[wellylug] Forking Linux.

[Brent Wood]

--- jumbophut <jumbophut at gmail.com> wrote:

> On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 13:16:36 +1300, Pete Black wrote:
> >
> > And maybe if the people who were skilled with Linux weren't so
> > condescending, and helped the distros make it easier for people to keep
> > their systems patched, we could avoid the problem altogether.
> > 

The distro's I'm most familiar with (Mandrake & SuSE) make it pretty easy. Just
click on system update in control panel (Just like that other OS). Works for
me. 
& unlike that other OS it doesn't seem destructive so far.


There are a couple of issues here (at least in my experience)

 People skilled in Linux generally do not use the distros that novices tend to 

 use. So while they may be skilled, they are still often ignorant about details

 and quirks of setting up "lesser" distros.

 Skilled Linux users of "power" distro's are often condescending to users of 
 other distros.(I definately agree there :-)

Realistically I don't think there is a lot that can be done about either. Try
to find a real SuSE/Mandrake guru. Users, yes, experts no. The whole point of
these is that you don't need to be an expert. They just work. Except when they
don't :-) So we don't have power Linuxers to help in those areas, & aren't
likely to.

Perhaps we are spoiled with a free OS & expect free support & everything else.
If you buy a distro, such as Mandrake or Red Hat, you do get support, and
expert support via phone & email. But you paid for the privilege. Download or
install a freebie & why should you expect someone to provide free support?
Seems a bit greedy.

(Or grab Jedo Linux & get real expert local support 24/7! :-)
 
> 
> Of course, an alternative is to say that widespread adoption isn't
> necessarily a goal.  Judging from Linux-related websites and postings
> to this list, I'd say that's unrealistic, but I sort of like the idea
> of a distro/OS that favours power and purity over flatness of learning
> curve.  And I'd be quite happy to see fewer, more capable users, while
> still welcoming newbies serious about learning.
> 

Isn't that the point of Open Source (incl Linux)? Take it & do what you want
with it?

So we have Gentoo & Debian at your power/pure end with Ubuntu, Mandrake, SuSE,
Yoper towards the hand-holding desktop end. Still all Linux under the hood.
Also xxxBSD, which is sort of a real purists version. 

I think Linux of all flavours, as a kernel and as an OS, will benefit from a
wider & growing user base. I also suggest that many Wellylug members are more
capable Linux users than I am, but I challenge anyone here to show they are
more capable with Open Source GIS tools on a Linux platform (seriously, I could
do with the help!)

IMO Linux is not just about a kernel, it is about enabling computer users to
have more control over their computing evironmemt and to do more things with
their computers. Messages here about Linux (the kernel) are very much the
minority. The vast majority are about Linux/GNU installations and applications.

I don't recall a Wellylug presentation which has been about Linux (I could be
wrong), as I recall they have been about what people have done with computers
running Linux kernels.


(Isn't this getting awfully political? Do we need a wellylug.politics list? 
:-)  


Brent