I agree. Linux is a world full of obscure acronyms and undiscoverable CLI commands. RTFM or nothing. I would like to switch to Linux (particularly when I read these things) but I just don't have the time to learn all the basic things the hard way and deal with all the compatibility issues.
See, this is exactly the problem I have with Windows. It's full of obscure exes and undiscoverable settings (wtf is the registry? fuck). It's like I'd have to have years of experience (since 98 or something) to understand fully. Also it has compatibility issues out the butt with hardware that 'justworks' on linux.
With windows 10, this has gotten /way/ worse. Sure bluetooth works out of the box, but sometimes it just disapperates. I'm doing like, rain dances and getting tons of wrong answers out of google, only to find out that somehow Windows decided to turn the radio off, and there's actually no way to re-enable it except booting into linux because when the radio's off, windows says the hardware is physically /not there/.
I install it for a while, play some steam games, then usually just boot it out and go back to linux.
It's generally hard to switch operating systems, not just one way.
I agree that Windows is insanely hard to use. I helped someone get their new windows computer up and running and I spent more than an hour figuring how to make it not open MSN.com every time it booted, I had to edit some registry key.
Agreed. Beeing used to Linux Windows is the most complicated operating system ever. 98 and XP kind of were still easy but now... I picked up using mac easily, as well as even more obscure systems.
At this point all the available desktop OS choices suck. They suck in different ways for different reasons, and they suck by different amounts. But they do - all - suck.
It's truly tragic. As a species, we're hoping to build a self-enhancing mega-AI, but we can't even keep relatively basic OS technology stable without breaking it.
I absolutely understand that some of the reasons for breakage are economic and political. But even so.
At this point all the available desktop OS choices suck. They suck in different ways for different reasons, and they suck by different amounts. But they do - all - suck.
Thank you.
As someone who uses all common OSes on a regular basis I am always surprised, almost intrigued, when seeing the huge confirmation bias causing some users who mainly use 1 OS to bash on the others with reasons which usually come down to 'I actually don't know how to use your OS but once I did and it sucked so yeah my OS is definitely better than yours'.
I have to say that I'm absolutely in love with Arch linux. It's some work to set up, and it's not exactly novice friendly, but once it's set up, you barely have to muck with it—it just works. Truly a wonderful OS for the tech savvy.
I'd suggest trying Fedora in a VM at some point. IMO, it's the closest Linux has come so far to a cohesive (graphical) experience. I actually found myself using a bunch of features which I'd ignored in macOS when I switched because of how well they work in together. As long as the manufacturer supports generic drivers(which they really should) most things should just work.
You really do not need to learn the command line to use Desktop Linux these days. At least for what most people do. Browsing, office, gaming (with Steam).
I would highly encourage you to learn the command line as it is considered a valuable skill on this site. You do not need to learn every obscure program. I often forget how to use quite a few Linux comamnds and just refer to Google or man.
Yeah but a few examples of common things that I can do with a UI with windows but had to edit text files and figure out the syntax in linux:
- Setting up a scheduled job
- Manipulate the firewall (I don't include third party packages as "UI")
- Configuring a website
- Changing permissions on a .py file to execute it
I also had huge problems a few years ago when the only Linux servers I could rent from OVH had no UI, and I didn't manage to figure out how to install the UI from a command line.
I'll need to get into Linux. But I find it to be hard work (for someone who does that as a hobby).
> Why? They're not hard to install if you need it.
Yes but 1. pretty much everyone uses txt commands so configuring these things with a UI would typically not appear in search results when looking for how to do something 2. having a UI is about making the OS self discoverable and intuitive. If it takes to be aware of and install some third party packages then the UI failed its objective.
Another thing that often tripped me in linux is the variety of distributions and tools to do the same thing. I can understand why advanced users appreciate having the choice, but from a beginner point of view, it makes it quite hard as the syntax that will work on one distribution of linux or with one tool will break another.
And it was game of "where they did hide that thing I need to configure right now?" at the beginning. Fortunately, later they did allow config files.
Additionally, GUI does not allow all the thing you can (and want) to configure using the config file.
You can also put your config files into svn or git repository and track changes to them over time. No more "what did I set to that server two years ago?" moments. You can also recycle config from one server to another, without clicking all the days.
So as a beginner, do not get used to GUI applets. Later, you will be thankful you didn't.
You didn't say system administrator work. From your earlier post I got the impression you were struggling with desktop usage. Alot of people prefer the command line as it gives them more flexibility, especially with Devops (I makes courses for this).
> I also had huge problems a few years ago when the only Linux servers I could rent from OVH had no UI, and I didn't manage to figure out how to install the UI from a command line.
Never heard of OVH. Try Digital Ocean and select their premade options, you can get a fully configured WordPress image from them.
> I'll need to get into Linux. But I find it to be hard work (for someone who does that as a hobby).
I don't know what to tell you. Sounds like you need to take a class or attend a Linuxfest where people will sit down with you and guide you through it.
> ... (I don't include third party packages as "UI")
Keeping UI as optional is deliberate as it reduces the surface attack structure of a Linux system. It also reduces resources with scaling a server farm. This is an important point to understand if you want to learn why Linux (and Unix like) dominates in servers. If you really want a UI, rent a CPanel managed Linux system.
That seems like an unimportant distinction, if it otherwise does what you need. It makes it sound like you're not making a sincere appraisal of the tools based on their merits.
