• 9 Posts
  • 145 Comments
Joined 2 years ago
Cake day: May 7th, 2024
  • Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.worldtoLinux@lemmy.world•Why do servers and supercomputers primarily run on Linux and not on some Microsoft/Apple/Google/Amazon OS?English
    2215·
    13 days ago

    Ok. You seem to understand the basic concept I’ve been screaming for years. That is that not all users are the same.

    I’ve been saying for a while that linux doesn’t face a usability issue. It faces an image issue.

    I know a friend who will not even LOOK at Linux, because she asked me “how do I install software?”. I answered that there’s two ways. The first is going to a software manager, and using that to download the program. Just like googles app store on android. If it’s not there, you type sudo apt install (program).

    The second I mentioned that second part, she said “Ohhhh no no no no no. I won’t remember all that…”

    For her the software manager is going to be the absolute best way. HOWEVER, the image of linux is that it’s only for tech gurus who can navigate terminal.

    So she has a point here. Yes, there are alternative ways to do things, but for people, it’s all about image. Just look at Coke ads. There’s nothing special about them. Red can, white classic logo, maybe a polar bear or santa during the holidays. But it works because of image.

    So, my question is, why doesn’t linux collectively NOT DISABLE terminal, but instead de-escalate the prominance on which the platform is defined. Why not make it in image closer to what cmd prompts in windows are?

    If you search “how to _____ in windows 10”, you’ll get a tutorial with photos, and step by step in how to solve your issue, using only the mouse. Almost 100% of the time.

    But if you search “how to ____ in (distro of choice)” you’ll be given a tutorial almost 100% of the time in terminal commands.

    If you “get” terminal, you’ll understand the errors. I’ve tried using terminal off and on for about 17 years now. I have a 0% succsess rate of it doing the thing it needs to do. I’m sure these errors are simple. If I knew what it was telling me, I’m sure theres probably an easy fix.

    But a good example is, there was some program I wanted. Its not in my software center. In order to run it, I need something called “python3”. I attempt sudo apt install python3. I get a message saying python3 is already installed. I try to install the program. Program says prerequisit python3 needs to be installed. I sudo apt install python3. Python3 is already installed. Sudo apt update python3. Python3 is already latest version. Try to install the program. Still doesn’t think python3 is installed.

    I don’t know how to fix that. I don’t even know what python3 is. That was 4 years ago. I don’t even remember what program I was trying to install. I just remember it was during the days I was recovering from cancer, so for 3 months, all day every day I tried to solve it.

    I never solved it.

    So, why can YOU easily see that normal every day users use these machines differently than experts, with different needs?

    Just make the IMAGE of Linux easy enough for toddlers. 12 years ago my 2 year old niece was using an iPad. Even today her dad says she’d never understand Linux. She could…if she tried it. Because a lot of distros function user friendly. But it has that image problem. And until Linux becomes mainstream, the software will never be 1:1. It will be “gimp vs photoshop”. And as long as thats the case, usability isn’t 100% for normies. Theres still tons of rough edges. And those rough edges become easily solved through terminal. And now we’re back to the image problem.

    Why don’t the distro makers get this?

  • Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.worldtoNew Communities@lemmy.world•Type One DiabetesEnglish
    8·
    30 days ago

    See, I like this.

    I don’t have diabetes. Either type. But I said when I first got to Lemmy that it was very very heavy on tech and politics.

    I said in order to grow we need more everything else. The example I used was I have no interest in gardening. But we should get a gardening community. Then I said I don’t know how to play guitar, but there should be a community for guitar players. These communities would not interest me personally. But they’re a sign of a healthy growing platform.

    Last night I was browsing ALL and saw a post from a community called “Stop Drinking”. I’m not an alcoholic. I drink on occasion. But I thought it was really cool that community exists. They have a daily post where people pledge to not drink for the day. Taking things one day at a time. I think thats cool. I like that exists for those who need it.

    And now this. I don’t have diabetes. This community won’t be of interest to me personally. But I think it’s cool this exists. I don’t know if a type 2 diabetes exists. Quite frankly I’m a bit ignorant on the difference between 1 and 2 is. I used to think type 1 was sugar levels too low and need sugar suppliments, while type 2 was too high, and need inculin shots to level it out. I was told thats wrong. In any event, I hope there is a type 2 community too.

    All the communities for all the people! The way I see it, every interest no matter how niche, should get a community. Now granted some of them won’t have as big of a userbase, but that’s ok.

    There should be a community for people who still collect POGS. Remember POGS? They should be back. In Lemmy form.

    I’m getting off track. My point is, I like that this community exists for those who need it. Keep up with existing!