[gobolinux-users] user-friendly Gobolinux

[Paul Dann]

Hi all,

  Whilst searching for info on Listener I accidentally stumbled across a
post from "kenneth marken" in 2005:
> here is a blog or something that was posted on osnews the other day.
> while the first page is stock "whats wrong with linux" filler, the next
> couple of pages are interesting, mostly when he gets to talking about
> mounting /home as a database file system.
>
> http://akaimbatman.blogspot.com/2005/06/linux-desktop-distribution-of-future_15.html
  I was shocked to discover that there were no replies to this.  This is
one of the most spot-on articles I've ever read on Linux usability in my
opinion.  What's more, I think that a lot of what this guy is suggesting
could be implemented reasonably easily in Gobolinux, except for the new
database filesystem.

  Just to be clear --- I agree that Gobolinux shouldn't contain special
Gobo-specific versions of software like in Ubuntu.  I don't see a big
problem with small patches that can be included in recipes, like the
Gobohide patch, but for feature changes we should really be pushing the
application developers.  Great, that'll be fun :p  I am hoping to get my
hands dirty eventually, when things start settling down a bit for me. 
I'm pretty much fresh out of university and am officially a software
engineer now, which is a boost to my confidence as a programmer.  I'm
getting married in 8 days (!) but hopefully next time I have a bit of
time I'll start looking in to what would be required to make some of
these things a reality.

  Before Gobolinux, I just couldn't contemplate switching to Linux.  The
filesystem was the number one reason I found Linux unusable.  Now with
the arrival of Listener, I think there's a lot that can be done for
usability in Gobolinux that could actually start to make it a great
user-friendly desktop.  Software installation is still a pain, even
though it's so much easier in Gobolinux than other systems.  I have to
use MacOS X somewhat for work, and I have to say that Apple completely
nailed software installation.  They obviously have the AppFolder idea
that is present in Gobolinux, but the difference is that an application
can be run from anywhere without any kind of manual SymlinkProgram
command.  If you want to try something out, you can download the DMG
file, double-click to mount it, double-click the app inside to run.  If
you like it, you can copy it anywhere you want, but /Applications makes
the most sense.  That couldn't be too difficult to do with Listener.  I
know we're half-way there already.  I'm thinking about possibilities
involving fuse fs.  Instead of symlinking from a /Programs folder, why
not "mount" a Program?  Once it's mounted it could be run as normal from
the command line until it's unmounted.  I also like his idea of bundling
libraries with Programs.  Dependencies are still a nightmare, even in
Gobolinux.  It would also be nice to have KDE treat app folders
differently, but that's a huge topic best left for later.

  Anyway, sorry to waffle.  Guess I just need to let off steam :D

Thanks go to the GoboDevelopers for all their hard work so far.  You're
an inspiration!
Paul