1. Sep 4th, 2006

    Rounded Corners

    When will Linux be simple? Time it takes to install 3D Desktop on OS/X: ~5 min. On Linux: ~1 hour. To make it work on OS/X: install. On linux: download, build, learn, configure, test, configure, test. Transition effects on OS/X: smooth. On Linux: somewhat choppy. Keep in mind the Linux solution supports more than one distribution, more than a handful of video drivers, and more than one window manager. But then, is having these options between the consistency and simplicity?

    Speaking of eye candy … The new Ruby page looks much more … eye pleasing? like a product? Web 2.0? Either way, I’m glad newcomers will be greated with an elegant and easy to navigate site.

    Some things never change. I probably linked here before, and I’m going to link again: Programming Quotations. And the users exclaimed with a laugh and a taunt: “It’s just what we asked for but not what we want.”.

    Apropos. On that subject, did Gosling really say: An API that isn’t comprehensible isn’t usable.? (there)

    But … but, I can vision it in my head! Gabe explains why he’s not going to offer a personalized meme tracker. And he’ll probably have to do it again in 12 months, because it sure sounds like a great idea. Too bad computers are not good with miracles.

    Printable PDF | Posted by Assaf Filed in general 3 Comments »

    1. Sep 5th, 2006

      apotheon

      (re: Linux being easy)
      On the other hand, Debian takes about twenty minutes to install, while Windows XP takes about an hour. Cherry-picking comparisons tends to end up with an apparently undisputable win for whichever you expect to come out on top in cases like this, so “Linux isn’t easy” won for you.

    2. Sep 5th, 2006

      Assaf

      I run Fedora. It took me about an hour to install most of it, which is fair given the size of the distribution (IO bound) and I do it about once a year.

      It took two months to get the WiFi working correctly, the right video drivers to play DVDs, the sound card working after resume, and I still don’t have hibernation.

      I wasn’t trying to cherry pick, I thought it was a good analogy. As long as it’s hard, it will remain in the fringe of people who can make sources and vim configuration files.

      And that’s too bad, because Linux in all its flavors has great potential. It just needs refinement.

    3. Sep 5th, 2006

      links for 2006-09-06 — Chip’s Quips

      [...] Programming Quotations Thanks, Assaf. “PHP is a minor evil perpetrated and created by incompetent amateurs, whereas Perl is a great and insidious evil, perpetrated by skilled but perverted professionals.” – (tags: programming quotes humor development software) [...]

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