Re: Some considerations...

[Jeff Waugh <jdub perkypants org>]

<quote who="Juan Linietsky">

> -Package/program management
> ----------------------------
> Should _real_ local installs be encouraged (i dont mean /usr/local)?
> 
> /home/joe/applications/sylpheed-0.5.0/lib/blahblah

Why does this have huge benefits over installing packages, especially given
that it wouldn't handle dependencies? A package manager would provide far
more help. When installing 'system available' software (not just for your
user) on OS X, it does a similar thing.

> so.. i'm guessing that for this to be really revolutionary.. compatibility
> has to be broken in the sake of userfriendlyness, and if the approach
> succeds, programmers will have no problem in writing compatible software.

We're not going for revolutionary - we're going for usability. We're also
going for "not a lot of work". Planned, serious incompatibility creates a
lot of work.

> Or it should just become yet another Linux distribution, which simply
> differs by using the "gnome" name?.

We're not interested in Yet Another Distribution.

> -Distribution based on debian:

> if we go for an userfriendly directory layout, the current debian
> repositories would certainly either become useless

What is a user-friendly directory layout? These are abstract things that the
user needn't know about, so they don't have to be immediately "user
friendly".

Debian allows us to minimise the amount of work required to build the
system, which brings a usable system to the user faster.

> -Unix stuff that should die:
> -----------------------------

Most of this won't be seen anyway (do you see the innards of OS X or Windows
when using it? It's definitely still there).

> How about a _control panel_  for the system?

> -Configuration:
> ---------------

Everyone's keen to use GST.

> -X11:
> -----
> 
> Should X be replaced?
> X is slow and a big memory eater, but it works and it's reliable,
> besides having the best driver support.

All of which is complete bullshit. :-)

> Am I missing something?

You're not tackling usability as the first priority, and structuring the
technology responses to it.

- Jeff

-- 
   He'd never undressed a woman with his eyes. Perhaps army boots, school   
                uniform, or a nightie, but never undressed.