[gobolinux-users] A few uneasy questions...

[Jonas Karlsson]

2007/2/27, pp_o2 <pp_o2 at o2.pl>:
> On Tuesday February 27, 2007 14:21, Jonas Karlsson wrote:
> > ]crontab -e dd
> > crontab: only the superuser may specify a user
> >
> > I also get an error as you can see. But if I drop the 'dd' string I
> > can edit the current users crontab.
>
> That's the problem. I was accustomed to the right behavior of cron in
> other systems like you are. But here I stumbled on a wall. I'll see to
> the cron myself then.
>
The "right" behaviour is subjective to the implementation of the
application. What you are saying is that the original implementaion of
cron lets you specify the name of the crontab file?

> > Ok, there's no link on the recipe page, but I think you are
> > overreacting as you got plenty of information on how to find binary
> > packages, on the packages page. You got the links to all the
> > repositories, a search form and a rsync URI.
>
> The whole matter looks like the perrenial problem of developers' view
> versus users' view. What for you is obvious for end users not. You have
> developed your new habits, ways of doing (e.g.finding) things etc. Me
> not yet. Perhaps after spending 365 days with GoboLinux I would answer
> myself like you did, but not today.
>
Agreed, and I do appreciate the views of a user from the "outside".
The problem, though, is miscomunication. You say you miss some
information and I say that it's there. Who's right? It's hard to
change when one believes one is right. I don't say that I am, but the
way you present your ideas doesn't reach me all the way. You have to
be more precise, please.

> But more important is if you really WANT to broaden user base. That
> statement sets the goal for other actions. You see the system from
> within, me from outside. I say, every, every small piece of the puzzle
> named distro has its meaning in the whole picture. If you fail in one
> it'll spoil the picture of your work - either you'll hear "good, fine
> distro, I'll try it", or "errr..., well..., I don't like it".
>
Ok, to be honest with you, I (only speaking for myself here) don't see
a goal in attracting more users. I know we have something special, but
I also know that it's highly unstable, and therefore more users makes
support presure higher and gives us less time for developing. I have
alot of ideas on how to improve this distribution from a users
perspective, but I have very little time to implement it. Most of my
time with GoboLinux goes to support and bughunting.

> > As in updating recipes and packages? That's enough for keeping enough
> > of us busy. Lucas is doing one heck of a job with that, as well as
> > developing. What do you expect from the developers? All packages
> > updated as well as full development speed _as well as_ full
> > documentation of everything? We're only doing this in our spare time,
> > and have actuall jobs (or school work).
>
> I do not accuse I only share my views what's maybe wrong from my point
> of view. I hugely appreciate your work and believe me I do see your
> great effort as well as I do see your shortcomings.
>
I know it's hard to recognize one owns shortcomings, so it's alway
good to get some feedback. _But_ you should know how much resources
that are available before you place demands, as many of your points,
mistakenly(?), was interpretated as demands. If they were not demands,
perhaps using a different wording would help.

> > Once again I can't follow you. In what way do we lack in information
> > to the users of GoboLinux? Wich system development isn't presented?
> > As I said, this distro is for advanced users. They should be able to
> > take care of them self.
>
> What a "development" means to you? And your last words tell me that you
> do NOT WANT to broaden user base. I can interpret them as: if I am
> knowledgable enough and I want to use Gobo I can do it, otherwise "stop
> meddling in other's affairs"? ;-)
>
Yes, something like that. :)
I'm not happy to say that, even that it has developed greatly,
GoboLinux have a  high risc at not running out of the box. Many time a
some hack has to be made to get the system up to fully workable state.
Even if it's only a small hack, it's still a hack.
But don't dispair, I believe that we will have these bugs straighten
out, just hang tight. It's just that I think that many users that
actually would like what GoboLinux is to become will be scared off
because of all the rough edges, and therefore my belief is that we're
not ready for the real masses just yet. But we're not far off, I tell
you.

> To end the subject I must add that for me helping in development
> contains testing, bug reporting, and idea sharing. It can't be done
> without participating users. Don't scare them "Gobo is for advanced
> users", the more so the Live CD Gobo is complete and ready to use
> distribution. I didn't see a sign "Attention: Gobo is for Gobo users.
> Faint-hearted are not allowed" looking over a hedge into Gobo yard from
> other Linux worlds:-)
>
Still we can't promise a ride without any bumps. Not just yet.

-- 
/Jonas