That is what freedom is about. Anyone can choose to walk their own path to hell as they see fit. Otherwise you just end up with Windows all over again.
Linux was at that point two decades ago. The dogmatic infighting between Linux developers users is ultimately what prevents Linux from being actually useful as a desktop OS.
Lots of duplicated effort happens across the system. Nowadays we have more desktop environments than ever, while the application side still has major gaps.
We have Flatpak and AppImage, and space isn’t as expensive as it once was. The problem I have is the sandboxing and isolation can make plugins problematic.
They’re portable and don’t require that I install anything. If I’m looking for an odd tool, it’s usually the easiest way to download and test something out. It’s just nice to have a standalone executable.
Flatpaks are fine, I really have no problem with them in theory but I spend twice as long configuring them as I do with a native program, and I have to trust that the maintainer is affiliated with the project, which isn’t always the case.
Linux is at a point where we really shouldn’t be using distro specific installers.
That is what freedom is about. Anyone can choose to walk their own path to hell as they see fit. Otherwise you just end up with Windows all over again.
That isn’t going to help the average user though. They need hand holding.
Unless you don’t want mass adoption of Linux.
Linux was at that point two decades ago. The dogmatic infighting between Linux developers users is ultimately what prevents Linux from being actually useful as a desktop OS.
Lots of duplicated effort happens across the system. Nowadays we have more desktop environments than ever, while the application side still has major gaps.
We have Flatpak and AppImage, and space isn’t as expensive as it once was. The problem I have is the sandboxing and isolation can make plugins problematic.
I mean, obviously I’m not advocating that you install pipewire or pipewire plugins as appimages.
My last flatpack fight was with OBS. It refused to load external plugins, and also made v4l unsolvable at the time.
Yeah we should just choose a winner and go with their system.
This should be easy!
[Insert XKCD about adding a standard that will replace all the other standards]
You mean like we did with MSDOS?
(Quietly leaves the room)
I liked it back in the day, but I don’t mess with that stuff no more. That’s how you get another GlaDOS.
I think they were getting at Flatpaks, Snaps or AppImages (my personal favourite)
Why do you prefer them to flatpaks? Genuinely curious. I’ve only used appimages once or twice.
They’re portable and don’t require that I install anything. If I’m looking for an odd tool, it’s usually the easiest way to download and test something out. It’s just nice to have a standalone executable.
Flatpaks are fine, I really have no problem with them in theory but I spend twice as long configuring them as I do with a native program, and I have to trust that the maintainer is affiliated with the project, which isn’t always the case.
Yeah, I was referring to AppImages. But flat packs are cool too, they serve a purpose.
Yeah pick Gentoos installer. It can do everything.