Some thoughts for the future

[Tim Holmes]

> Since Fedora is supposed to be "bleeding-edge," I have thought of a
few
> things that may be cool for the future, not just for Fedora but Linux
in
> general:
> 
> *  How about the ability to install via SRPMS for the specific CPU
> platform I'm using?  In other words, as an advanced install option,
> allow me to have the installer use the SRPMS instead of the
precompiled
> RPMS, and allow me to define the compiler optimizations for CPU etc.
> That would be cool.  Ok, a slow install, but this isn't a production
OS,
> so why not?  I hate having an Athlon-XP running code optimized for a
> P4.  Sure, an install could take days, but it would be an option I'd
> use.  Why?  Because I can and it's certainly bleeding-edge.
> 
> *  How about the ability to clone the configured and working version
on
> my hardrive to be burned on a DVD (dual layer and blue beam makes this
> possible) for easy portability?
> 
> *  Someone needs to make X more display hardware friendly.
> 
> *  Gnome and KDE are nice and such, but even Apple knew how to exploit
> the display hardware to make a cool interface.  So much so that MS is
> trying to copy and "improve" it for their next release.  There's more
to
> a gui now days than skinning.  Fedora needs a cooler looking GUI.
> 
> *  Better documentation of changes that could result in problems with
> legacy software, and techniques on how to fix them, instead of the
usual
> "we took [this] out" without further explanation.
> 
> Can you immagine a day when the Fedora List has nothing but praise
> instead of a plethora of problems?  One can dream....
> 
> Rich
> 


[Tim Holmes] 
I would like to comment on this as well!

I have been using Fedora Core 2/3 for about 9 months now (I know --
still a newbie) and I have run into many different challenges, (which
have been solved -- thanks largely to this list) but I have also run
into some observations, so this looks like an ideal time to post them --
stream of consciousness style

1. There is a definite need for better installation procedures.  When I
get something that is packaged for a particular distro, it generally
works without too much complaining. However when compiling from source,
it is a whole different ballgame.  I spent over 20 hours trying (with
little success) to get a satellite tracking program to run on an FC3
box, it kept erroring out in the configure or make stages.  The errors
messages were at best cryptic and at worst non existent. -- I finally
gave up and abandoned a superior product for one that worked.  If it is
the goal of linux (in general, not just fedora core) to become a
mainstream USER operating system and hope to displace windoze, things
must JUST WORK.  The average user will NOT spend 20 hours trying to get
a program running that they can have in 3 minutes in windoze.

2.  There needs to be better GUI options (notice I said options) for
many tasks.  I strongly prefer yum to up2date, and earlier this week
found a nice gui for that, but in general if you are not comfortable
with a CLI, linux is not going to work out too well.  I teach junior
high and high school computers, and I cannot imagine trying to teach my
junior high typing class to use the CLI just to get to an application
(yes, I know that icons can be created etc) however even that process
needs to be simplified if Linux is going to make it into mainstream.

3 SAMBA -- Samba needs help badly -- Once you get it to work, it works,
but getting it there is an oddessy that few would care to undertake.  I
have been working on it for several months now and the best I can come
up with is about a 7 step process to get a windows (active directory)
user access to their home directory -- it needs to be simpler -- I know
-- don't use active directory -- but in companies where thousands of
dollars have been spent purchasing AD etc, that option is NOT going to
sit well at all, especially since there is no Production Ready
equivalent out there (that I am aware of at least)(Yes, I know that
samba 4 is supposed to replace AD, but its not there yet)

My final comment -- Linux (in general, Fedora in specific) is a
wonderful operating system.  It is great for servers and such, but it is
the stated position of the linux community that their desire is to
displace windows as the primary operating system.  In order to do that
some things will need to happen,  Perhaps this thread will have the
effect of opening more dialog on what must happen so that we can get to
that point.

Number one thing -- STUFF HAS TO WORK -- easily and quickly -- stability
and security take a back seat quickly when things don't work.  Even I
find myself granting more permissions on directories than should be,
just so things work --- its got to WORK

Ok -- enough of a rant -- please take this in the spirit in which it was
offered -- constructive commentary and criticism in the hopes of
building a stronger operating system

TIM