On Nov 7, 2016, at 17:06, Alexander Bisogianis alexixor@gmail.com wrote:
On 07/11/16 21:19, Liam wrote: The issue is that except for a bit of a package delta a with server, Workstation hasn't really taken advantage of the freedom we've been given.
First of all, I feel a bit bad judging about other people's work. Please do not receive the below as anything else but honest criticism.
Let me get out of the way this:
My opinion is that out of all the OSS/Libre operating systems out there, the only one specifically created for *desktop* computing is Haiku.
Below are a couple of examples, which tie in to the discussion about "bootloaders" in this thread:
- The boot experience is perfect. No switching to console, no twitching no nothing. You see some icons light up, which double as progress bar and information on the boot process (for those that care).
I wonder if maybe we need to announce an official theme for each release... like this upcoming release the focus is definitely on switchable graphics. Fedora announced awesome improvements and it's a feature that can be directly seen and pointed to.
Given that Fedora has a fairly quick 6 month release cycle, maybe every cycle should have a focus point. This release was switchable, next release could be boot process, the release after that could be handling updates. It helps out the Marketing guys because they have something to target the materials at, but it also helps developers because we can say "If you don't know what to work on, go work on this."
It's like when Ubuntu did the 100 paper cuts project. It was more than a single release, but it gave a focus point for development. Amazing things are coming down the pipe in switchable graphics support... because development was focused.
- Is your system is unbootable for *any* reason? No worries. Boot form USB/CD, hold *Space" and you are presented with all Haiku *boot* (i.e. root) volumes. Choose one and boot. End of troubleshooting. You can also boot form USB/CD and access your files, of course. You also get a nice list of failsafe graphics modes, if you have graphics issues.
The ease of trouble shooting could be handled by having a "Boot to initramfs" option. Just bring up the bare minimum we need to for an interactive system, and then stop. Probably wouldn't have graphics (could it?) but it'd be something that MIGHT work in the absence of alternative boot media.
As per Liam's post, Haiku has the notion of "kits", exactly like MacOSX, because BeOS had them and MacOSX was inspired by it, in more than one way...
Haiku also has "drag 'n drop" installation. Yo udownlaod an HPKG, drop it in a folder called "packaged" and you are done. Finally, the Haiku core devs own every single application that is installed by default, including the web browser. This is the only real way to have a clear distinction between "OS" and "Third Party Applications". They provide an "App store", but when a user updates the *OS*, they only update the *OS*, nothing else.
I've been trying to think of any way that Linux could have a firmer split between "This is the 'default OS' and 'This is the crap you installed ontop' and I really can't think of any way we could do it... I mean I guess we could do some crazy package dependency magic where "If you install this package, it will remove anything that isn't part of the 'base install' group" but I am not any where near skilled enough with RPM packaging to figure out the syntax for that one.
Haiku has a million flaws and deficiencies, but one clear goal, even if futile. Fedora has to have the same type of dedication to desktop/laptop use, in order to achieve it's goal, which is to atteact developers and users from Windows and macOS.
Anaconda folks: how hard would it be to add a drop down box on the last screen where the user could pick a tuned profile? I managed to get some noticeable performance improvements out of a virtualization host, and better battery life out of a laptop, by configuring tuned... once I knew that tuned existed.
Again, I apologize if I have insulted anyone, my intention is not to insult of belittle, but to inform and help.
Don't apologize. Nothing in this world got better without being criticized. If we want to continue to raise the bar, then we have to be willing to be honest with ourselves about where we are failing.