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Ask Slashdot: Are We Witnessing the Decline of Ubuntu?

Posted by Soulskill on from the too-many-people-running-visigoth-linux dept.

jammag writes "'When the history of free software is written, I am increasingly convinced that this last year will be noted as the start of the decline of Ubuntu,' opines Linux pundit Bruce Byfield. After great initial success, Ubuntu and Canonical began to isolate themselves from the mainstream of the free software community. Canonical, he says, has tried to control the open source community, and the company has floundered in many of its initiatives. Really, the mighty Ubuntu, in decline?"

2 of 631 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Only time will tell... by fisted · · Score: -1, Troll

    Being popular as a distribution does not mean they are evil. And the comparison with Windows is just plain _stupid_ Microsoft promotes software patenting. Microsoft embraces and extends open standards to break them - allows importing of data but only crappy exporting.

    Nice set of straw men. Where did you see me saying Ubuntu was a) evil, b) popular or c) popular and thus evil?
    And how is it stupid to compare a distro trying hard to be Windows-like with Windows? Are /you/ by any chance ,,just plain stupid''?

    Now, I do agree that Ubuntu made some less popular decisions to make money.

    I was under the impression those were Canonical's decisions..

    While I don't like it either, they are easily apt-get removed.

    Now what? Ubuntu or Canonical is easily removed from Ubuntu?

    Ubuntu also does their software development in OpenSource fashion.

    Geez, did you CamelCase OpenSource? AreYouAJavaProgrammerByAnyChance?
    Anyway Big deal. Doing software development ,,in open source fashion'' is standard in the open source world. Hence the name ,,open source'', internet superhero.

    I think some of the ubuntu-bashing is unjustified and unconstructive.

    I think some of A is B. For many values and combinations of A and B.

    Ubuntu has a certain amount of critical mass which is very interesting and which leads to a better quality experience than for example with Fedora.

    Especially since Unity, right?

    While I don't agree with all the 'dumbing down', it still allows power user to dive as deep as they want into the system and into the code. And I like the fact that it's not required for novice users.

    First thing a novice user should do, is /at least/ get familiar with the command line shell. If you like pushing around your mouse, you might just be better off with a Windows machine.

    --
    CLI paste? paste.pr0.tips!
  2. Not just ubuntu, all of Linux is in decline by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    Between Windows 8.1, which is revolutionary, and OS X there is simply no room left for Linux any more. I used to know half a dozen people who used Linux and now ALL of them have switched to something better. People are tired of recompiling kernels, looking at crappy fonts, having NO drivers for common hardware, and all the general stupidity and uselessness of Linux. And I haven't even begun with the security, performance and privacy flaws inherent to ALL open source software!