The Joy of Linux Desktop Environments • Hacker News Board

Re: The Joy of Linux Desktop Environments

#41

Post by jle17 » Thu, Nov 17, 2016, 7:19 PM UTC

anondon wrote: post #25

One thing I noticed about installing multiple desktop environment on Ubuntu: they all have different default apps that are always installed. So when you have two desktop environments, you end up with 2 different terminals, 2 different file browsers, 2 different archive managers etc. You could uninstall apps that have the exact same purpose, but it would be nice if there was a formal way for DEs to recognize and ackno…

> but it would be nice if there was a formal way for DEs to recognize and acknowledge the existence of another DE.

Not sure if it's what you want but applications can specify in their .desktop file that they should only be shown in a specific environment :

    cat /usr/share/applications/xfce4-about.desktop
    [...]
    OnlyShowIn=XFCE;

Now many don't but I guess if they all did it would then be a problem for people who want to use applications from another DE.

Re: The Joy of Linux Desktop Environments

#42

Post by digi_owl » Thu, Nov 17, 2016, 7:19 PM UTC

awalGarg wrote: post #13

One not-so-unrelated thing I really love about linux is that the "configuration" for just about every application is stored in plain-text files, mostly in the user's home directory. Which means we can use git to version control them (like many many people do - the dotfiles trend). You can have a log of configuration changes for your system, you can have various profiles with branches, etc. Want to switch to a differe…

For every person loving those plain texts, there are one that want to see them purged from existence. Observe how Gnome has basically recreated the registry, complete with hidden magic switches...

Re: The Joy of Linux Desktop Environments

#43

Post by digi_owl » Thu, Nov 17, 2016, 7:23 PM UTC

nixos wrote: post #22

santaclaus wrote: post #5

I wish one of the major Linux distributions would double down on design as a core priority (as in, bring in designers and give them serious pull). I'd kill for a beautiful, opinionated, and novel Linux desktop environment.

>as in, bring in designers That's the mistake. You bring in UX experts (who also happened to understand your primary users) Graphics design != UX

> who also happened to understand your primary users

That would be the hard part...

Re: The Joy of Linux Desktop Environments

#44

Post by michaelmrose » Thu, Nov 17, 2016, 7:28 PM UTC

buckbova wrote: post #3

> If you’re using Windows, you’re pretty much stuck with the Windows interface. The menus are always going to be in the same place and while you can do things, like change your desktop image and your colors and themes, you’re still limited in how you interact with your computer. I'm not so sure about that. I used winblinds years ago for XP. Not surprised to learn that they're still around. http://www.stardock.com/pro…

They with different products provide a dock like experience, virtual desktops, some of the bling of compiz themeing etc etc etc. Which is fantastic until windows which on some machines is more flakey than others acts weird and you get to figure out if the quirk is in the app, your machine, or your stardock product which in my experience it often is.

Stardock is buggy and costs money. Linux DE are free and superior.

Re: The Joy of Linux Desktop Environments

#45

Post by nolepointer » Thu, Nov 17, 2016, 7:32 PM UTC

adrianlmm wrote: post #35

I'm more productive when using GNOME, to me is the most usable DE out there.

Some design choices for GNOME simply escape me. By default, no window buttons (i.e. active windows) on the top panel. By default, no maximize/minimize buttons for windows. Who could possibly find that user-friendly?

Re: The Joy of Linux Desktop Environments

#46

Post by seanwilson » Thu, Nov 17, 2016, 7:32 PM UTC

I used to love the choice after being limited by Windows but it meant all the development and design efforts were split between different desktop environments so mixing apps from different desktop systems was an awkward user experience.

I preferred KDE the most but I never understood the obsession with the number of customisation options. These surely slowed down development and it felt like you had to be the UX designer yourself instead of sensible defaults behind chosen.

Now I just want something with minimal customisation with decent defaults so I know it won't suddenly break when I have to get some work done.

Re: The Joy of Linux Desktop Environments

#47

Post by bitwize » Thu, Nov 17, 2016, 7:34 PM UTC

I get to experience the joy of not having a desktop environment; of using a bare WM, the shell, and 30-year-old Unix skills to work with my system.

It's a good feeling.

Re: The Joy of Linux Desktop Environments

#48

Post by copperx » Thu, Nov 17, 2016, 7:35 PM UTC

At first I thought this was a sarcastic post.

Re: The Joy of Linux Desktop Environments

#49

Post by robmccoll » Thu, Nov 17, 2016, 7:35 PM UTC

awalGarg wrote: post #13

One not-so-unrelated thing I really love about linux is that the "configuration" for just about every application is stored in plain-text files, mostly in the user's home directory. Which means we can use git to version control them (like many many people do - the dotfiles trend). You can have a log of configuration changes for your system, you can have various profiles with branches, etc. Want to switch to a differe…

It's unfortunate that many of the modern components frequently seen in Linux environments do not appreciate/respect/promote the use of plain-text files and scripts. Thinking of systemd and its many utilities, Docker, etc.

Re: The Joy of Linux Desktop Environments

#50

Post by michaelmrose » Thu, Nov 17, 2016, 7:40 PM UTC

santaclaus wrote: post #5

I wish one of the major Linux distributions would double down on design as a core priority (as in, bring in designers and give them serious pull). I'd kill for a beautiful, opinionated, and novel Linux desktop environment.

I wish I could downvote this more than once. Your heart is in the right place but designers don't seem to design very good interfaces.

I'm reminded of the Bremerton Ferry Terminal.

http://www.clinkstonarchitects.com/project/1/Bremerton_Trans...

It's attractive and all but that pretty canopy is turned up in the direction where the the rain and wind normally comes from and the seats which have these neat looking glass tops with embedded fish and octipi etc sculptures are not only uncomfortable, they also have a bar in the center presumably designed to stop homeless from sleeping on them which also stops more than 2 people from sitting and the glass has a lip which causes the rain the canopy lets in collect on the seats making them utterly useless at least 1/3 of the time.