Comment by the__alchemist
4 days ago
Wishlist:
- No sudo, or at least no conflict between "Sudo is dangerous and can break your system" / "You need sudo to do routine things"
- Executable compatibility across distro versions and distros
- No CLI required to install software
- Lag-free pen experience
- Good touch support
- Less fragile. I shouldn't have to worry about the PC booting up into a no-GUI terminal after I installed something, or edited a file. (See point 1; don't make me edit system files to do routine stuff like communicate with a USB device without sudo, if they can break the system)
- Focus on speed, and clawing back the performance losses that have been accumulating in all OSs over the years
- Let me open an application by double-clicking it
I would love to ditch Windows and its corporate BS, but the UX is IMO not there yet. I am running a Ubuntu 24 Laptop for work and it's generally fine as I run only a small set of software, but historically things get messy when I install a broader range of software or use non-typical hardware. So, not better than Win yet for my personal uses
Bonus: Something like PowerToys. I recognize this diverges from core OS functionality.
It's not that I don't have my own set of gripes about linux, but this wishlist is weird, at least to me:
- There is nothing wrong with sudo - or to be precise, it is good thing that administrative operations are explicit. And sudo is still less annoying than Windows "admin prompt" anyway.
- Why do you care? Use apt install, yum install or apk add, whatever your distro supports.
- It is not required, there are GUI managers, but again - why?
- Got me there. I don't use pen.
- Used touch on ThinkPad some years ago, it just worked, maybe depends on the laptop?
- Until 15 years ago this was true, but I haven't seen this happen since then. Debian here if it matters.
- I'm typing this on a 15 years old desktop (with NVME, admittedly) and it boots and feels faster than a new MacBook Pro I am testing. Linux accumulated much less, if any, performance losses. I agree that Windows and Mac both became bloated.
- I think doubleclick is the default way, at least in xfce? Or I might be missing what you mean. That said, I use keyboard shortcuts mostly as I try to avoid mouse for this.
With all that said, of course it will not look and feel the same as Windows. It is a different OS, with different priorities. I like it better than both Windows and MacOS, but maybe it's because I found the combination that fits me (Debian + XFCE). Maybe take a look at KDE and XFCE?
I think I can summarize this: In life and devices, I often find processes I find are high-friction, or have room for user interface or other improvements. There is a guarantee that there will be people who will tell me these concerns are invalid.
In the case of Linux usability desires, I will make the cautious conclusion that there is a group of people who consider Linux part of their identity, and any desire for improvement or shortcoming is mentally a personal challenge. I am just a human using computers as a tool, and don't have a desire to play politics on this subject.
I think the "it's fine" / "works for me" / "Actually this is a good thing" / "Why don't you just" replies like this are an obstacle to improvement, but is often overcome.
Sure. Or we could say that when someone is used to the way things work, one is reluctant to change and will find all kinds of "faults" to keep them from taking the plunge.
As I said, I have my own list of things with linux I would like to see different, it's just that they are different. And they are not big enough to keep me in MS-land. But to each their (our) own, I guess.
"In life and devices, I often find processes I find are high-friction, or have room for user interface or other improvements ..."
Agreed - and I find the same thing.
Distilling these processes to terminal commands has the highest potential for usability and efficiency gains.
>- No sudo, or at least no conflict between "Sudo is dangerous and can break your system" / "You need sudo to do routine things"
This is an unreasonable ask. No modern operating system will give you this. You have to escalate credentials on macOS and Windows as well. Typically Linux asks you LESS often than either macOS or Windows. This or I don't understand what you're asking here.
>- No CLI required to install software
Just use GNOME Software or Discover (KDE). They'll install anything on Flathub or in your distro's repositories. Use a different distro than Ubuntu though, since they are non-standard with using Snap instead of Flatpak.
>Lag-free pen experience
I have the same amount of lag in Windows as in Linux on my Surface Pro 9. What does need work is palm rejection, but you can disable the touchscreen while the pen is in use. Not the best.
>Good touch support
GNOME and GTK 3/4 apps are by far the best for this. Not quite as good as Windows though.
>Less fragile. I shouldn't have to worry about the PC booting up into a no-GUI terminal after I installed something, or edited a file. (See point 1; don't make me edit system files to do routine stuff like communicate with a USB device without sudo, if they can break the system)
?????? ?????? If you mess with system files on any system without knowing what you're doing you'll run into this problem with an OS.
>Let me open an application by double-clicking it
Double clicking what?
The executable file in your file manager? That works.
A desktop shortcut? Use a different DE than GNOME or install an extension that allows desktop shortcuts.
"No CLI required to install software"
This seems very odd ... a quick one-liner install process is by far the simplest and most efficient way to install a piece of software ...
What other fragility and unnecessary complexity comes along with graphical installation tools ?
Is this a pain point for non-technical users you might prepare this system for ? Who do you have in mind when you specify this ?
It is not simpler, if you don't know the exact magic line that does it for the specific application. GUI tools allow for easy and convenient search.
Easy and convenient is highly subjective and context dependent. Thankfully GUI tools exist for people who find that convenient.
Perhaps this exercise will help. You are new to a given piece of software.
I read the docs and go for B.
Now try to automate/script it.
Good luck with A
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