Problems
Translations
Installing Software
User Walpurgia uses German as language, she installs kmplot to get the application in german also kde-l10n-de needs to be installed. [This *may* be resolvable as far as discover is conerned, other means of installation won't benefit from that tho]
Software Installed by Another User
User Francois uses French as language. User Walpurgia installed kmplot which somehow installed kde-l10n-de. Later Francois logs in, to use kmplot in French he will need kde-l10n-fr to be installed. This is unknown at the time of Walpurgia installing the application.
Language Switch
Walpurgia realizes that she doesn't actually speak German. She opens system settings, hopefully finds the Language KCM, moves Dutch to the preferred languages. At this point a whole bunch of additional packages will need to be installed to actually result in a Dutch envrionment for Walpurgia.
Dictionaries
In any of the aforementioned circumstances dictionaries need to be installed in a suitable lanaguage. Technically speaking this isn't really different from the other localization packages.
Input Methods
Certain languages require a special input method helper to get installed. Nothing special should be needed.
System Installation
Upon installation of neon all necessary localization packages need to be installed assuming network connection is present.
UX (current in Kubuntu)
Kubuntu has a solution for all of the above using a super cheap blanket solution. A helper watches all installed packages, if a package is installed that requires additional packages a notification and tray icon appear informing the user that additional packages need to be installed to complete localization. Doing so will throw an auth dialog in the face of the user without any additional information or help, so if nothing else the UX of the installation is subpar. Additionally moving languages about in the Languages KCM will not install the packages, one has to wait for the notification to get to a working localization using the new language.
Installation
Currently when installing software, depending on the packaging relevant translations are not installed alongside the software. So if one is using a french system, installs thunderbird, thunderbird won't be localized. This may or may not be solvable by discover.
KCM
Currently does not on-demand ask for installation of required localization packages.
Notification
When it is detected that a package has incomplete localization an Icon appears. This can in particular appear when the user installs something in discover and that does not automatically install required localization packages.
When the user clicks on the notification/systray icon the installer pops up to install whatever the notification said
Techno
- plasma l10n is in packages: yay
- apps l10n is in separate l10n packages: eek
- non-kde bits draw l10n from ubunut packs: eek
- qttranslations5-l10n needed (Qt bases its right-to-left language detection on that): eek
libkubuntu implements heavy lifting for most of kde-l10n and the ubuntu stuff. What we are lacking for the most part is a UI/design on how to get the crap installed. Also it is currently using libqapt, which can block discover by holding the dpkg lock. Should be ported to packagekit?
kubuntu-notification-helper shows message when l10n support is incomplete. But this is terrible shit and ugly. Consult with VDG on how to notify the user that he has incomplete l10n (this in particular matters for a) offline installations b) user installs thunderbird and that doesn't drag in thunderbird-l10n).
needs looking into if drilling a hole in the KCM to on-demand add the ubuntu plunder when changing language is an option etc.