The Future of Fedora.

[Rui Miguel Seabra]

I'm truly sorry Alexey, but I almost fell down laughing with your email!

Please, don't take this badly and read on... you're committing some
mistakes (even on the Windows world) and you're presuming that not being
easy to do that in the GNU/Linux operating system is a fault (when it is
not, it's just you that don't know better).

On Tue, 2003-12-09 at 22:51, Alexey Eremenko wrote:
> Still I had a lot of problems in installing (and running) Linux.
> Linux is way less comfortable to use than Windows XP.
> It's a VERY important point to understand in "The Future of Fedora".

I must beg to differ. I felt like a total computer newbie when I tried
to help a colleague to do something on his Windows XP computer, and had
to repeat several times that I had some CD's that would solve all his
problems.

Windows is a completely useless environment for a serious computer
technician. There. I've said it. If you believe the opposite, then
you're not really a serious computer technician but someone who's
skilled in the art of mouse wiggling (yes, this is a joke, but has a
bottom line of true feelings and doesn't mean that you can't do serious
work in Windows. You can, but you're handicapped!).

> I just want to please the Fedora developers make the following things,
> so this OS would be easier to manage for average home user.

The average home user doesn't even know how to use a computer, so you're
talking, instead, of the average Microsoft Windows addict.

Most of these know how to launch the word processor (it's that weird
symbol with a W [for words, of course] on the desktop).

> 1) Passwords: Linux MUST have an ability to work without passwords for
> those who desire it.
>   I hate passwords, especially on my personal computer.

Passwords are a sad necessity in a world where other people might be out
to get you. But you can always have an empty password (just don't leave
any login services on).

>   It's a very BIG disadvantages of the Fedora Core 1 -

Not FC1, almost all GNU/Linux distributions.

>   It requires at least 6 letter password.

It should require 8 and some complexity :)

>   Not to mention I msut create a user.
>   I want to work ALWAYS as a root. (like a do in Windows XP as
> Administrator by default)

That is a big no no. That's is plain dumb. Sorry for being blunt.
Here's the reason: security. The root (your old Administrator) is for
your machine like the maximum deity in a religion is to the world: all
powerful.

Haven't you read Spider-man? With great power comes great
responsability. In this case, just danger. Danger of ruining your
system, danger of ruining the systems of others, etc. This is usual in
the Windows world and not in the Free world, why?

Not using root by default helps a lot!

Besides, while in Windows you can't easily perform some actions as
Administrator, in GNU/Linux all you have to do is open a terminal and
type: su - [press enter, and type the root's password when asked -- if
there's any] and you can do one of those few things you would need higer
privileges for.

>   Why a free system such as Linux FORCES me to create passwords, and a
>   user.

The operating system is a modified GNU running with the kernel known as
Linux. That's why I call it GNU/Linux, or more specifically, Fedora Core
GNU/Linux (for recognizing the special flavour of the distribution).

>   Password may be a nice feature for servers, but for home PCs they
>   are useless,
>   and they will just annoy beginners, and home users.

They are annoying because thy are a sad necessity. However, I can't see
how having an user per person is useless or annoying. This way, everyone
can have they preferred background, their preferred event sounds,
bookmarks, etc... without causing family fights.

>   Believe me, there are other ways to be the same reliability and
>   security, without the annoying passwords.

Believe me, there are other ways to get the same gifts on x-mas, just
mail Santa ;)

>  Bottom line: Let the user decide, if he want a password, and an
> additional users, except the root. I will add to the wish list the
> easiest way to install in FC2 will be without passwords.

The user can do all these things. One way to do it is with GDM, but
please be responsible enough to shutdown all services that are on (btw,
they should be all off by default and have the safest configuration
possible by default).

> 2)Networks: FC1 Linux has no easy networking. I couldn't even check my
> IP address, whithout the console command “ifconfig”. It's very bad. It
> must be as easy as in Windows XP.
> You just click on the networking icon, near the volume one, and see
> it's IP.

Some applet could be written to do that, however, I don't think that is
so important for the home user, and if it is, how can it be that hard to
open up a terminal and type 'ifconfig'? Ok, it probably could be in
/usr/bin (also or instead).

> Another problem I came across, is that there is no comfortable way to
> turn Internet Connection Sharing on (IP Masquerade in Linux). In order
> to do so, I had to read a ton of documentation about ipchains,
> iptables, ip whatever, and still it doesn't work.
> I believe that in a several days I will setup this on Linux, but this
> is unaccaptable for home usage.

I think exams should be unacceptable for entering an University. That is
an 'advanced' usage of your operating system, you should know what you
are doing, and the Windows way is very evil. Many problems have happened
due to such brilliant 'easy magic'.

But I think that it could be feasible to make a NAT configuration in a
secure and 'friendly' way.

> 3)Boot: FC1 boot times are significantly longer than in Windows XP, 
> however except few optimizations nothing could be done here. (or am I
> wrong).
> Running on Athlon XP 1800+ with 512MB of RAM, I can boot DOS in few
> seconds, WindowsXP in about 40 seconds, and FC1 Linux in more than 2
> minutes. That's poorly acceptable for home users. (but for me that's
> almost OK)

I don't understand such slow performance. Maybe you're doing something
wrong (like having too many unneeded services starting up). Did you make
a full installation?

Also, the graphical boot does increase the boot time seriously.

> Bottom Line: optimize boot times, if possible.

rhgb: get rid of it, or make it faster. The eye candy is not really
worth that much loss of speed.


> 4)Installation & Video: For a home users – there must be no big
> problems in installing the FC on their PCs.
> However I had. FC1 completely crashed when it detected my VIA KM266 
> graphics, and tried to load the “X”. This is a known bug:
> bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?=id=90419

(...)

> Bottom Line: If you can't fix the bug, at least write on the setup 
> screen: sorry, but we don't currently have stable drivers for Linux 
> for your Video Card, would you like to continue in the text mode, or
> exit.
> (Note: Linux GUI: The X Window system won't work on that card)
> Now, newbies won't afraid to install Linux. (They won't get that
> tragedy I got into)

Yeah, it was unfortunate and such a message would be nice, secially if
accompanied with pointers on who to bug.

> 5)Multimedia: Again – it's a point where linux falls far behind XP – 
> First, I can't install my Multimedia keyboard Genius KB-18M, because I
> couldn't find the drivers anywhere, and they aren't included with FC.

I think acme is not included in FC yet, but it may solve your problem.
However, not all special keys are recognized and you may need to turn
acpi support on.

> Not to mention The FC1 default Music Player crashes  - Rhythmbox 0.5.4
> – every time I try to play an ogg-vorbis on it. MP3 in FC was blocked
> due to license issues. Here nothing can be done, and I understand it.

Strange, I thought the default audio player in FC was XMMS...

> For example – I use my lovely 5-button USB Microsoft Wireless 
> IntelliMouse Explorer (That's a monster-like mouse for almost 100 
> bucks). I couldn't find a good drivers for this mouse for Linux on the
> whole net.

Of course not. It's supported right from the beginning. That's an IMPS2
mouse. That's why you couldn't find drivers, you don't need to fetch
them.

> Under good drivers I mean the ability to see my battery's
> power, plus ability to give to buttons 4 and 5 different functions:
> like minimazing windows, copy text, forward and backward buttons on
> Interet Explorer (Mozilla – is my favourite in Linux). Etc...

Ah... maybe it's not a 5 button, but a 7 button mouse... I can't speak
about those, I haven't ever had one to try to configure and haven't
loked for that kind of information.

A one wheel mouse has 5 buttons (usually). 1 and two you can tell
immediately. 4 and 5 are up and down the wheel and 3 is pressing
vertically the wheel.

Perhaps you have a 7 or 9 button mouse?

> Why FC1 which was released in 2003 can't work natively with multimedia
> keyboards and 5 or 8-button mice? Also I couldn't open videos in any 
> format in Linux: MPEG2, DivX, WMV, whatever I tried... (maybe I don't
> know something...)

Similar to the MP3 problem: Software Patents. Please help end that
nightmare!

> Overally the Multimedia part of the FC1 Linux is the one who loses
> badly to it's commerial cousin. It's not possible to close such a gap
> quickly. But steps could be made.

Yes. Abolishing Software Patents worldwide would be a nice start!

> 6)Bugs and Errors: Linux FC1 is overally untested: please with Fedora
> Core 2 make Release Candidates first. (2 weeks before actual release),
> with code and features freeze. This RC should be available to
> everyone.

Like the ones here?
http://fedora.redhat.com/participate/schedule/

You just missed the boat, that's all. You're still in time for the (yet
unscheduled) FC2 beta releases.

> Besides FC1 falls behind WindowsXP in error reporting.
> WindowsXP can make automated error reports in order to improve the OS.
> When I get something unstable under Linux, I must manually fill a bug
> using bugzilla.

It's not hard, but maybe it could be improved.

> In fact, there are stupid things in FC1 like bug in add/remove
> programs, which could be avoided if the FC2 RC1 would be publicily
> available before the final FC2 arrives.
> So, that at least the most common bugs will be fixed.

Well, it escaped 3 beta releases...

> Bottom Line: Fedora Core 2 must be able to make automated
> error-reports, and automated download of all latest upgrades. (but
> user will be able to disable such features, if he wishes).

User can do that right now. Make a crontab with up2date -u

> Also FC2
> RC1 must appear from the official redhat site 2 weeks before the final
> release. (not from the latest CVS or whatever)

I'm going to beat you one more time ;) There have been 3 beta releases,
you only missed the boat.

> 7)3D GUI: In the next Windows release codenamed “longhorn” a GUI of 
> Windows will be revolutionized. It's very interesting: On top of 2D 
> sits 3D, and on top of 3D textures sits 2D again. Interesting. Well...
> Linux is very far from that point, while MS has an Alpha version 
> running. Enormous amount of work is required to make something like 
> that. One of the Open-Source 3D engines can be used to achieve it. 
> Crystal Space could be a nice candidate (crystal.sourceforge.net). For
> me, “Longhorn” is going to be a Revolution.

Longhorn is an attempt to remove many freedoms from you, like making an
MP3 collection of your CD's to play in your MP3 autoradio.
Besides, I think you're not understanding what Longhorn's GUI shell is
like, at all...

> Bottom Line: Maybe it's too early yet, but in order to make an 
> Open-source reaction for such a revolution – new desktop environment 
> with a 3D engine must be started as soon as possible and when ready 
> integrated into FC.

You could file (by hand) an RFE (Request For Enhancement) in bugzilla
about distributing the test versions of the 3D desktops that are being
done. But they are really very beta and a lot of things wouldn't work
with them.

> 8) Total: Sorry about so-called anti-linux, pro Windows talk, but I
> really came from the Windows user-friendly world, and I would like to 
> see some kind of Open-Source equevalent. I mean, that I made this 
> article in order to improve Linux on it's weak points, where it lacks 
> something.

Most of them come from ignorance typical in a newbie. Welcome to the
ship, you may feel dizzy and sea-sick but we're here to help you.

> There is a lot of stuff where Linux is a much better choice, which I 
> overlooked specially to point on Linux'es disadvantages.
> For example lot's of abilities of the Linux kernel which simply don't 
> exist in WindowsXP, (as far as I know), like making a DHCP server, 
> based on client's MAC addresses, or static routes. There is a lot of 
> stuff in the depths of the Linux kernel, which is still to be 
> explored, uncovered and understood (by me).

There is no kernel of Linux. Linux is the kernel of the whole operating
system, which I rather call, for fairness, GNU/Linux.

A DHCP server is not something on Linux, but a program of itself that
runs on the GNU/Linux operating system. I believe that a good DHCP
server for Windows would also be able to limit by MAC.

But you're right that there are things working on Linux that have no
equivalent on Windows's kernel, like it's firewall, alongside with the
userland tool called iptables (or ipchains for older versions of Linux).

> I believe that Fedora can have it both sides – will be user-friendly
> like XP, and have a poweful command line kernel. One doesn't deduct
> from the other. It just adds on top of the other, making Linux even
> more powerful, compared to it's commerial cousins.

The command line interface operates over the system libraries which work
over Linux.

The GUI part (X and the many desktops) are started up by shell scripts
(sequences of programmed cli commands -- imagine DOS, but add to it
several orders of magnitude of quality and usefulness).

It all adds on top of each other.

Rui

-- 
+ No matter how much you do, you never do enough -- unknown
+ Whatever you do will be insignificant,
| but it is very important that you do it -- Gandhi
+ So let's do it...?

Please AVOID sending me WORD, EXCEL or POWERPOINT attachments.
See http://www.fsf.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html
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