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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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What could your distro learn from another distro? (lemmy.sdf.org)

submitted 7 months ago by pmk@lemmy.sdf.org to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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For example, I'm using Debian, and I think we could learn a thing or two from Mint about how to make it "friendlier" for new users. I often see Mint recommended to new users, but rarely Debian, which has a goal to be "the universal operating system".
I also think we could learn website design from.. looks at notes ..everyone else.

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[–] BaumGeist@lemmy.ml 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I also think we could learn website design from… looks at notes …everyone else.

whacks you with a rolled up newspaper No! Bad. Wrong.

There is a beauty to simplicity that's lost on so many. I can load a Debian wiki page over a dial-up connection at the south pole. The design is uncluttered and uncomplicated. That goes for every page on debian.org

I often see Mint recommended to new users, but rarely Debian, which has a goal to be “the universal operating system”.

I always took "universal" to be in the sense of "universal remote": it's not universally adopted, it's universally applicable. The fact that it's the upstream of so many major distros (including Mint) indicates that it's accomplished that.

Making it "new user" friendly necessarily requires restrictions and choices made by the maintainers for the ease of the users, which negates the "unversality."

[–] pmk@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 7 months ago

I agree that there is beauty in simplicity. In my opinion, OpenBSD has the best website.
It's not about using fancy effects, it's about the sprawling logical layout and making it hard to navigate. It used to be better around 2005, when it had the left navigation index. I remember people said it was ugly then, but imho they changed the wrong aspects of it, removing the structure without adding simplicity.
For example, a new user reading this page https://l10n.debian.org/ will be confused. It only makes sense to me since I've already translated a bunch of debconf-po-files. These are my opinions, but you are welcome to disagree. Also, please don't hit people with rolled up newspapers, it's rude.

[–] marathon@liberdon.com 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

@pmk If you want MINT just install it. Debian is upstream from MINT anyways. #LMDE

[–] pmk@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 7 months ago

Well, I don't personally need the new user friendliness, I've used Debian for the last 10 years or so, but I do think it's an area we could be better.

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