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OpenBSD Minimalist Desktop

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Re: OpenBSD Minimalist Desktop

#101

Post by danielnechtan »

tinus_hn wrote: post #98
sph wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Admittedly he does very little with his computer. He often said these days it's mostly reading and writing emails and merging patches. And he often stated he does not know nor care much about how his desktop works. He uses stock Fedora and spends his time inside his Micro Emacs clone, and laments he's not even doing much coding these days. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a harder time than an average sweng to set u…

Writing version 0.1 of a kernel from scratch very much does mean you are a computer wiz, how else are you going to make it run? You need to program the base hardware of the computer manually! Of course if to you a computer wiz is someone who knows how to write a web page, or how Windows works, or how you use Photoshop, then no that’s not what you need. Then again the people who know that probably aren’t enough of a c…

No post body was provided.

Re: OpenBSD Minimalist Desktop

#102

Post by sph »

tinus_hn wrote: post #98
sph wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Admittedly he does very little with his computer. He often said these days it's mostly reading and writing emails and merging patches. And he often stated he does not know nor care much about how his desktop works. He uses stock Fedora and spends his time inside his Micro Emacs clone, and laments he's not even doing much coding these days. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a harder time than an average sweng to set u…

Writing version 0.1 of a kernel from scratch very much does mean you are a computer wiz, how else are you going to make it run? You need to program the base hardware of the computer manually! Of course if to you a computer wiz is someone who knows how to write a web page, or how Windows works, or how you use Photoshop, then no that’s not what you need. Then again the people who know that probably aren’t enough of a c…

Not really it does not. We differ on the definition of wiz: you mean one that knows really well how the hardware works, in this context I mean someone that knows how to "program" a computer. This is why I used the very generic word "wiz" and not software engineer. I mean being generally proficient, and he said he is not.

Knowing the exact procedure to enter protected mode in x86 doesn't mean knowing how to troubleshoot network issues, setting up a Wireguard connection or figuring out why systemd doesn't want to start that process.

And in any case, as I mentioned, Linus hasn't been doing much coding these days. These days Linus is a world class product manager. This is main role, and he has admitted that himself. His main responsibilities and daily duties have evolved since 1991, and so has the computing world.

Re: OpenBSD Minimalist Desktop

#103

Post by sph »

danielnechtan wrote: post #101
tinus_hn wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Writing version 0.1 of a kernel from scratch very much does mean you are a computer wiz, how else are you going to make it run? You need to program the base hardware of the computer manually! Of course if to you a computer wiz is someone who knows how to write a web page, or how Windows works, or how you use Photoshop, then no that’s not what you need. Then again the people who know that probably aren’t enough of a c…

Quoted post unavailable.

No post body was provided.

Re: OpenBSD Minimalist Desktop

#104

Post by tinus_hn »

sph wrote: post #102
tinus_hn wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Writing version 0.1 of a kernel from scratch very much does mean you are a computer wiz, how else are you going to make it run? You need to program the base hardware of the computer manually! Of course if to you a computer wiz is someone who knows how to write a web page, or how Windows works, or how you use Photoshop, then no that’s not what you need. Then again the people who know that probably aren’t enough of a c…

Not really it does not. We differ on the definition of wiz: you mean one that knows really well how the hardware works, in this context I mean someone that knows how to "program" a computer. This is why I used the very generic word "wiz" and not software engineer. I mean being generally proficient, and he said he is not. Knowing the exact procedure to enter protected mode in x86 doesn't mean knowing how to troublesho…

In my opinion a computer wiz has enough talent and knowledge about tech that he can very quickly learn how to do all these things. And I don’t doubt for a second that Linus would be able to learn Wireguard, systemd or any networking system within a few days to a level far exceeding most people, insofar he doesn’t already know.

Linus didn’t just build the most used kernel on the planet, he also built the most used revision control system on the planet and has proven to be an effective project manager, whatever people think about his style. You’d probably be short sighted to dismiss any of his abilities.

Re: OpenBSD Minimalist Desktop

#106

Post by CoolCold »

tinus_hn wrote: post #104
sph wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not really it does not. We differ on the definition of wiz: you mean one that knows really well how the hardware works, in this context I mean someone that knows how to "program" a computer. This is why I used the very generic word "wiz" and not software engineer. I mean being generally proficient, and he said he is not. Knowing the exact procedure to enter protected mode in x86 doesn't mean knowing how to troublesho…

In my opinion a computer wiz has enough talent and knowledge about tech that he can very quickly learn how to do all these things. And I don’t doubt for a second that Linus would be able to learn Wireguard, systemd or any networking system within a few days to a level far exceeding most people, insofar he doesn’t already know. Linus didn’t just build the most used kernel on the planet, he also built the most used rev…

you are right and I agree with you on fast learning path, knowledge and being smart in general. The original point though, it all started with

> It’s very easy to be minimalistic when you’re doing very little.

Still makes sense even for Linus, as he probably not need to have say Hadoop running in Docker Desktop, Chromecast playing videos/casting and whatever beyond things related to kernel development on the coding machine vs general case machine.

Re: OpenBSD Minimalist Desktop

#107

Post by BLKNSLVR »

hd99 wrote: post #95
gtirloni wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ubuntu and OpenBSD are at completely opposite in the user friendly spectrum. You're a better off moving to Debian.

ubuntu is just the apple of linux world ubuntu is everything working out of the box ubuntu is made with the foundation of an ex businessman whom dislikes win/mac ubuntu is a linux among hundreds of linux distros openbsd is a rock-solid safe regarding security everything is handlymade to get a taylored-made computer. if I had to compare, ubnutu is a bit like a high rank standing appartment in a big city where openbsd…

Ubuntu was my first choice to make the jump from Windows. My current daily driver is Pop!OS, which seems equally user friendly to Ubuntu with minor differences in the details of usage.

I've been using Linux since RedHat 5.x "pocketbooks" with CDs were available at newsagencies (late nineties?), so I'm not scared of the prospect of having some fiddling to do in setting up OpenBSD. The main concern would be the availability of compatible apps that I use regularly.

Re: OpenBSD Minimalist Desktop

#108

Post by anthk »

tinus_hn wrote: post #98
sph wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Admittedly he does very little with his computer. He often said these days it's mostly reading and writing emails and merging patches. And he often stated he does not know nor care much about how his desktop works. He uses stock Fedora and spends his time inside his Micro Emacs clone, and laments he's not even doing much coding these days. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a harder time than an average sweng to set u…

Writing version 0.1 of a kernel from scratch very much does mean you are a computer wiz, how else are you going to make it run? You need to program the base hardware of the computer manually! Of course if to you a computer wiz is someone who knows how to write a web page, or how Windows works, or how you use Photoshop, then no that’s not what you need. Then again the people who know that probably aren’t enough of a c…

Standards change.

Re: OpenBSD Minimalist Desktop

#109

Post by anthk »

CoolCold wrote: post #85
anxiously wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a similar setup as I mentioned in another comment. I wouldn't say it is limited or not fully featured. It does everything one needs. There's nothing missing, rather it lacks the bloat. It begins with a basic system and you build up the things you need and want on top of it (versus starting with a bloated system and trying to remove things you don't need or want). Why do I prefer the minimal setup? In my mind,…

One's needs are much different from other one's needs. Not blaming your setup is bad for your needs, but I'm pessimistic on ideals of 700 days uptime and not changing things for 16 years. Sign of stagnation for me. My needs includes being able to cast my screen to TV or play music via AirPlay or chat in Slack/Mattermost or run some ML/Cuda stuff or tell (by voice) my laptop (Cortana actually) to set alarm for 5 minut…

>cast

Just use HDMI.

> Music

VLC has Chromecast support, and maybe Airplay.

> Slack

Bitlbee has plugins for everything. Just plug your fav IRC client.

Re: OpenBSD Minimalist Desktop

#110

Post by anthk »

smoldesu wrote: post #91
mustache_kimono wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'm only taking issue with the "Just Works" comment, I take your point, but "Just Works" on Linux can be a more difficult road than maybe we often care to acknowledge. If you didn't go through the "OMG why won't my laptop suspend properly" years (which maybe still haven't left us...?), then let me tell you UGH, give me a Macbook as my Unix desktop/laptop experience. I really think it's mostly what you're comfortabl…

NixOS is definitely more complicated than an OS snapshot - but that's why I like it. That kinda flexibility is what makes Linux great and completely unapproachable, which is why I won't make a bid for Linux domination any time soon. For developers and certain gamers, though, Linux could be a direct upgrade from Windows on their current hardware. PS, if you are interested in shooting the shit about NixOS, it's actuall…

Nix OS with Gnome just requires a few tweaks to the config file. Then it's pretty plug and play like as OSX. Devices, network manager, screen sharing...
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