this post was submitted on 02 Aug 2023
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Linux
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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What you're saying is correct but all the things you're describing are not 100% foolproof. Flatpaks are community maintained and can contain misconfigurations.
Also the sandboxed nature and all these foreign concepts for new users would have a user question why they're not seeing their folders or why their cursor or theme doesn't match their system.
These systems are great but they're not nearly as polished as Windows and Mac.
It's great for us but Linux has always struggled with any semblance of full polish. I think you're overestimating the average computer user. Probably Ubuntu based distro's are still as close as we got to an OS for the regular person.
The introduction of new concept could be mitigated by a proper system of introducing and explaining these to a new user but it's difficult not to overwhelm them with info or keep them engaged and willing to learn.
TLDR;
True but it's not that simple
lets be real windows isnt polished either. the windows control panel and settings situation highlights that.
At least they work.
I've always had issues with Linux that I'm happy to solve and capable of solving but a regular computer user would not know what to do.
I got into IT because troubleshooting Windows gave me a lot of experience. I don't think there is anything that comes to mind that would make apps less likely to have bugs then on Linux.
The only exception is gaming where a lot of game studios have years of experience with Windows APIs that they tightly integrated with in the past. Less needed now, but that's developer inertia for you.
I think the appstore / sandbox / flatpak situation is actually quite accessible to a younger audience that grew up with smartphones. They don't deal with files much
Not to mention the fact chromebooks exists where local files are a mere joke and everything get's uploaded to Google Disk or an alternative to that and they have never been more popular. The average person doesn't save a word-processing document on a computer locally, they save it on a cloud and trust whoever owns that cloud service.