Why don't more people use desktop Linux? I have a theory you might not like
Why don't more people use desktop Linux? I have a theory you might not like
There might be a very simple explanation for why the masses have yet to adopt Linux as their desktop operating system and it's one the open-source community won't like.
I'm curious to hear thoughts on this. I agree for the most part, I just wish people would see the benefit of choice and be brave enough to try it out.
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Today's Linux is not yesterday's Linux. Now, the platform is incredibly easy to use. There's no more need to use the command line.
It still blows my mind when people say this. Linux is incredibly NOT user friendly, and you're constantly sent into the CLI for basic debugging or even just installation of software.
The reliance on CLI is exactly why it will never be more popular, and I think Linux users/developers like it that way.
As for an "official" Linux distribution, that's a neat idea but simply never going to happen. No one will ever agree to that.
This is an inherent limitation of "free as in freedom" software. The simple option of choice complicates things, and always will.
You can put a myriad of setup and administration options into the GUI and most people still have no interest in them. These people just have no interest in using a computer like that. They "just want it to work". It's not a CLI v. GUI problem, it's one of assumed responsibility.
This is an inherent limitation of “free as in freedom” software.
"Free as in freedom" really only refers to developers. The non-developers are beholden to whoever packages and distributes their software for them. We Linux users who aren't system developers let the "distro maintainers" do the developer work for us. That's why a distro's website is full of mission statements and declarations of philosophy--it's how we decide who to trust.
And it's the same for the "non-nerds" with system administration. Businesses hire admins to handle their internal software and networks, and at home people let Apple, Microsoft or Google take increasingly more control over their devices so that they aren't responsible for getting it all working.
These people just have no interest in using a computer like that. They "just want it to work".
Yes these are the people I'm referring to also. We're not talking about network engineering or developing software. We're talking about installing a program or virtually any kind of debugging.
I don't think it's that simple
people are ok with using the command line but they get scared about the potential complexity
If a gui is equally complex, it would turn away users too
people are ok with using the command line but they get scared about the potential complexity
God you people are so blind. No one gets "scared". They just don't want to dedicate the time to memorize a thousand different commands across a hundred different OSes.
If a gui is equally complex, it would turn away users too
But they arent.