This initiative is great, not necessarily in implementation (although I do applaud those working on it directly), but in planning and mode of thought. It shows that Ubuntu really is striving to become the most usable and user-friendly distribution available. Some of the usability issues are very simple problems that are easily fixed, making them ideal to be defined as paper cuts. For example, the unexpected scrolling through available workspaces, a simple mis-leading tooltip, a proposed change of the file manager’s (Nautilus’) default toolbar layout or even an issue as simple as shipping more or less screensavers by default. Almost all of these usability bugs are incredibly simple fixes, in many cases (such as the ‘unexpected scrolling through available workspaces’ issue, the fix was a simple toggle of an existing boolean value. For the most part, these bugs have had much more time dedicated to discussion of the issue, and its intended resolution from dedicated community members, that the time required to fix them.

I personally think that this is fantastic way to tackle all the small issues with Ubuntu that can really annoy first-time users, but do not concern the more experienced or seasoned users of Ubuntu. It looks from the Launchpad interface for One Hundred Paper Cuts, that this initiative will be continued into further releases of Ubuntu. Hopefully, this is the case and not only will each release have more features, speed and stability, but also an ever increasing usability factor for new Ubuntu users.

There is plenty more information regarding 100 Paper Cuts, its initial progress and integration/planning for Kubuntu. Please comment and tell me, what do you think of the initiative? Do you think it should continue with each new release of Ubuntu, and should there be more focus on the core product Ubuntu, or should it be split more equally with Kubuntu and Xubuntu?