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KDE 3.2 Alpha 1 Finally on FTP
An anonymous reader cut-and-pastes from the announcement: "Stephan Kulow finally managed to get the last bits of the KDE 3.2 Alpha 1 codenamed 'Brokenboring' including KDevelop 3.0 Alpha 6 on the ftp server (the mirrors should soon pick it up). There won't be any binary packages for this release because the KDE 'P(a)i' release is coming out soon. Everyone using it is asked to compile it with --enable-debug, so we can get valuable feedback. There is a new unstable version of Konstruct to install it."
which is it? Broken or Boring?
The KDE project is famous for its funded and organised trolling of weblogs and
message board associated with Linux and Free software/open source. Outrageous newbie
impressing claims are made for the software and huge quanities of FUD are spread to
destroy competitors. If this sounds familiar, then you are correct, most of these
tactics were lifted straight from Microsoft's arsenal of dirty tricks. The Windows
look and feel is not the only thing the KDE project has copied! In this short article
I will address some of the lies and FUD spread by the KDE trolling teams. It is my
hope that this, in some small way, will redress the balance and re-introduce two
things almost eradicated by the KDE project: Honesty and facts.
Myth #1 - KDE is more integrated than GNOME
The oft-heard cry of the noisiest KDE advocates. No explanation is given, the reader
is expected to simply grok the wholesomeness of KDE and the lack of this mystical
quality in GNOME. It is nonsense of course. Neither desktop is particularly
"integrated" compared to Windows XP, and certainly not compared any version of the
Apple Mac. Whatever "integrated" actually means.
Myth #2 - KDE is easier to use
Again, such nebulous arguments are never explained, and the reader is expected to
simply understand the truth of the zealots statement. Both KDE and GNOME have
user-interface irritations (all systems do), but "ease of use" is not a simple thing
to measure. KDE has never been subjected to detailed user testing, unlike GNOME
[gnome.org] [gnome.org], and the claims of user-friendliness are from crazed
supporters and not average users. Furthermore, the KDE faithful rarely look beyond
simple-minded copying of Windows, and forget that administering a desktop system is
just as important as having widgets in the correct place on the toolbar. For example:
What about application installation and removal? GNOME has the excellent RedCarpet by
Ximian [ximian.com] [ximian.com], which makes the installation, removal and updating
of applications trivial. KDE users are expected to fend for themselves with brutal
command line driven systems. GNOME also has the excellent Ximian setup tools to
handle various tricky cross-platform and potentially risky system configuration
operations. KDE offers none of this, only a few small half-assed Linux-only tools,
which make no attempt at check-pointing to return to known working configurations.
Myth #3 - KDE is more popular
In what sense? Arguably more people use KDE, but it is a close run thing. Most KDE
zealots use the results of online polls as proof of their superior userbase - which
is, quite frankly, complete and utter nonsense. Online polls are the joke of the
century; it doesn't even require a motivated script kiddie to render then worthless.
A single post alerting the faithful on a zealot-ridden site can skew the result so
much it makes American presidential elections look fair and well organised.
Popularity is also difficult to measure when *both* GNOME and KDE are frequently
installed on the same system. The systems can co-exist and even run at the same time,
except for certain applications such as panels. Many KDE users actually run GNOME
applications for their superior features and stability, not realising that by doing
so they are barely running KDE at all.
One of the few solid measures of popularity is commercial use of a desktop, and here,
GNOME is far ahead with both Hewlett Packard and Sun committing to using GNOME as the
desktop for their Unix systems. This also ties in with the previously mentioned ease
of use. Sun's major contribution to the GNOME project is in the areas of
user/developer documentation, testing, accessiblity and user-testing. Three of the
less glamourous parts of desktop development. The arrival of the GNOME 2.x series
will see these
Let me just say that BitTorrent is nothing short of the Denial of Service attack. I hope they are taken down. When is /. going to learn that you can't flood sites, steal music, or copy DVDs without repercussion?
I'm not Seth.
KDE is made by Trolltech, a Canopy Group company. Ray Noorda and Ralph Yarro control Canopy. Canopy owns chunks of Trolltech and Yarrow even sits on the board of Directors.
...
from http://www.vultus.com/investors/bod.html
Under Ralph's direction, the Canopy Group has identified and invested in promising open source and Internet infrastructure technologies. Canopy's greatest strength lies in providing the companies that produce these technologies a sheltered environment in which they can grow and develop. Canopy companies are strongly encouraged to work with each in synergistic partnerships.
Ralph also servers as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Angel Partners, a 501(c)3 support organization for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He is also a Trustee for the Noorda Family Trust, the Scenic View Center, and the Worth of a Soul Foundation. He is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Altiris, AP Software, Caldera Systems, Center 7, Coresoft, and Helius. He sits on the Board of Directors for: the Canopy Group, 2NetFX, Arcanvs, Cogito, DataCrystal, Expressware, Global Prime, The Guy Store, HomePipeLine, iBase Systems, Interworks, Lineo, MTI, ManageMyMoney, Nombas, Profit Pro, Recruit Search, Troll Tech and TugNut.
Well, to tie things up here, Canopy controls our buddy SCO.
What the hell is Trolltech doing being owned by Canopy and letting the head of Canopy sit on its board of directors?
I'm sorry, but until Trolltech comes clean on it's relationship with Canopy then I don't think Linux users should download or use KDE.
Clarification : KDE and QT are great tools; but Trolltech needs to make a stand. Either they are for Linux, or against it. It means making the tough choice between relying on the support of the Linux community or relying on the support of Canopy.
Trolltech ?
That said, for my wife and other non technical users, KDE is wonderful. I hope the stable release comes soon.
UNIX/Linux Consulting
Myth #1 - KDE is more integrated than GNOME
The oft-heard cry of the noisiest KDE advocates. No explanation is given, the reader is expected to simply grok the wholesomeness of KDE and the lack of this mystical quality in GNOME. It is nonsense of course. Neither desktop is particularly "integrated" compared to Windows XP, and certainly not compared any version of the Apple Mac. Whatever "integrated" actually means.
Myth #2 - KDE is easier to use
Again, such nebulous arguments are never explained, and the reader is expected to simply understand the truth of the zealots statement. Both KDE and GNOME have user-interface irritations (all systems do), but "ease of use" is not a simple thing to measure. KDE has never been subjected to detailed user testing, unlike GNOME [gnome.org], and the claims of user-friendliness are from crazed supporters and not average users. Furthermore, the KDE faithful rarely look beyond simple-minded copying of Windows, and forget that administering a desktop system is just as important as having widgets in the correct place on the toolbar. For example: What about application installation and removal? GNOME has the excellent RedCarpet by Ximian [ximian.com], which makes the installation, removal and updating of applications trivial. KDE users are expected to fend for themselves with brutal command line driven systems. GNOME also has the excellent Ximian setup tools to handle various tricky cross-platform and potentially risky system configuration operations. KDE offers none of this, only a few small half-assed Linux-only tools, which make no attempt at check-pointing to return to known working configurations.
Myth #3 - KDE is more popular
In what sense? Arguably more people use KDE, but it is a close run thing. Most KDE zealots use the results of online polls as proof of their superior userbase - which is, quite frankly, complete and utter nonsense. Online polls are the joke of the century; it doesn't even require a motivated script kiddie to render then worthless. A single post alerting the faithful on a zealot-ridden site can skew the result so much it makes American presidential elections look fair and well organised. Popularity is also difficult to measure when *both* GNOME and KDE are frequently installed on the same system. The systems can co-exist and even run at the same time, except for certain applications such as panels. Many KDE users actually run GNOME applications for their superior features and stability, not realising that by doing so they are barely running KDE at all.
One of the few solid measures of popularity is commercial use of a desktop, and here, GNOME is far ahead with both Hewlett Packard and Sun committing to using GNOME as the desktop for their Unix systems. This also ties in with the previously mentioned ease of use. Sun's major contribution to the GNOME project is in the areas of user/developer documentation, testing, accessiblity and user-testing. Three of the less glamourous parts of desktop development. The arrival of the GNOME 2.x series will see these contributions reach fruitition and allow GNOME to make a quantum leap ahead of KDE in most of the basic computer/user issues.
Myth #
Myth #1 - KDE is more integrated than GNOME
The oft-heard cry of the noisiest KDE advocates. No explanation is given, the reader is expected to simply grok the wholesomeness of KDE and the lack of this mystical quality in GNOME. It is nonsense of course. Neither desktop is particularly "integrated" compared to Windows XP, and certainly not compared any version of the Apple Mac. Whatever "integrated" actually means.
Myth #2 - KDE is easier to use
Again, such nebulous arguments are never explained, and the reader is expected to simply understand the truth of the zealots statement. Both KDE and GNOME have user-interface irritations (all systems do), but "ease of use" is not a simple thing to measure. KDE has never been subjected to detailed user testing, unlike GNOME, and the claims of user-friendliness are from crazed supporters and not average users. Furthermore, the KDE faithful rarely look beyond simple-minded copying of Windows, and forget that administering a desktop system is just as important as having widgets in the correct place on the toolbar. For example: What about application installation and removal? GNOME has the excellent RedCarpet by Ximian, which makes the installation, removal and updating of applications trivial. KDE users are expected to fend for themselves with brutal command line driven systems. GNOME also has the excellent Ximian setup tools to handle various tricky cross-platform and potentially risky system configuration operations. KDE offers none of this, only a few small and lame Linux-only tools, which make no attempt at check-pointing to return to known working configurations.
Myth #3 - KDE is more popular
In what sense? Arguably more people use KDE, but it is a close run thing. Most KDE zealots use the results of online polls as proof of their superior userbase - which is, quite frankly, complete and utter nonsense. Online polls are the joke of the century; it doesn't even require a motivated script kiddie to render then worthless. A single post alerting the faithful on a zealot-ridden site can skew the result so much it makes American presidential elections look fair and well organised. Popularity is also difficult to measure when *both* GNOME and KDE are frequently installed on the same system. The systems can co-exist and even run at the same time, except for certain applications such as panels. Many KDE users actually run GNOME applications for their superior features and stability, not realising that by doing so they are barely running KDE at all.
One of the few solid measures of popularity is commercial use of a desktop, and here, GNOME is far ahead with both Hewlett Packard and Sun committing to using GNOME as the desktop for their Unix systems. This also ties in with the previously mentioned ease of use. Sun's major contribution to the GNOME project is in the areas of user/developer documentation, testing, accessiblity and user-testing. Three of the less glamourous parts of desktop development. The arrival of the GNOME 2.x series will see these contributions reach
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