Linux is so complicated!
Translation:
Linux actually isn't Windows.
this post was submitted on 20 Apr 2025
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Simplification is kind of vague
Just let the user decide
Yeah they probably mean easy. And probably easy for me, or what I already know.
That said, one of the complaints I commonly hear about Gnome is that it's simplified to the point of being hard to use. So again, simplification is probably not what they mean.
What's something you think could be made easier or just fixed if implemented as a plugin in kde, gnome, or as a software for every other DE?
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Arch wiki btw
My only beef with this lately has been valutwarden.
like look, I get it, http is shit, but I'm on a local network and it isn't shared or even published to the greater internet in any way... can't I NO, YOU WILL USE DNS CERTS PER ARTICLE 1.2 OF THE INSTALLATION GUIDE AND YOU WILL SET UP A REVERSE PROXY WITH CLOUDFLARE...
ughhhh
I’ve seen the exact same assholes in this community. They’ll argue on one hand that it’s not too complicated, then openly push back against any UI improvement because they don’t want more people moving into their niche. Gatekeeping turds.
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Fedora Kinoite/Silverblue is hard to fuck up and Just Works®
Yes, except I needed to modify some kernel parameters to fix display artifacts a few months ago due to an upstream bug. Wasn't a big deal for me but the user who uses the system, even the concept of editing some parameters is beyond their comprehension.
Yeah, I think the biggest obstacle to wider adoption of Linux is the lack of availability of devices that come with it installed. As long as you can't buy a Linux PC at Best Buy & co, it will always be somewhat niche. Pretty much anyone can use Linux these days but installing it is just too much of a hassle for the average user.
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Heres the thing, it strongly depends what you mean by "simplification" and tbh im not sure that would be good for Linux. Im all in favor of adding accessibility features and making desktops more complete but sometimes complexity or being different is good. I love tiling for example, I love how comsic implemets tiling. However tiling isnt naturally intuitive to Windows users, does that mean we need to abandon it in favor of "simplification"? Do we need to abandon the system of distro maintained repos and package managers because "its too complicated"?
I suppose my point is that we should make Linux more accessible by lowering the skill floor to use it but it should not and does not require lowering the skill ceiling for advanced users like me. I love the focus on TUI software and I love the terminal (that doesn't mean GUI software should get less love, it means I would rather not see TUI packages sacrificed).
Furthermore I cannot speak for anyone but myself but I personally try to help people in matrix/discord chats and places like this. However sometimes I will come across someone whos use case doesn't fit Linux. Maybe they need a specific software, maybe they're using niche proprietary hardware that they need, but I personally refuse to suggest Linux to someone if it wont be good for them. If someone tells me "hey I use Linux but I need some software like adobe" I would suggest they reinstall Windows. In addition before I reccomend Linux to someone I tell them that Linux isnt Windows, I make it clear there are downsides that need to be taken with the upsides and sometimes things wont work exactly the same.
TLDR: Im all for people using Linux, however we shouldn't lie to ourselves and others
What do you mean you don't like reading documentation to use the basic functions of my OS?
Why would anyone ever want to use a UI or a mouse?
It's a big abstract to understand, are you trying to say that there are Linux enthusiasts that protest GUIs being made simple and intuitive, and that if they succeed, would-be Linux users will go back to Windows, which is more intuitive?
Maybe for KDE, but just introduce new users to GNOME, that's perfectly intuitive and even looks great!
are you trying to say that there are Linux enthusiasts that protest GUIs being made simple and intuitive, and that if they succeed, would-be Linux users will go back to Windows, which is more intuitive?
Not just GUI, but that's a prime example. A good one would also be the whole debate about warning measures in apt so it doesn't just happily remove essential system components like xorg. That debate came up after LinusTechTips' video where Pop!_OS became unusable as he tried to install Steam. Good example as countless people blamed him for "executing commands he didn't understand", he as well as System76 were flooded with hate for "making Linux look bad". Which, well, in that case it absolutely was as there were no safeguards or structures preventing either a wrongly configured package to be published in the repo, nor for the user to not remove essential parts of your system with a command that isn't specifically about them (sudo apt install steam).
Anyone who's arguing that more of the Linux software stack should aim to be more stable and accessible usually gets hated on, and people who're new to Linux but also say they don't want to get into PCs but just use it and for it to work are getting alienated and in some cases outright attacked.
Windows obviously isn't really more intuitive compared to a fully working Gnome or KDE environment except for people who already know it for decades. That's not what it's about in this case though, but people who expect literally everyone to spend weeks and months learning about concepts, commands and structures in their computer that by now is second nature to them but not interesting to many others. It's xkcd 2501 in a nutshell, but with toxicity sprinkled on top. Common users mostly have to stay in certain corners like the Linux Mint forums to consistently have a good time, and it really sucks.
I don't really have social circles that show of Linux elitism. While on public spaces and have the time and energy I try to help out as best I can in a respectful manner and make sure not to get frustrated or annoyed at peoples need to learn things. While I haven't encountered the elitism myself I can obviously see why it would be extremely off putting to encounter it as a new user and it saddens me a bit to hear about it.
I have a few local friends who wishes to give Linux a go now and decided to hook them up with containerbased systems, in this case since they play video games I chose to give Bazite a go for them specifically for the reason that ruining it with modifying installed packages is going to be harder. I don't mind helping them out myself however and have found the bazzite community pretty forgiving as well luckily.
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just introduce new users to GNOME, that’s perfectly intuitive and even looks great!
Gnome 2 sure, modern not so much. I mean when useful features are cut from the GUI it just means it's harder to actually do things. Like removing "open in terminal" made non-GUI stuff more difficult (esp. w/complicated directory).
I'd say XFCE or Cinnamon or anything else like those are better.
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Lol, what? This is suggesting window is simple?
Linux is so much better in this regard.
People don't see it because they have habits, but once you support both OS's, windows is full of bizarre quirks and nonsense.
This meme just needs a few arrows and ten more text labels and then it'll really get its point across.
Fuck right off with that, whoever actually made this image. I am fed up with "simplification", which is actually making everything as dumb and as closed as possible
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