https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=420955
Bug ID: 420955
Summary: KUserFeedback components are hard (not optional)
runtime dependency once compiled in
Product: frameworks-kuserfeedback
Version: unspecified
Platform: Other
OS: Linux
Status: REPORTED
Severity: normal
Priority: NOR
Component: Telemetry Provider
Assignee: vkra...@kde.org
Reporter: grizzlyu...@protonmail.com
Target Milestone: ---
SUMMARY
>From what I understand, KUserFeedback is an optional compile time dependency
for packages like plasma-workspace and kate. And it looks quite likely that
more packages will depend on it in future.
Once compiled in by the distro, it becomes a hard runtime dependency for these
packages. So there's no way for the user to remove all KUserFeedback components
from the system without recompiling.
Of course, the distro can choose to not package KUserFeedback at all, but then
users, who want to contribute information through it, won't be able to do so.
It can be argued that User Feedback is disabled by default and configurable and
there are high standards behind it. It appears like that now, but nobody can
guarantee that won't change in future.
Some users may want to not have the telemetry / survey components in their
system in the first place. Even if they are disabled and innocent now. Here are
a few examples of what may go wrong in future:
* User Feedback can get silently enabled by a bug introduced unintentionally or
intentionally;
* policies can change to less strict, leading to privacy invading features and
other annoyances;
* third party program can get control over the telemetry and abuse it.
STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Install plasma-workspace or kate on the binary distro that packages
kuserfeedback.
OBSERVED RESULT
Package is installed with KUserFeedback components as a hard dependency.
There's no way to remove them without removing the package or recompiling it
without KUserFeedback.
EXPECTED RESULT
Package is installed without any KUserFeedback components by default. Or at
least these components can be removed in a way as simple as removing any other
package from the system. All KUserFeedback components are completely optional
and user can decide whether to install them or not. Even if the distribution
decided to provide KUserFeedback in their repositories.
SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Operating System: Parabola GNU/Linux-libre (Arch Linux derivative, all packages
in question come directly from Arch Linux).
KDE Plasma Version: 5.18.4
KDE Frameworks Version: 5.69.0
Qt Version: 5.14.2
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Proposed solution is to change the architecture of all components related to
KUserFeedback. Like making them optional run-time dependencies or plugins. I
logged this issue in hope that it's not too late to make such changes until
more and more packages start depending on KUserFeedback.
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