Some reflections on Linux and its community

Ubuntu

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Over the past weekend, I spent most of my time playing around with OpenSUSE and Ubuntu in an attempt to reintroduce myself into the wide world of Linux.

And while I could have been a bit happier with the support and Linux does take some getting used to after immersing yourself in a Mac and Windows world every day, it's still an ideal platform for the advanced techie who doesn't want to waste his time with things that "just work."

And although this community has built itself up to rival even the most fanatic of Apple zealots, its strength is not shown by calling in reinforcements when it's beaten up in a column, but by the immense support you receive when you run into any problem on the platform.

Simply put, Linux has some issues that shouldn't be overlooked. But with such a vast community at your disposal, now is a great time to get in on the Linux game.

So what don't I like about Linux and its community? A few things. First off, Linux distributions are spotty, at best. Let's face it -- save for Ubuntu, OpenSUSE and a few others, your chances of finding a robust software solution are not that great.

For those of you who haven't used Linux, the poor distributions can be compared to Windows ME with ten problems to Microsoft's one. Yes, they're that bad. To make matters worse, most of the Linux community knows this. So if you choose the wrong distribution and you run into some trouble, don't look for too many quick answers on Linux support pages.

Which brings me to another issue -- what is up with this community? At times, it can be the best of communities and at others, it's simply the worst. With dozens of distributions to choose from, why would this community stand by as crapware impugns the viability of its better operating system?

Sure, it's the open source community and eventually it'll work itself out and they all cling to this false sense of freedom, but can't we institute a codified law that says all crapware will be hacked and destroyed? I know that may not be a Linux-y solution, but necessary nonetheless.

Beyond that, my problems with Linux are minor. In reality, Linux is probably the most robust operating system an advanced user could ask for and as long as they know what they're doing, the opportunities for improvement are endless (maybe that's why all of that crapware is still around -- it's a cry for help).

As it stands, your friends at Microsoft and Apple don't trust you with their operating system codes. Because of that, you're forced to play with what they give you and you're simply not allowed to configure your operating system as you see fit. But what if I told you that you can do all of that and more with a free operating system? Now you'd be interested, wouldn't you?

For some, Mac OS X and Windows are good enough. And for those people, I say, you're boring. But for the rest of us, I think it's extremely important that we have a modifiable operating system at our fingertips at all times.

And while I complain about some facets of the Linux community, there's no debating the fact that when you use a more popular distribution, you're given the royal treatment.

One of the main issues I've always had with open source software is the general lack of readily available troubleshooting information. In fact, look no further than Drupal for a powerful platform that is big on features, but small on help.

But when it comes to Linux -- the open source community's golden boy -- the help is simply outstanding. Can't get that hardware to install? Consult the forums and you'll have an answer in a matter of minutes. Having trouble connecting wirelessly to your home network? Head on over to a Linux support IRC channel and you'll be fine in seconds.

Believe it or not, it's that easy. I ran into a few driver issues over the weekend, tried a few workarounds with the terminal that didn't go anywhere and realized that it would have been quicker to simply ask the community. In a matter of seconds, someone told me they had the same issue once and wrote down the solution. After finding it lodged somewhere inside their desk, the helper gave me the line-by-line instructions I needed to fix the issue.

In the end, Linux is truly a great operating system as long as you stay on the beaten paths and don't venture off into unknown territory. And while I have some complaints with the community and its distributions, they are far outweighed by the compliments.

If you've never used Linux before, it's time to try it out. Trust me, you won't regret it.

[bgavinw]

I don't understand.. you spend this weekend w/ Linux, and now Mac OS X & Windows are for "boring" people. And you think it's extremely important that you have a "modifiable operating system at our fingertips at all times", yet "Linux is a truly great operating system as long as you stay on the beaten paths and don't venture off into unknown territory." So which is it, do we get Linux and explore all those fun things we can do, or should we get Linux and be thankful that we have a semi-standardized release like Ubuntu so that we don't mess anything up? I've tried Linux many times over the past few years, and I just can't get past the fact that you have to work 10 times as hard to get 1/2 the results. It's good if you want to use it as a music server on an old laptop or desktop, but for a primary machine why *NOT* "waste his time with things that "just work."" I'd hardly say things that "just work" are a waste of time. Linux is great for what it is and I'm sure everyone' s glad it's out there, but your article is confusing. What are the compliments you mention? Good tech support from the community? Maybe it would be even better if you didn't even *have* driver problems in the first place? What makes Linux better than Mac OS X or Windows? What can I customize in Linux that I can't elsewhere? Who's going to help me with terminal commands? What are the best multimedia apps to handle my libraries? ... Linux has been around a *long* time, and even after testing it numerous times, I still find no real use for it other than a free way to run an old PC with an outdated Windows on it (rather than pay $180 for XP, etc.). But with the cost of computers these days, those PCs are usually trashed anyway. There's just too much lacking to replace a Windows / Mac.

[qwerty75]

Who is going to help you with terminal commands?

Two things wrong with that.

The first is that the commands are easy, flexible and extremely powerful.

Given that the next thing you should know is that on a modern distro, it is rare when you need to use it.

Linux has the best hardware support of any operating system in history.

[qwerty75]

You mean great driver support like Vista? LOL

[qwerty75]

I guess you didn't figure out that the documentation is excellent. From help files to man pages, most of what you need to fix any problems is already installed on your desktop.

Your biggest problem is you went with hype over substance. Stick with openSuSe 10.3.

Spotty software? Yes, there is some bad software, but there is outstanding software for every conceivable need.

Name an OS that has better hardware support? Windows? x86 only. OSX? Now we have two types of platforms. Linux? Lots!

Major peripherals have spot on driver support. For example, you would be hard pressed to find a printer that doesn't work out of the box. Wireless cards are a weak spot, but that is the fault of wireless manufacturers, not Linux. openSuSE 10.3 added in native support for an very large amount of wireless cards. Even the notoriously spotty broadcom cards now have rock solid native support.

Installation is a few clicks away, and one reboot. Inside 40 minutes you can have a fully updated OS with nearly every piece of software you will need, with only rare hardware issues. Installing Windows, updating and all the required reboots, then installing and updating the security crap and general software is a day long affair.

[darreld]

I find the support within current major distro's to be excellent. As a software developer who uses all 3 OS's (Mac OSX, Windows and Linux) I have been spending the vast majority of my time in Ubuntu and loving it. It is more flexible for the way I work than the Mac, and definitely more so than Windows. The breadth of good software available to me is astounding.

I'm not saying it will always be my main desktop OS but for now it seems to be.

Don, I'm curious about the 'they all cling to this false sense of freedom' statement. Is this more of the 'Linux is free if your time is worth nothing' stuff or do you mean something else?

[argraff]

The good distros have money backing them - that means people getting paid to keep things improving rapidly. Using a solid distro (one of the biggies) doesn't limit what you can do (you can always command line anything) it just gives you an easier way to interact with the core OS.

All of my hardware worked right from the start (didn't MS call that 'plug-n-play' or something?) which I can't say was true for previous MS OSs. It's getting better and better all the time.

The Ubuntu forums are astonishing - my experiences are similar to the author's!

I switched to Linux reluctantly (fear, mostly) after XP died and could not be reinstalled on my computer. I was too poor to buy another computer, so I thought it was worth a shot. I've never looked back and use it 8-12 hours most days for my personal business!

[tracy_anne]

"And while I could have been a bit happier with the support and Linux does take some getting used to after immersing yourself in a Mac and Windows world every day, it's still an ideal platform for the advanced techie who doesn't want to waste his time with things that "just work.""

You have obviously never use Mandriva.

[punlman]

Sorry, Don.

I don't get it.

Is it just your "journalistic style"...?

One does not sound important unless one has lots of criticisms?

Or is it just me...?

Your article seems to continuously contradict itself throughout --- from beginning to end --- from A to Z.

You finally conclude: "In the end, Linux is truly a great operating system as long as you stay on the beaten paths and don't venture off into unknown territory."

Uhhh. I think the same exact statement would apply to Windows too. And even Mac for that matter.

Windows is a barely ok operating system as long as you stay on the beaten paths and don't venture off into unknown territory.

Like, Windows ME, for example.

I think that sticking with the most popular, most mainstream, build of Linux.... and of any software for that matter... IS AS OBVIOUS as the nose on your face.

Please tell us something we don't all know.

Or, just have the courage to state your conclusion without the qualifiers:

"In the end, Ubuntu Linux is truly a great operating system." PERIOD.


Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
http://brucewagner.com/blog
[e-mail]
646-275-2195

[GreginChicagoland]

Linux makes a stronger Windows alternative argument rather than a Mac one. I think it also takes a different kind of user to voluntarily give up the multitude of choice (hardware, software) that Windows offers-unless of course you run a Mac. It's great that we have a lot of distribution choices, but you really need to thin the heard a bit. I think that's why it's good that Ubuntu, although not perfect, gets a lot of press.

Where I have a problem is as these distros get closer and closer to emulating Windows and Mac, what then is the point to switch?

Lastly, Don, you should know better than to rile up these communities! Didn't your Mac columns teach you anything!

Out