this post was submitted on 12 May 2025
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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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Installing Linux Doesn't Need to Change. The Experience Does. (peertube.wtf)
submitted 2 days ago by meldrik@lemmy.wtf to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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[–] grapemix@lemmy.ml -2 points 1 day ago

My concern is we are solving a wrong problem from the beginning.

GNU/Linux is an OS designed by hackers for hackers(at least in my age). The target users should be admin, not end users like grandma. That's why Linux desktop is never mainstream despite our community put so much effort on the user experience (but the effort has not wasted)

Before you yell at me, on the other hand, android (shipped with Linux kernel) has a great success because it's dummy proof design. Even a 2 years old can mess around tablets by his/her own. We can invent million theories, argue and hate each other all days. But there is only one fact. The fact is that mainstream users enjoy the fruit of open source is brought by Android from tablets. Unfortunately, tablets' gui toolkit is dominated by big corps.

When do we start to put focus on gui toolkit for tablets? We did try, but far away than enough. When do we able to admit new generation use tablets way more than desktop? Seeing the open source communities keep heading the wrong direction make me sad.

[–] brax@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 days ago (8 children)

Or users could maybe learn how to do things without having their hands held and treated like babies every step of the way; or at least how to search for information to find what they need... 🤷🏻‍♂️

[–] cerement@slrpnk.net 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

search for information when Google intentionally lies to you and hides results to keep you on their site looking at ads longer …

[–] brax@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago

Adblockers will fix part of that. Using the "web" link on the results will make the search a lot better, too.

[–] Libra@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

They could. But you and I both know they won't because most people don't care about anything beyond 'make the magic box work so I can do my job / play my game / etc.'

[–] brax@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Because we keep feeding them stupid pills and encouraging them not to think. Microsoft was a pioneer of the whole "water down software and call it user-frienfly'" thing.

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[–] thedruid@lemmy.world -1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Or, maybe yo will understand when you grow up that people are good at different things.

Garuntee there's some pretty easy things for me to do that you would get left behind trying to do, and not just on PC

Same for you. You know some things you'd blow me away doing.

Just because you don't know what I know , and vice versa, doesn't mean people are dumb.

Means they've learned different things.

[–] brax@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Nah, I get that we're all good at different things. But people should be good at doing basic research and troubleshooting.

We use computers all the time. Many of us use cars all the time. And we know how to fuel them up, check and top-up oil, add wiper fluid, check coolant, etc. There's also the manual to refer to if we don't know.

Same shit with PCs. But people aren't willing to put in the bare minimum effort to do shit, and companies take advantage of that to ruin it for everyone.

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[–] thedruid@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago (12 children)

Yeah I love linux, but it's user experience , while light years ahead of what I used in the late nineties and early aughts, is still clunky compared to others.

That being said, honestly most of linux's issues are GUI related, when it comes to going mainstream. The capabilities and efficiency are far ahead of windows and mac os but most users don't care.

Directions, examples and mundane work should all be seamless for mainstream consumers.

A good rule of thumb is, " if a user has to look for it to fix it, or open a terminal window to install software, then it won't be accepted fully.

Mainstream users don't want to type commands in a prompt. Why does everyone think windows blew DOS out of the water in sales? It wasn't because DOS wasn't working. It was, hell early windows ( I started on 3.11 so that's my limit of knowledge ) still used DOS.

So bottom line. Start putting the non tech consumer first or we'll forever be stuck in this "almost mainstream" category forever.

[–] brax@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 days ago

Idk mainstream users should learn to learn and empower themselves with knowledge.

The enshitification of hardware and software by constantly catering to the dumbest of people is hurting everybody.

[–] Broadfern@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

This exactly.

I enjoy the level of control I have on my Linux machine but I spend about 40% of my time in CLI.

I recently had to troubleshoot a windows machine, and the lack of control was frustrating but every step for that problem was GUI-centric. Everyday people don’t want to remember commands so they can set up their browser and word processor. They want (to them) simple and straightforward.

To us it’s a low bar, and most of us are from the generations that dreamt of a predominantly tech-literate society, but that’s not reality. We have to meet them where they are, and if they want to learn beyond that then we welcome them in.

[–] thedruid@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

Super glad you understand my point. it honestly is the one thing holding us back I believe

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