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The Linux Desktop has problems, yes, but that's Ok. We just have to accept that Linux will never be a mainstream desktop environment. A desktop environment ne
by kakwa_ 8y ago
The Linux Desktop has problems, yes, but that's Ok.
We just have to accept that Linux will never be a mainstream desktop environment.
A desktop environment needs a well polished experience. And this experience can only be created by centralized organizations with extensive resources, like developers, QA, designers, ergonomist, user's behavior studies and a common and consistent vision of what the experience should look.
In the Linux DE world, a project can consider itself lucky if it has enough developers.
Yet, these developpers are doing a wonderful job, specially given the lack of resources, with applications that are more than usable and can solve 90% of use cases.
Yes, Linux DEs are sometimes a little clunky, and the overall experience might encounter issues not solvable by the average user. But that's Ok, having a well polished experience would require an order of magnitude more resources, and an organization far more vertical than the existing array of communities.
Diverting so much resources for the DE goal would be a mistake. Even if by some miracle we manage to solve all the issues mentioned, we would be "X but different/better", and this business model doesn't generally do so well, it will not displace Windows/Mac OS.
Linux and the OSS ecosytem should remain what it is today: a powerful and rich toolbox to build things from giant web services or phones to Vacuum cleaners, cars or milking machines, and this toolbox should keep improving.
It doesn't mean we should not look around and see what is happening around us in the DE world, but it should not be the absolute priority. Building a Linux desktop should not jeopardize the use cases that made Linux a success.
Linux is a clunky Desktop Environment, yes, but this clunky environment has enabled me to build software reaching thousands of people.
Thank you to all the devs who have built this (mostly) working experience.