KDE adds tracking.

[Bings]

Perhaps they should have spent the time making this thing actually working on the project.

[Snowhog]

This isn't new; it's been around for several years.

[chimak111]

I think it's about kuserfeedback: https://jriddell.org/2020/02/05/kuserfeedback-1-0-0/

It's appearance in 5.18 (but not yet in Kubuntu 20.04) is attracting some comments even though it's clearly opt-in.

[Snowhog]

I see nothing wrong with this, and Linux isn't the only OS that has something like this. This would be even more useful (to developers) if it were hooked to Crash Reporting (also 'opt-in'), so when a crash happened, this report would also be generated and included.

Developers depend on feedback of this nature, and there simply aren't as many testers as developers would like to see 'in the wild'.

[Bings]

Well, if you watch the video, you see it still functions and makes a record on the pc whether you opt in or not. Also, you can't uninstall it without messing up a load of other stuff. Also KDE has forums which they don't use, they have ignored the suggestion channel for ten years and now they want to user feedback? I have no problems with Devs just getting on and doing what they want but lets not pretend they are interested in what users think as an excuse to put tracking software. There are many ways you can actually talk to people who use your software, without having to put stuff on their system.

there simply aren't as many testers

This isn't about testing, they are creating a list of who uses what.

[Snowhog]

This isn't about testing, they are creating a list of who uses what.

No, they are not (...creating a list of who..).

KDE Software Privacy Policy - KDE.org

And in this policy:

Telemetry
Some software produced by the KDE Community may include telemetry components, which provides details on the device it's running on to us. Where this functionality exists, it will always operate on an opt-in basis and be disabled by default, with the ability to change your preferences at any time.

And, having just checked, my Kubuntu 20.04, which is running KDE Plasma Version: 5.18.2, doesn't even have in the repositories for installation, package kuserfeedback-bin. Interestingly, my KDE neon User Edition, also running KDE Plasma Version: 5.18.2, does have this package available for installation, but isn't installed.

[Don B. Cilly]

My neon (Testing, 5.18.2) does not have it installed either:
~$ dpkg -l kuserfeedback-bin
dpkg-query: no packages found matching kuserfeedback-bin

But it does seem to be in the settings nonetheless:



BTW, not to be annoying... well, all right, just to be a little bit annoying ;·) if someone here can talk to the kde.org people...
... the apostrophe virus seems to have hit the privacy policy too:
"At no point will any data which could be used to identify the device or it's user be collected from the system".

[chimak111]

I think Kubuntu 20.04 should offer it as a package users can install if they choose to and uninstall if they fancy black helicopters are approaching.

[Snowhog]

Just installed it on my KDE neon User Edition.

By default, it is disabled. There are four collection levels to choose from.

[claydoh]

I will assume the OP is running neon. The mess of trying to uninstall it is purely due to packaging issues specifically on their end. not KDE's, I think (but cannot confirm) that this is being looked at.

I am using the feedback tool, turned up to 'max', after waiting for a few days before turning it on.
I did not find anything other than a settings file for it during that time. After enabling it, up until today, it has created two Kuserfeedbaclk folders - one for Discover and one for Plasma, each with a couple of very brief log files. here are the contents of the most recent (26 Feb 2020)
I did not find any log files until after enabling the feedback, unlike what quidsup saw.

I will assume that there may be more logging for other things as time goes on.

Here are my most recent logs from each section.
These are sooper-sensitif informashuns, so I trusts y'all not to deevulge these to the Man. Much seekrit stuff here, I tells ya.

~ /.local/share/plasmashell/kuserfeedback/audit/

{
    "applicationVersion": {
        "data": {
            "value": "5.18.2"
        },
        "description": "The version of the application.",
        "telemetryMode": "BasicSystemInformation"
    },
    "compiler": {
        "data": {
            "type": "GCC",
            "version": "7.4"
        },
        "description": "The compiler used to build this application.",
        "telemetryMode": "BasicSystemInformation"
    },
    "opengl": {
        "data": {
            "glslVersion": "4.60",
            "profile": "compat",
            "renderer": "AMD Radeon RX 480 Graphics",
            "type": "GL",
            "vendor": "X.Org",
            "vendorVersion": "Mesa 20.1.0-devel",
            "version": "4.6"
        },
        "description": "Information about type, version and vendor of the OpenGL stack.",
        "telemetryMode": "DetailedSystemInformation"
    },
    "panelCount": {
        "data": {
            "panelCount": 1
        },
        "description": "Counts the panels",
        "telemetryMode": "DetailedSystemInformation"
    },
    "platform": {
        "data": {
            "os": "linux",
            "version": "neon-18.04"
        },
        "description": "Type and version of the operating system.",
        "telemetryMode": "BasicSystemInformation"
    },
    "qtVersion": {
        "data": {
            "value": "5.14.1"
        },
        "description": "The Qt version used by this application.",
        "telemetryMode": "BasicSystemInformation"
    },
    "screens": {
        "data": [
            {
                "dpi": 102,
                "height": 1080,
                "width": 1920
            }
        ],
        "description": "Size and resolution of all connected screens.",
        "telemetryMode": "DetailedSystemInformation"
    },
    "usageTime": {
        "data": {
            "value": 338911
        },
        "description": "The total amount of time the application has been used.",
        "telemetryMode": "BasicUsageStatistics"
    }
}

~/.local/share/discover/kuserfeedback/audit/

{
    "applicationSourceName": {
        "data": {
            "value": "packagekit-backend"
        },
        "description": "The source for applications",
        "telemetryMode": "DetailedUsageStatistics"
    },
    "applicationVersion": {
        "data": {
            "value": "5.18.2"
        },
        "description": "The version of the application.",
        "telemetryMode": "BasicSystemInformation"
    },
    "locale": {
        "data": {
            "language": "English",
            "region": "United States"
        },
        "description": "The current region and language settings.",
        "telemetryMode": "DetailedSystemInformation"
    },
    "opengl": {
        "data": {
            "glslVersion": "4.60",
            "profile": "compat",
            "renderer": "AMD Radeon RX 480 Graphics",
            "type": "GL",
            "vendor": "X.Org",
            "vendorVersion": "Mesa 20.1.0-devel",
            "version": "4.6"
        },
        "description": "Information about type, version and vendor of the OpenGL stack.",
        "telemetryMode": "DetailedSystemInformation"
    },
    "platform": {
        "data": {
            "os": "linux",
            "version": "neon-18.04"
        },
        "description": "Type and version of the operating system.",
        "telemetryMode": "BasicSystemInformation"
    },
    "qtVersion": {
        "data": {
            "value": "5.14.1"
        },
        "description": "The Qt version used by this application.",
        "telemetryMode": "BasicSystemInformation"
    },
    "screens": {
        "data": [
            {
                "dpi": 102,
                "height": 1080,
                "width": 1920
            }
        ],
        "description": "Size and resolution of all connected screens.",
        "telemetryMode": "DetailedSystemInformation"
    },
    "startCount": {
        "data": {
            "value": 16
        },
        "description": "How often the application has been started.",
        "telemetryMode": "BasicUsageStatistics"
    },
    "usageTime": {
        "data": {
            "value": 7544
        },
        "description": "The total amount of time the application has been used.",
        "telemetryMode": "BasicUsageStatistics"
    }
}

Usage and other data collection of this sort is controversial, no doubt, but there is no good or even slightly reliable way for truly useful info for anyone to know what The masses are using, how often, etc. You cannot simply go by complaints, or claims that 'my fave program is popular and widely used' so it needs more attention without some way to know for sure.

And to be honest, while being opt-in is the only way to properly do this, it is still an issue where only a certain segment of users will actually pay attention enough to actually turn it on, and those who are against this in any form will not, and in the long run, these people will continue to need to complain


In terms of Kubuntu related support, I'd like there to some sort of applet that would collect some very basic system info that would , on demand, list the most basic hardware info, Plasma info, and more importantly whatever random-**sed PPAs and other external repos have been added, which is almost always left out when someone encounters some new issue.

[chimak111]

...
In terms of Kubuntu related support, I'd like there to some sort of applet that would collect some very basic system info that would , on demand, list the most basic hardware info, Plasma info, and more importantly whatever random-**sed PPAs and other external repos have been added, which is almost always left out when someone encounters some new issue.

I have inxi and inxi -Fxxxrz would cover most of the above --- it misses the Frameworks version.

[claydoh]

I have inxi and inxi -Fxxxrz would cover most of the above --- it misses the Frameworks version.

yes, but that is not a simple button for some basic info. Actually, some sort of invasive browser or forum addon to collect this and put it into a post would be extra interesting

OS release/kernel, video card/driver, network card/driver, and repo info. That covers probably 90% of what is needed for a really good starting place for troubleshooting, and is not too geeky/commandline-y/intimidating/overly bloated.

It may be just me, but my eyes glaze over whenever I see inxi copypasta. tbh

[Snowhog]

Well, there is such a 'button'.

See https://www.linux-apps.com/p/1303949/ (Inxi Gui)

Click on the Files tab and download inxi-gui_0.1.2-1_all.deb

There is a package dependency that QApt Package Installer doesn't report on, but is necessary if the application is going to run. You'll have to install the package yad (it is in the repositories).

The app isn't a total Swiss Army Knife to inxi, but it does generate the 'basic info' you call for. And it can save that info.

[claydoh]

still too "much' , but I am being picky/grumpy

[chimak111]

It may be just me, but my eyes glaze over whenever I see inxi copypasta. tbh

True, but one can limit inxi's output via its options.