Automatix (software) facts for kids
Screenshot of the Automatix program on Ubuntu 6.10 Edgy
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| Developer(s) | Automatix Team |
|---|---|
| Last release |
1.2
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| Operating system | Debian, MEPIS, ubuntu |
| Platform | Linux |
Automatix was a computer program designed to help people easily add extra features to their Linux computers. It was especially useful for computers running Debian, MEPIS, or Ubuntu. Think of it like a helpful assistant that could quickly install programs, special files called codecs (which help play music or videos), different fonts (text styles), and other important parts called libraries.
These Linux systems often didn't include certain things right away. For example, they might not have had the tools to play DVDs or MP3 music files, or to view Adobe Flash content on websites. While you could add these things yourself, it could be tricky and take a lot of time. Automatix aimed to make this process much simpler, especially for people who were new to Linux.
What Automatix Did
Automatix offered a simple menu where you could choose from many different "capabilities." This meant you could easily install things like the Flash plugin (for web videos), Acrobat Reader (for PDF files), and various multimedia codecs. These codecs helped your computer play different types of audio and video files, like DivX, MP3, and Windows Media Audio. It could also install different fonts and tools for programmers.
However, the team that developed Ubuntu did not officially recommend using Automatix. Some developers even said that Automatix 1 caused problems when people tried to update their Ubuntu systems. In 2006, a leader at Ubuntu, Matt Zimmerman, said that he couldn't recommend the program. He also mentioned that computers using Automatix might not get official support for updates.
Later, in 2007, another Ubuntu developer named Matthew Garrett looked closely at Automatix. He explained that Automatix didn't follow the rules for good software packages on Debian or Ubuntu. Because of these issues, Canonical Ltd. (the company behind Ubuntu) and the Ubuntu community did not support Automatix.
What Happened Next
Automatix stopped being developed in early 2008.
After Automatix was discontinued, a new project called Ultamatix was created. This new program is based on Automatix and works with newer versions of Ubuntu, like Ubuntu 9.04.
See also
In Spanish: Automatix para niños
