2026-08-18 Workstation Working Group Meeting Summary

Hi, here is my Gemini-assisted summary for this week's meeting.
 • *Meeting Logistics and Introductions*: Michael Catanzaro confirmed a quorum was met with five members present, noting that Matthias was on paid time off and Jens was absent.
 • *Removal of GNOME Boxes from Default Installation*: The group discussed a proposal to remove GNOME Boxes from the default installation. Michael Catanzaro clarified that users would still be able to install the application via Flatpak or the RPM package, as the intent is to remove it from the default set rather than retiring the package entirely. Luna Jernberg noted that users requiring a virtual machine manager would possess the knowledge to install the software independently.
 • *Status of GNOME Connections*: Allan Day inquired about the status of GNOME Connections to determine if it should also be removed given its similarity to GNOME Boxes. Michael Catanzaro confirmed that GNOME Connections is a standard core application and is included in the default workstation configuration. The group agreed that GNOME Connections should remain and did not propose its removal.
 • *Future Risks of GNOME Boxes Removal*: Neal Gompa expressed concern regarding potential future complications if the package were to be forcefully retired by upstream, which could cause issues for users upgrading Fedora. Michael Catanzaro clarified that the current decision is specifically to remove it from the default installation, acknowledging that the move involves both technical and political considerations.
 • *Marketing Strategy Regarding GNOME Boxes*: The group discussed the impact of removing GNOME Boxes on Fedora Workstation marketing materials. Neal Gompa argued that the website should be updated to clarify that the software is not pre-installed, to avoid creating false expectations. Allan Day suggested adjusting the website language to indicate the tool is recommended but not included, to which Neal Gompa agreed.
 • *Timeline for GNOME Boxes Removal*: Michael Catanzaro and Neal Gompa noted that the GNOME upstream schedule for version 51 had already passed, meaning there was no immediate rush to implement the removal. Luna Jernberg remarked that this effectively delays the necessary action until version 52.
 • *Removal of PyCharm from Third-Party Repositories*: The group discussed a request to remove PyCharm from the Fedora Workstation third-party repositories. Fabio proposed the removal because the Community Edition no longer exists as a separate codebase, has not been updated in over a year, and is effectively a free trial version. Neal Gompa confirmed there is no separate codebase to rewrap, and the group approved the proposal to drop it.
 • *Technical Consequences of PyCharm Removal*: Allan Day asked about the status of existing PyCharm installations if the repository is removed. Michael Catanzaro and Neal Gompa explained that existing installations would stop receiving updates, as there is no mechanism to automatically uninstall the application. The group discussed the potential of using Obsoletes to uninstall the package but decided against it, preferring not to take such an aggressive approach.
 • *Closing Administrative Matters*: Michael Catanzaro reviewed the state of the issue tracker, concluding that the team is successfully handling requests and that the backlog is in reasonable condition. The meeting concluded with a confirmation of the upcoming leadership rotation, where Allan Day is scheduled to serve as chair and Matthias is expected to serve as secretary for the following month.

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