this post was submitted on 16 Jul 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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The average person wants the iphone experience. They want the device to just work. Sometimes, in Linux, you have to install things that aren't so straight forward and the average person has no clue how to do that.
If we want more people on Linux, we need to dumb it down a lot.
But that's the thing, it's not dumb it down, it's better design for average user. Linux is not going get to mass adoption if fresh from install you have to run several commands to make your audio/game/camera work. Sure, it might be fixable with a single command, but your average user won't know which, and won't know how to search for it on Google.
Linux based OS like android got mass adopted because you don't even need to open a shell once and your whole hardware works out of the shelf. That's not the experience with Linux.
@leninmummy @ohlaph Yes, agreed, most folks want an appliance that "just works". Something where they have some sort of ""store"" that presents them with single-click installable stuff that again, "just works" and is intuitive to find once installed.
The answer to that though is not a general dumbing down of linux, that ruins every reason most of us have always been here. The right answer is to have a (multiple) distribution that can be easily installed by any completely technologically ignorant person and offers the simple appliance experience. It would be even better if this same distribution could be installed on any computer be it in a closet, under a desk, on a shelf, in a vehicle, or in a pocket to offer a somewhat seamless user experience. As a bonus, these different devices should offer the ability to connect/interact with each other in a simple manner from the common user's perspective.
Dumbed down Linux exists. It's called Android.
@ohlaph @felis_magnetus Sorta what I was hinting at. Android is very close, and getting closer all the time. But it still takes quite a bit more than a bit of skill to install and make it work on something that doesn't have an explicit installer.
I'd argue that at the moment, we don't really have anything that can fill this need. I think that maybe some combination of android-style UX with a Nix-like stoutness and configurability could be the right direction.