Comments on: Linux Doesn’t Need a Unified Distro http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntucat/linux-doesnt-need-a-unified-distro/ Random musings from the radical feminist Christian antiracist left - some having to do with Ubuntu Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:53:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Wayfinder http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntucat/linux-doesnt-need-a-unified-distro/comment-page-1/#comment-8811 Wayfinder Wed, 12 May 2010 17:28:24 +0000 http://ubuntucat.wordpress.com/2005/09/15/linux-doesnt-need-a-unified-distro/#comment-8811 An interesting post-- with many valid statements. But also full of generalizations and assumptions that are debatable. Saying something will "never" happen takes more the flavor of strong opinion than market trend. No one is presenting the idea of adding "yet another distro" to make a unified package. The concept is that of removing the "distro" concept entirely-- and replacing it with a universally agreed upon and marketed Linux package with a consistent GUI (versatile, but consistent), core end-user programs (word processing, basic game package, browser, etc), and in a format / name / logo designed to gain universal market recognition. Currently the new Linux user IS faced with a plethora of "distros"... all claiming to be the best on the planet. An army divided against itself cannot stand. All that those in favor of a unified Linux present is that the Linux community needs to present a unified concept to the desktop community. Not three concepts, not two dozen concepts: one. What additional packages people wish to install from there is up to them... just as with any operating system. What is standing in the way of this is the general attitude of "it can't be done"... and the ever-present resistance to change, insisting on personal agendas, and refusal to cooperate for the greater good of the community and world as a whole. Some Linux users have a tendency (as is common in the computer field) toward an "elitist" attitude that insists new customers adapt to the platform-- rather than the platform adapting to the needs of the customers. That is an old and tired philosophy that needs to change. I disagree that unification of the Linux community will never happen. In truth, it is almost inevitable. The question is: does it happen in the near future... or does it take another decade or two? That will largely depend on how willing individuals in the Linux community are willing to cooperate-- to drop personal agendas-- to compromise for the greater good of the end goal: to create the best, most widely-accepted operating system on the planet. That will never happen so long as our community remains fragmented among numerous and unnecessary "distros" rather than a basic core desktop package with additional "add-on" packages. Fragmentation creates chaos and hurts the community. For Linux to go mainstream-- regardless of the kickers and screamers-- the negativity will need to give way to a more end-user-friendly, desktop-friendly attitude of cooperation. An interesting post– with many valid statements. But also full of generalizations and assumptions that are debatable. Saying something will “never” happen takes more the flavor of strong opinion than market trend.

No one is presenting the idea of adding “yet another distro” to make a unified package. The concept is that of removing the “distro” concept entirely– and replacing it with a universally agreed upon and marketed Linux package with a consistent GUI (versatile, but consistent), core end-user programs (word processing, basic game package, browser, etc), and in a format / name / logo designed to gain universal market recognition.

Currently the new Linux user IS faced with a plethora of “distros”… all claiming to be the best on the planet. An army divided against itself cannot stand. All that those in favor of a unified Linux present is that the Linux community needs to present a unified concept to the desktop community. Not three concepts, not two dozen concepts: one. What additional packages people wish to install from there is up to them… just as with any operating system.

What is standing in the way of this is the general attitude of “it can’t be done”… and the ever-present resistance to change, insisting on personal agendas, and refusal to cooperate for the greater good of the community and world as a whole. Some Linux users have a tendency (as is common in the computer field) toward an “elitist” attitude that insists new customers adapt to the platform– rather than the platform adapting to the needs of the customers. That is an old and tired philosophy that needs to change.

I disagree that unification of the Linux community will never happen. In truth, it is almost inevitable. The question is: does it happen in the near future… or does it take another decade or two? That will largely depend on how willing individuals in the Linux community are willing to cooperate– to drop personal agendas– to compromise for the greater good of the end goal: to create the best, most widely-accepted operating system on the planet.

That will never happen so long as our community remains fragmented among numerous and unnecessary “distros” rather than a basic core desktop package with additional “add-on” packages. Fragmentation creates chaos and hurts the community. For Linux to go mainstream– regardless of the kickers and screamers– the negativity will need to give way to a more end-user-friendly, desktop-friendly attitude of cooperation.

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