Slashdot Mirror
Ask Slashdot: How Would You Fix the Linux Desktop?
itwbennett writes "Slashdot readers are familiar with the Torvalds/de Icaza slugfest over 'the lack of development in Linux desktop initiatives.' The problem with the Linux desktop boils down to this: We need more applications, and that means making it easier for developers to build them, says Brian Proffitt. 'It's easy to point at solutions like the Linux Standard Base, but that dog won't hunt, possibly because it's not in the commercial vendors' interests to create true cross-distro compatibility. United Linux or a similar consortium probably won't work, for the same reasons,' says Proffitt. So, we put it to the Slashdot community: How would you fix the Linux desktop?"
I would shut linux down and give the money back to its shareholders.
will fix the desktop.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
I would trick Microsoft into releasing Windows 8.
Linux Desktop gets more competitive overnight.
Calling the Windows API simple and elegant is the funniest thing I've heard all day.
No. No. You're thinking too small. Have a single program that runs on every platform, looks and behaves however the user wants at all times, and is super fast and provably secure, which won't be too hard to do since it will consist of a single processor instruction. Also, it should fetch the newspaper and hook me up with hot single babes who will do anything I want whenever I want sexually and otherwise, but will only be interested in pleasing me. She shouldn't have the need to sleep. but must be willing and able to do so on command with zero latency.
Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
Hmm, I agree on the API part. So maybe a single toolkit like GTK (or some such). I disagree about the single desktop environment. I like Gnome, some people like KDE and you like XKCD. Which one to choose? Is it even possible to have one desktop environment to cater to everyones wishes? MS and Apple seem to think so, but that's why I don't use their OSs.
I do like XKCD, but I find it makes a lousy desktop environment as it's too distracting. I prefer Xfce as a desktop environment.
Also, it should hook me up with hot single babes who will do anything I want whenever I want sexually and otherwise, but will only be interested in pleasing me. She shouldn't have the need to sleep. but must be willing and able to do so on command with zero latency.
Do we really need another web browser for porn?
(Sigh) I guess I'll just have to rewrite the whole thing from the ground up. I'll just avoid making any bugs or bad design decisions, and make sure everything loves all aspects of everything I code. I'll just write a new bootloader, kernel, drivers, utilities, compiler toolchain, windowing system, desktop productivity software, and some cute cat apps.
Should take a week or two.
My favorite reason for losing a new user, "I got through the install part until it asked me to set a root password, and the keyboard didn't work so I gave up."
I figured it was for the best.
Paying taxes to buy civilization is like paying a hooker to buy love.