Unity-2D removed from Ubuntu 12.10 by default

Ubuntu Developer Summit Quantal generated interesting to-be-implemented objectives, goals, across the Quantal Quetzal development cycle, to be implemented as default, categorized and organized in different corners of Ubuntu, starting with the shipped kernel version, Unity enhancements, GNOME stack's adoption, etc.

An exciting discussed topic at UDS-Q was the state of Unity-2D, triggering discussion as related to (if at all) its importance, the developers concluding that the 2D version is to be removed from Ubuntu 12.10, nevertheless still being available in the at-the-moment LTS, Ubuntu 12.04.

The latest updates have removed Unity-2D from the desktop (by default), meaning, the users using Ubuntu 12.10 are to utilize Unity 3D as the only installed-by-default shell.

Unity-2D has been created and designed as suitable for computers without 3D acceleration, meaning, installing Ubuntu on a low-spec machine, was automatically redirect it to Unity-2D, allowing the user to enjoy Ubuntu on a "old" machine with reduced graphical power.

Ubuntu 12.10's Unity 3D has now adopted (as an addition when the hardware situation requires it) the mentioned low-spec attitude, in the sense that is to allow users with "limited" computers to still enjoy Ubuntu and the full Unity 3D via llvmpipe, a technology suitable to properly maneuver Unity when graphical hardware power is not found, consequently, removing Unity-2D seems a step in a right direction, where maintaining/developing two different shells for the same purpose (users with or without powerful computers) is both unnatural and probably developer-time consuming.

The new removal, is to probably unify all of the development energy into one unitary movement, furthermore, the users are to probably be more effective on reporting bugs, contributing patches, testing, mockups proposals, creating concepts/opinions/judgments.