this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2023
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Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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looks like 2023 is finally the year! (linuxiac.com)
submitted 1 year ago by chicagohuman@lemm.ee to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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[–] squaresinger@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Tbh, I spent enough time fixing it. I don't want to file bug reports and battle them though a bug log in my spare time. I do enough of that in my work time.

In my spare time I tend to use a computer to accomplish a task, not to fix the computer.

And that's where you hit the "average user" thing again. If an average user encounters a bug, they either live with the bug or give up. If you ask any of your non-dev friends how many of these has ever filed a bug report, I'd venture to say it's not going to be many.

And in the few cases where you actually see non-techy people filing a bug report, it's usually going to be on the level of "HELP! My PC is not working!" and the response will be "Closed for not following the template".

[–] hibby@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't know what to tell you. If you want to blame Ubuntu for your issues, but you aren't willing to go through the standard process of troubleshooting or filing a big report, maybe Linux isn't for you.

[–] squaresinger@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Dude, I am a dev, I am using Linux for over a decade. I spent hours fixing these issues. But we are talking about "The year of the Linux desktop" and Linux being used by people who aren't hardcore tech nerds or devs.

To quote from my edit that you probably didn't read yet:

And that’s where you hit the “average user” thing again. If an average user encounters a bug, they either live with the bug or give up. If you ask any of your non-dev friends how many of these has ever filed a bug report, I’d venture to say it’s not going to be many.

And in the few cases where you actually see non-techy people filing a bug report, it’s usually going to be on the level of “HELP! My PC is not working!” and the response will be “Closed for not following the template”.

The point I was trying to make is "Linux currently totally is not for everyone. There are a lot of issues that stop regular users from using Linux." and I was downvoted for that, and people kept argueing whose fault it is. And now you are coming to the conclusion that I was making in the beginning:

Maybe Linux isn't for everyone.

Because it currently totally isn't.

What really annoys me with this discussion (and I've had the exact same discussions hundreds of times) is that it always goes through the same cycle:

  • A: "Linux is great, everyone should use Linux right now, the only reason not everyone is using Linux is because they are too dumb to switch."
  • B: "But Linux has issues that are difficult for regular users, e.g. that you have to use CLI every once in a while."
  • A: "No, you never have to."
  • B: lists some specific instances where they had to
  • A: "But you are dumb for even doing that. Linux is not made for XYZ use cases"
  • B: "But XYZ use cases are pretty basic and most users run into random ones of these"
  • A: "If you think there are problems, you are maybe to dumb to use Linux"
  • B: "I fixed these issues, it was just a demonstration of where regular users get stuck"

Combine that with the really misguided notion that anyone who isn't a tech crack must be dumb because otherwise they would be a tech crack, and it gets really dumb. People completely forget that there are lots of different topics where even most tech cracks have no clue about (e.g. medicine). I have ~20 years of experience as a dev. I know my way around the things I'm working with. I am the one everyone calls if they have issues with their computers. But I got no clue about fixing cars, medicine, or making clothes, just to name a few. And I am really grateful that if I go to my doctor, he treats me and doesn't tell me I'm dumb because I don't have a medical degree.

[–] hibby@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Okay buddy. You obviously didn't come here to do anything but grind your axe. 3% of desktop use is pretty cool, even if it's likely just a ton of Steam Decks. Anyway, have a nice time developing.

[–] squaresinger@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Well, fanboy, have fun pushing people out of Linux. People like you are a major part of the reason that it's still only 3%.

Just imagine that: There's a free OS that doesn't track you, doesn't serve you ads, you don't need the newest hardware to run it, it does almost anything that Windows does, and yet, it's got only 3 meagre percent of market share after 30 years.

You think that is because it's so easy to get into if you don't have a tech background?

Sadly, next to the technical hurdles and the bad UX, there is a really toxic community that is happy to shit on anyone who dares to say that Linux isn't perfect.