The biggest problem with (GNU/)Linux is just there is no unified platform, and every distribution just wastes time on reinventing the wheel. And if you need to do something more advanced stuff than browsing the web or reading e-mails, you eventually encounter some silly problem where you need to copy random commands you found on the internet, because there’s literally no other way to configure anything except some very basic stuff like internet connection settings or wallpaper.
I personally don’t see any progress on UX in the last 10-15 years, and some DE’s even go backwards (GNOME), where you need to install an extension just to get desktop icons working, which should be a built-in feature.
The only thing that happens to improve UX lately is the fact that you can easily install flatpaks/snaps, so at least developers don’t need to waste time to repackage their apps for hundreds of different distributions, and users don’t need to hit their head whenever they encounter a dependency error. These flatpaks/snaps are not without their problems of course but still, it’s a single step in the right direction.
If that is the case today then that indeed is a huge leap forward. The last time I tried in earnest to daily drive a Linux distro was a couple years ago and I was running terminal commands almost immediately for basic desktop setup items like network settings, setting up multiple displays, or installing/configuring applications.
I am running Linux daily for the last 10 years, and I prefer doing most of the stuff via terminal and editing config files. But at least in KDE (I’m most familiar with it), there is a menu for everything, if you prefer that. Including but not limited to what you mentioned.
I’ll have to check it out. I’m not scared of some terminal myself, but it’s something I always question when people say “oh you don’t need terminal for everyday things”, because my experience has always been the opposite. Thanks for the reply!
It mostly depends on what your everyday things I suppose. For one guy from this comment section everyday thing is to change numerical value of the second order mouse acceleration, which KDE GUI doesn’t support out of the box.
For changing screen resolutions, network setup, for setting up audio and stuff, there is a gui, a set of console commands, and a set of config files, and you use whatever is most convenient to you.
I thought you happened to have the ONE device in the world that has a linux propriatery driver where you can adjust it, but no xd. You don’t have that option either :D .
Okay, this is actually interesting. Are you on libinput? Afaik libinput simply doesn’t have this feature. This is not about the DE, your mouse probably happens to have a better proprietary driver.
Because for most people a computer is not a platform of self realization. Even for people who use the computer FOR self realization. For most people a computer is a tool. A means to an end. Trying to make the computer do things it not something most people want to do AT ALL.
One of my favorite Linux memories was going on to IRC and asking how to fix my wifi. Like an hour later some guy sent me a patch and told me how to recompile the driver and my Internet worked. It was really cool.
why should it? It’s pretty clear that GNOME does it’s own thing than copy the rest of the OSs. They do copy some stuff though. And at least you can install extensions and the extensions that exist are pretty cool, even if I just run vanilla GNOME.
The biggest problem with (GNU/)Linux is just there is no unified platform, and every distribution just wastes time on reinventing the wheel. And if you need to do something more advanced stuff than browsing the web or reading e-mails, you eventually encounter some silly problem where you need to copy random commands you found on the internet, because there’s literally no other way to configure anything except some very basic stuff like internet connection settings or wallpaper.
I personally don’t see any progress on UX in the last 10-15 years, and some DE’s even go backwards (GNOME), where you need to install an extension just to get desktop icons working, which should be a built-in feature.
The only thing that happens to improve UX lately is the fact that you can easily install flatpaks/snaps, so at least developers don’t need to waste time to repackage their apps for hundreds of different distributions, and users don’t need to hit their head whenever they encounter a dependency error. These flatpaks/snaps are not without their problems of course but still, it’s a single step in the right direction.
The stuff that you are configuring via console commands is the stuff that other OS doesn’t allow you to configure at all
If that is the case today then that indeed is a huge leap forward. The last time I tried in earnest to daily drive a Linux distro was a couple years ago and I was running terminal commands almost immediately for basic desktop setup items like network settings, setting up multiple displays, or installing/configuring applications.
I am running Linux daily for the last 10 years, and I prefer doing most of the stuff via terminal and editing config files. But at least in KDE (I’m most familiar with it), there is a menu for everything, if you prefer that. Including but not limited to what you mentioned.
I’ll have to check it out. I’m not scared of some terminal myself, but it’s something I always question when people say “oh you don’t need terminal for everyday things”, because my experience has always been the opposite. Thanks for the reply!
It mostly depends on what your everyday things I suppose. For one guy from this comment section everyday thing is to change numerical value of the second order mouse acceleration, which KDE GUI doesn’t support out of the box.
For changing screen resolutions, network setup, for setting up audio and stuff, there is a gui, a set of console commands, and a set of config files, and you use whatever is most convenient to you.
Yeah for example mouse scroll speed acceleation…
Oh wait…
Well where is it? :D :D :D.
I thought you happened to have the ONE device in the world that has a linux propriatery driver where you can adjust it, but no xd. You don’t have that option either :D .
Oh, you mean the numerical value of acceleration. Yeah, doesn’t look like this is here out of the box.
Welp, literally unplayable then.
No I meant SCROLLING speed
Hold my beer! You need Plasma Wayland but no special mouse or device driver, my mouse has no features.
Okay, this is actually interesting. Are you on libinput? Afaik libinput simply doesn’t have this feature. This is not about the DE, your mouse probably happens to have a better proprietary driver.
I believe I can do that on plasma, never used it unless I’m controlling the mouse via keyboard.
I miss Mac OS X 😢
biggest strength of the platform imho
What’s wrong with copying random commands from the internet? For me that’s the fun part.
Because for most people a computer is not a platform of self realization. Even for people who use the computer FOR self realization. For most people a computer is a tool. A means to an end. Trying to make the computer do things it not something most people want to do AT ALL.
One of my favorite Linux memories was going on to IRC and asking how to fix my wifi. Like an hour later some guy sent me a patch and told me how to recompile the driver and my Internet worked. It was really cool.
why should it? It’s pretty clear that GNOME does it’s own thing than copy the rest of the OSs. They do copy some stuff though. And at least you can install extensions and the extensions that exist are pretty cool, even if I just run vanilla GNOME.
I’d rather have an beautiful and functional app tray than (ugh) icons on my desktop, thank you very much.