On Sunday 01 August 2010 11:20:58 Otso wrote:
Hello,
This arguing over focusing openSUSE developement towards "technical users" or "non-technical users" is silly beyond belief. There is one question that needs to be answered before taking any direction at all: What both groups usually want as soon as installation is finished?
Answers are mainly the following: 1) Stability 2) Functionality 3) Discoverability
- First is obvious but neglected almost universally nowadays when it comes to Linux distros. Much to improve there.
That is something that software developers today easily forget, and not only in Linux. The deadline is main goal, not what comes out on that deadline. I really like last news from GNOME that 3.0 is delayed. It is far more responsible then pushing it out just to respect deadline.
- Second is harder to grasp. GNOME with dual-panel setup and Programs/Places/System menus is arguably more functional than KDE kickoff.
Or GNOME with a single panel. The key here is that double panel. After using once upper panel with Programs-Places-System menus it is for me must have and I create my own. The same case is with KDE, but second panel has different functionality then in GNOME, as kickoff provides more functionality then openSUSE GNOME Main Menu (whatever is exact name of Main Menu that appear on installtion).
Functionality = (action+reaction)/time. This also covers generic program behaviour, overlapping with stability. A program that doesn't work as excepted isn't functional.
In that part, interpretation what is "as expected" depends on previous experience.
- Third one, discoverability. The better, more describing word for "user friendly". While CLI is the pinnacle of functionality, it takes time to discover how it works. GNOME, on the other hand, has its features right there to click. They are easy to discover. This obviously overlaps with functionality.
Not always. It has hidden things that surprise even long time computer user.
Getting at least those three common nominators in order should be enough to create something that appeals for everyone.
+1
Take it easy, Otso
-- Regards, Rajko -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-project+help@opensuse.org