4 ms·

the answer isn't: it's fine because it's linux and you can use something else. The answer is: ok, it's broken, but it's GNU: you can fix it yourself!

lazyier 5y ago
Or you can just acknowledge that all software comes with warts, problems, and limitations. And be thankful that you can use whatever manager you want. And don't have to use Apple's file manager.
jatone 5y ago
except that isn't the answer gnome is notorious for being a pain to work with if it doesn't align with their vision.
- matheusmoreira 5y ago
  Case study: https://youtu.be/ON0A1dsQOV0 https://youtu.be/ON0A1dsQOV0
traverseda 5y ago
Gnome makes it really hard to fix these kinds of things yourself without forking the entirety of Gnome.
- dylan-m 5y ago
  At this point, Nautilus really is just a file manager! It isn't the file chooser; it doesn't mount external devices; it isn't the desktop background. If something is hindering one's ability to create an alternative file manager, there is probably a completely uncontroversial patch that can be sent upstream.
thebeastie 5y ago
This “you can fix it yourself” argument is really tiring sometimes. For a project like nautilus, there are very few people with the resources and motivation to fix anything. So we end up with underdeveloped open source products. Maybe we should try “we need better funding and coordination” for open source projects.
- jeroenhd 5y ago
  I think most open source projects need better funding and coordination. The fact of the matter is that if you want something, you can ask nicely, pay for it or make it yourself. Asking nicely usually ends with "no", which is a perfectly valid response, and the other options are often too expensive (nobody wants to pay full dev time for adding and maintaining feature in Nautilus) or too much work. I used to think that surely the GNOME people had enough resources to develop feature X until I saw how few GNOME developers there really are for a project this size. Until more people join in and start developing in their free time, "basic" features people all want so badly simply won't appear any time soon.
- yoyohello13 5y ago
  Not only that, but the people who do have the resources and motivation quickly hit the brick wall that is contributing to Gnome. Engaging with the Gnome team from the outside is exhausting.
- tebruno99 5y ago
  Gnome developers actively discourage fixing things yourself even though they often use that as a reply to bug reports. Fixes are often rejected as "not bugs" so most just give up and move on.
jotm 5y ago
Yeah, you can fix everything yourself. Up until you get tired of fixing and just use a normal OS that isn't breaking something random every update. To be honest, if you "freeze" an installation (i.e. never update anything), it works pretty well! The difference between server and desktop packages seems to be professionalism - the latter just aren't developed/maintained to the same standards as the former. I love Linux and what you can do with theming, though, it's quite amazing.
criddell 5y ago
I hope you like maintaining a fork forever, because that's the most likely outcome.

lazyier 5y ago

Or you can just acknowledge that all software comes with warts, problems, and limitations. And be thankful that you can use whatever manager you want. And don't have to use Apple's file manager.

jatone 5y ago

except that isn't the answer gnome is notorious for being a pain to work with if it doesn't align with their vision.

matheusmoreira 5y ago
Case study: https://youtu.be/ON0A1dsQOV0 https://youtu.be/ON0A1dsQOV0

traverseda 5y ago

Gnome makes it really hard to fix these kinds of things yourself without forking the entirety of Gnome.

dylan-m 5y ago
At this point, Nautilus really is just a file manager! It isn't the file chooser; it doesn't mount external devices; it isn't the desktop background. If something is hindering one's ability to create an alternative file manager, there is probably a completely uncontroversial patch that can be sent upstream.

thebeastie 5y ago

This “you can fix it yourself” argument is really tiring sometimes. For a project like nautilus, there are very few people with the resources and motivation to fix anything. So we end up with underdeveloped open source products. Maybe we should try “we need better funding and coordination” for open source projects.

jeroenhd 5y ago
I think most open source projects need better funding and coordination. The fact of the matter is that if you want something, you can ask nicely, pay for it or make it yourself. Asking nicely usually ends with "no", which is a perfectly valid response, and the other options are often too expensive (nobody wants to pay full dev time for adding and maintaining feature in Nautilus) or too much work. I used to think that surely the GNOME people had enough resources to develop feature X until I saw how few GNOME developers there really are for a project this size. Until more people join in and start developing in their free time, "basic" features people all want so badly simply won't appear any time soon.
yoyohello13 5y ago
Not only that, but the people who do have the resources and motivation quickly hit the brick wall that is contributing to Gnome. Engaging with the Gnome team from the outside is exhausting.
tebruno99 5y ago
Gnome developers actively discourage fixing things yourself even though they often use that as a reply to bug reports. Fixes are often rejected as "not bugs" so most just give up and move on.

jotm 5y ago

Yeah, you can fix everything yourself. Up until you get tired of fixing and just use a normal OS that isn't breaking something random every update. To be honest, if you "freeze" an installation (i.e. never update anything), it works pretty well! The difference between server and desktop packages seems to be professionalism - the latter just aren't developed/maintained to the same standards as the former. I love Linux and what you can do with theming, though, it's quite amazing.

criddell 5y ago

I hope you like maintaining a fork forever, because that's the most likely outcome.