Most servers around the world run Linux. The same goes for almost all supercomputers. That’s astonishing in a capitalist world where absolutely everything is commodified. Why can’t these big tech companies manage to sell their own software to server operators or supercomputers? Why is an open, free project that is free for users so superior here?
Ok. You seem to understand the basic concept I’ve been screaming for years. That is that not all users are the same.
I’ve been saying for a while that linux doesn’t face a usability issue. It faces an image issue.
I know a friend who will not even LOOK at Linux, because she asked me “how do I install software?”. I answered that there’s two ways. The first is going to a software manager, and using that to download the program. Just like googles app store on android. If it’s not there, you type sudo apt install (program).
The second I mentioned that second part, she said “Ohhhh no no no no no. I won’t remember all that…”
For her the software manager is going to be the absolute best way. HOWEVER, the image of linux is that it’s only for tech gurus who can navigate terminal.
So she has a point here. Yes, there are alternative ways to do things, but for people, it’s all about image. Just look at Coke ads. There’s nothing special about them. Red can, white classic logo, maybe a polar bear or santa during the holidays. But it works because of image.
So, my question is, why doesn’t linux collectively NOT DISABLE terminal, but instead de-escalate the prominance on which the platform is defined. Why not make it in image closer to what cmd prompts in windows are?
If you search “how to _____ in windows 10”, you’ll get a tutorial with photos, and step by step in how to solve your issue, using only the mouse. Almost 100% of the time.
But if you search “how to ____ in (distro of choice)” you’ll be given a tutorial almost 100% of the time in terminal commands.
If you “get” terminal, you’ll understand the errors. I’ve tried using terminal off and on for about 17 years now. I have a 0% succsess rate of it doing the thing it needs to do. I’m sure these errors are simple. If I knew what it was telling me, I’m sure theres probably an easy fix.
But a good example is, there was some program I wanted. Its not in my software center. In order to run it, I need something called “python3”. I attempt sudo apt install python3. I get a message saying python3 is already installed. I try to install the program. Program says prerequisit python3 needs to be installed. I sudo apt install python3. Python3 is already installed. Sudo apt update python3. Python3 is already latest version. Try to install the program. Still doesn’t think python3 is installed.
I don’t know how to fix that. I don’t even know what python3 is. That was 4 years ago. I don’t even remember what program I was trying to install. I just remember it was during the days I was recovering from cancer, so for 3 months, all day every day I tried to solve it.
I never solved it.
So, why can YOU easily see that normal every day users use these machines differently than experts, with different needs?
Just make the IMAGE of Linux easy enough for toddlers. 12 years ago my 2 year old niece was using an iPad. Even today her dad says she’d never understand Linux. She could…if she tried it. Because a lot of distros function user friendly. But it has that image problem. And until Linux becomes mainstream, the software will never be 1:1. It will be “gimp vs photoshop”. And as long as thats the case, usability isn’t 100% for normies. Theres still tons of rough edges. And those rough edges become easily solved through terminal. And now we’re back to the image problem.
Why don’t the distro makers get this?
The terminal is the common denominator between different desktop environments, and between distros for many things. It’s hard to get away from that.
You’d have to make one video for each DE and then update it every time the UI is updated.
I can relate to being intimidated by any instructions that mention the terminal. When I first started with Linux I would prefer doing stuff using a GUI over command line.
I started getting into hobbyist coding stuff, and fifteen years later I’m much more comfortable with the terminal.
Even so, I think trying to make Linux more palatable for the average person is going to be tough. It’s very difficult to make something that’s powerful and extensible while also being easy to use.
Nah, it’s actually really easy to make something powerful, intuitive, extensible, and easy to use.
It’s stopping the idiots from punching themselves in the dick and blaming you for it that’s hard.
In Linux’ defense, Python’s mess is its own problem.
apt was mentioned, so this might actually be Debian’s problem. Python doesn’t support being installed without its standard library, but (unless they’ve decided to stop being dumb since I last checked) Debian’s python package only contains part of the standard library, and the rest is split into other optional packages. If you find software that says its only dependency is python, on Debian-derived distros, it might not work without installing extra packages, and if the software’s maintainer doesn’t use Debian and know about this, then their installation instructions won’t cover it.
Ahhh that would actually explain a few issues I’ve had trying to use Python based automation tools on Proxmox. lol Weird packages missing…
That is a peculiar way to shoot themselves in the foot.
Downstream packagers are under no obligation not to do dumb things that break things for users and make the users blame the upstream developers.
You’re one of the people who would rather watch a 13 minute YouTube video than read a paragraph.
He says, as he replies to someone who just spent 30 minutes typing out a 14 paragraph message on a cellphone with no physical buttons.
To be a bit less flippant, the analogy isn’t far off.
Reading terminal instructions that you can easily copy/paste is a hell of a lot easier than watching a video and clicking around menus.
The issues that you’re having wouldn’t be any easier if they showed in a GUI. Yeah, things with GUI can be more polished, but that’s a result of the effort in that product, and not a result.of the GUI.
I sympathize with what I believe is your main point, that Linux people often are condescending and refuse to make things user friendly, whether that’s in a GUI or in the terminal. But the terminal itself shouldn’t be too daunting.
Ain’t nobody reading that novel past “sudo apt install”, least of all OPs girlfriend from Canada there.
It’s ok. Literacy isn’t for everyone.