Slashdot Mirror
October Gnome Released
k_wayne writes "The Gnome team have finished an amazing bug hunt and we are left with a pretty cool stable release of the Gnome system. See the announcement made by Elliot Lee. The gnome developers are now moving their attention toward the next generation gnome release. This new Gnome stuff is not only very stable, it's got some very cool stuff in it. " One really nice new feature is dingus-clicking: you can click on a URL in the terminal and have Netscape come up. XChat, glade, more translations, and easier bug reporting some of the most significant features.
I gave up on Gnome due to all the bugs
Well, what are you waiting for? This is the stable release you have been waiting for and no longer need to be a bigot!
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I get a kick out of reading Slashdot comments on the PCWeek thing, about how 21 security updates aren't that bad, you just wget the whole directory, then rpm -Fvh *.rpm and you're done. And how one big service pack from Microsoft is bloated and slow and inefficient....
Today, it seems, we've turned the tables. "30 packages? What a pain! Why don't they just give me one big package that I can click?"
:)
You see, Gnu/Linux is no longer just for the computer elite, it for a much larger crowd who for some reason, want to take a chance with this bold new platform.
Hacking value isn't a boolean value, friend. It is qualitive in all shapes and sizes. Think, there is probably somebody who used to be famliar DOS batch files and task-switching in DOS who right now is experimenting with Python. Think, someone who used to write HTML in MS Notepad is, right now, learning vi. Think, right now, someone is writing their first shell script. Think, right now, someone is learning Perl.
If there is one good GNU/Linux can cause because of it's hype, it would be the spread of true computer literacy and the aknowledgement of what computer literacy really is.
Desktops like Gnome and KDE aren't just catering to the masses, they are catering to people who are less secure with a command-line, but still want to learn. Tell me this, what difference is there between developing in gEdit rather than emacs or vi.
Why is it, you think, that people are coming to Unix? Probably because Windows isn't fun anymore. A little while ago, I saw one of the last issues of DOSWorld in the newsstands. I glanced through it and saw the various tricks and hacks with batch scripts and DOS and thought to myself, these people would love GNU/linux. I believe that many of these people do. DOSWorld doesn't exist anymore.
I would love to see a scripting utility for gnome to make access to the desktop more easier. Access to all the Corba objects and bonobo componets with documentation, something compelling to even the least computer literate.
Ah, but one can dream...
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/* I know this is flame bait, but someone has to speak up: */
/*
Elitist? Why not...
/* Why all the excitement for these sugar coating GUIs (KDE, GNOME, YADM). */
Because for the first time since its inception, X can be used in a consistent manner if a user so chooses? Because Ease of Use is finally delivered?
Becasue we no longer need to think about syntax of Window Manager Configuration files?
/* Do i really give a ph*ck about themes? */
Do you really want a desktop in varying shades of ugly grey?
/* Can i impress the people in my office with the incredibly baroque-looking desktop i can configure? */
Windows User - hey, its like Windows
NeXTStep User - hey, its like...
OS/2, Mac, Acorn, Amiga User......
Get the picture?
/* Can i write a 100 line Perl CGI? */
In the easy to use, syntax highlighting editor with KDE yes, with Gnome, more than likely. Look ma! - programming without vi or emacs - editing made easy.
/* These are for script kiddies, Perl schmucks and wintel wannabes */
And people whose money will support hardware, software and ease of use development for Linux, while providing jobs for Unix geeks who program, document and package Linux. Sounds good to me.
/* You want to develop, make real applications, all you need is emacs, some good elisp packages, and a clean desktop */
A compiler always helps, too.
Emacs sucking is another flamewar - but the UI of eother vi or emacs is hostile to point and click, or even casual explanation. It can be mastered, to award yourself points for mastering the trivia of Unix.
A clean desktop - is this one with NO desktop functionality and a bunch of xterms? - thought so.
/* I agree that things like the CORBA interfaces to desktop service is an excellent idea. Yes, I know that htere are more than developers out there and they have there needs too
Nice to see them addressed after 20+ years of Unix.
/* But all you out there talk about is themes, and and whether it plays solitaire and trivial sh*t like that. Don't pretend. */
Themes are optional, and trendy, and playing solitaire is vital to the health of any office worker using Windows, and finally having a desktop to discuss is not trivial shit, given the wait Unix has had to get a desktop.
George Russell