5 ms·

We desperately need a decent desktop operating system. After that basic need is satisfied, fixing the problems in the upper layers will be easier in comparison.

We desperately need a decent desktop operating system. After that basic need is satisfied, fixing the problems in the upper layers will be easier in comparison. To develop any kind of software, you need to do so in a desktop operating system, so it's important for it to be reliable and usable. I think the only viable way to achieve this is to create a Linux-based OS. Not another Linux distribution, but something consistent and well thought out and that solves the problems that no one in the Linux space wants to solve right now.

fartcannon 6y ago
What problems are those?
- shrimp_emoji 6y ago
  Not having a keyboard-like pop-up app that can work inside all other apps that's half speech-to-text processor, half emoji picker, like you have on mobile except having it on desktop. And a way to run all Windows software flawlessly. And making KDE the default DE because it's the best one. And Wayland feature parity. And another packaging format that's like Flatpak and AppImage, except the best of both combined into one, that everyone uses from now on instead of any of the others. And something about how good Macbook trackpads are.
- young_unixer 6y ago
  1. We need a clear separation between system programs and application programs, so that a user can install the latest version of Python without it ever colliding with the outdated version of Python that the OS uses internally. The user shouldn't even need to be aware of the existence of the other Python. 2. The default way to install third-party application software shouldn't depend on repositories or servers. It should be based on installing files, just like on Windows. The OS should define a stable format for the OS to install, update and uninstall these files. Additionally, a permission system like Android's could be a good idea. 3. We need a desktop environment that's visually appealing and has a good UX. 4. We need centralized, thorough and official user documentation about the OS, so that the user doesn't need to browse random forums and wikis in order to learn how to use some piece of the OS. Note that this documentation is about the OS, not about third party software. And this documentation should be distinct from the developer's documentation. 5. Consistency. The user shouldn't need to learn 10 different config file formats or inconsistent command flags across the system in order to configure it.
  - h_anna_h 6y ago
    > so that a user can install the latest version of Python without it ever colliding with the outdated version of Python that the OS uses internally Consider checking out nixos. Although this is already possible to do in normal distros. > The OS should define a stable format for the OS to install, update and uninstall these files Like .deb and .rpm? > 3. We need a desktop environment that's visually appealing and has a good UX. Such as KDE and the rest? > We need centralized, thorough and official user documentation about the OS Distros have their own documentation already. > And this documentation should be distinct from the developer's documentation Why? > The user shouldn't need to learn 10 different config file formats You will love nixos then.
    - laqq3 6y ago
      > > 3. We need a desktop environment that's visually appealing and has a good UX. > Such as KDE and the rest? Just personal taste, but I don't find KDE visually appealing, and not only the default theme ("Breeze"). Unfortunately, I can't get used to the usability issues on GNOME. IMO, the sweet spot of visually appealing and good UX is .... Windows 10 (sigh), followed by a close second in Cinnamon (and I'm also a fan of IceWM).
    - vaduz 6y ago
      > > The OS should define a stable format for the OS to install, update and uninstall these files > Like .deb and .rpm? It's ironic that the common complaint about these two formats (especially .deb [0]!) is that they are too stable and rigid... [0] https://lwn.net/Articles/789449/ https://lwn.net/Articles/789449/
  - ImprovedSilence 6y ago
    Sounds like you just want..... Windows? But an open source version?
    - logist 6y ago
      We already have reactOS for that
oscargrouch 6y ago
I totally agree with you, but lets not forget that we are going through a phase where the open source model is suffering over the lack of incentives. We need to figure it out a good and sustainable economic model or else it might start falling apart. I really think that society, governments, civil entities should step up with some formula, because i mean, this is the XXI century infrastructure.. open source software are now the "roads" where everything is passing through. Government all around worry about their physical infrastructure, so why not start to care about the virtual infrastructure we all rely on? Where a big chunk of the economy, culture and society in general are relying on? Unfortunately capitalism on its own is failing in presenting a good solution, unless you think the guy running (idk) some important crypto code having to take care of ads to survive is a sign that everything is working as it should. I would love if we had some sort of "trickle-down tax", where we use dependency resolution and some algo to rate the importance of that particular dependency and make the software and services that are using them and being payed for it, to let some of the profit to help the open source ones (here i think a blockchain solution might be of some help, as things would be totally automated).
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
jacquesm 6y ago
Ubuntu will do just fine.

fartcannon 6y ago

What problems are those?

shrimp_emoji 6y ago
Not having a keyboard-like pop-up app that can work inside all other apps that's half speech-to-text processor, half emoji picker, like you have on mobile except having it on desktop. And a way to run all Windows software flawlessly. And making KDE the default DE because it's the best one. And Wayland feature parity. And another packaging format that's like Flatpak and AppImage, except the best of both combined into one, that everyone uses from now on instead of any of the others. And something about how good Macbook trackpads are.
young_unixer 6y ago
1. We need a clear separation between system programs and application programs, so that a user can install the latest version of Python without it ever colliding with the outdated version of Python that the OS uses internally. The user shouldn't even need to be aware of the existence of the other Python. 2. The default way to install third-party application software shouldn't depend on repositories or servers. It should be based on installing files, just like on Windows. The OS should define a stable format for the OS to install, update and uninstall these files. Additionally, a permission system like Android's could be a good idea. 3. We need a desktop environment that's visually appealing and has a good UX. 4. We need centralized, thorough and official user documentation about the OS, so that the user doesn't need to browse random forums and wikis in order to learn how to use some piece of the OS. Note that this documentation is about the OS, not about third party software. And this documentation should be distinct from the developer's documentation. 5. Consistency. The user shouldn't need to learn 10 different config file formats or inconsistent command flags across the system in order to configure it.
- h_anna_h 6y ago
  > so that a user can install the latest version of Python without it ever colliding with the outdated version of Python that the OS uses internally Consider checking out nixos. Although this is already possible to do in normal distros. > The OS should define a stable format for the OS to install, update and uninstall these files Like .deb and .rpm? > 3. We need a desktop environment that's visually appealing and has a good UX. Such as KDE and the rest? > We need centralized, thorough and official user documentation about the OS Distros have their own documentation already. > And this documentation should be distinct from the developer's documentation Why? > The user shouldn't need to learn 10 different config file formats You will love nixos then.
  - laqq3 6y ago
    > > 3. We need a desktop environment that's visually appealing and has a good UX. > Such as KDE and the rest? Just personal taste, but I don't find KDE visually appealing, and not only the default theme ("Breeze"). Unfortunately, I can't get used to the usability issues on GNOME. IMO, the sweet spot of visually appealing and good UX is .... Windows 10 (sigh), followed by a close second in Cinnamon (and I'm also a fan of IceWM).
  - vaduz 6y ago
    > > The OS should define a stable format for the OS to install, update and uninstall these files > Like .deb and .rpm? It's ironic that the common complaint about these two formats (especially .deb [0]!) is that they are too stable and rigid... [0] https://lwn.net/Articles/789449/ https://lwn.net/Articles/789449/
- ImprovedSilence 6y ago
  Sounds like you just want..... Windows? But an open source version?
  - logist 6y ago
    We already have reactOS for that

oscargrouch 6y ago

I totally agree with you, but lets not forget that we are going through a phase where the open source model is suffering over the lack of incentives. We need to figure it out a good and sustainable economic model or else it might start falling apart. I really think that society, governments, civil entities should step up with some formula, because i mean, this is the XXI century infrastructure.. open source software are now the "roads" where everything is passing through. Government all around worry about their physical infrastructure, so why not start to care about the virtual infrastructure we all rely on? Where a big chunk of the economy, culture and society in general are relying on? Unfortunately capitalism on its own is failing in presenting a good solution, unless you think the guy running (idk) some important crypto code having to take care of ads to survive is a sign that everything is working as it should. I would love if we had some sort of "trickle-down tax", where we use dependency resolution and some algo to rate the importance of that particular dependency and make the software and services that are using them and being payed for it, to let some of the profit to help the open source ones (here i think a blockchain solution might be of some help, as things would be totally automated).

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

jacquesm 6y ago

Ubuntu will do just fine.