrueCrypt, please port this one!)
- hex editor (DiskProbe should not limit the file view to 512/2048 bytes)
- Terminal launcher (BeOS:Summon)
- Terminal with the features of a "real" terminal like (Linux/*BSD: XTerm, Aterm, Eterm ...)
- IRC client (BeOS:Vision)
- VNC
- Ruby
- Python
- Perl
- Io
Additional Software (Extended Edition?)
Mostly complex applications. User should decide what he likes and needs:
- office suite (Linux:OpenOffice or AbiWord+Gnumeric+some presenter)
- easy to use audio editor
- advanced imaging app (BeOS:Pixel (commercial), Linux:GIMP/GimpShop?)
- advanced vector drawing app (Linux:inkscape?)
- simple video editor
- LyX
Optional/Specialized Software (not shipped with Haiku)
Only for experts:
- professional DTP app
- professional synthesizer and audio suite
- professional rendering software (BeOS:Blender?)
- professional video authoring app
- Awk & Sed?
- Lua?
- Tcl/Tk
- http server
- FTP server
- database
- scientific apps (Maxima, Octave, Scilab, Gnuplot)
- LaTeX with UI (BeOS:teTeX/BeTeX)