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Your taste is not different regarding usability but regarding tools. Usability just means making that what you use as usable as possible: * Window managers
by nilslindemann 9mo ago
Your taste is not different regarding usability but regarding tools. Usability just means making that what you use as usable as possible:
* Window managers are wisely preconfigured and the user can one-click-switch between them, like between Plugins.
* Key bindings are configurable for everything (which probable is already the case)
* There is a CLI <-> GUI standard. Same for config files <-> settings panels, etc. The UCI standard for chess engines comes to mind.
* Installing from source is integrated. Every source code directory can be right-clicked: "compile". Every binary can be right-clicked: "modify". And that works out of the box, no programming skills required unless one wants to make changes. One can click on code locations: "Explain".
Some more things come to my mind:
* A "freeze" button which freezes the current state of my system bit by bit. There is a possibility to backup that to the internet for a monthly fee. No credit card required.
* Every button bar can be configured, every list of something can be filter-as-you-typed. Every right-click Menu can be configured.
* Linux has a global namespace/function/type library, accessible via a browser and also directly from within Linux. You dont have to read any doc except that of the used namespace/function/type. it creates binaries which follow the above standard.
* There is an AI window where I can ask questions about my system. It has a well-done local default AI but there is an option to buy tokens from popular "Language Models". No tech speak. No credit card required.
This is what I mean with "become so usable that you threaten windows".
- palata 9mo agoOh, I get it now. I guess I agree with that, then. Though before you reach "perfect, ideal usability", I feel like it's still subjective. Linux is currently more usable to me than Windows or macOS. Also I think we could debate on the "footguns" idea. Many people will say "we should not allow the user to do that because it is a footgun" for many things that I barely consider "advanced usage" and that I actually want. Does making it simpler at the cost of removing possibilities count as making it more usable, or less?
- nilslindemann 9mo agoRight you are. Making it "simpler" at the cost of removing possibilities is not usability. That is dictatorship disguising itself as a service to the alleged "uneducated user". The Gnome people do / have done that, the result is an operating system which is nearly unusable. Usability is not some developer deciding which tools to have and which tools not to have, usability is allowing the users to choose but give pleasant defaults, so that the user can also choose not to choose.