Proprietary vs. Free Software desktop environments ease of use: is only the first good enough?

December 24, 2023

🇵🇹🇧🇷 Versão em português

I strongly disagree when people mistakenly claim that “Linux” (meaning GNU and other Unix-like) is designed to be used only on the command line interface, and therefore end users would be better served by one or two more common desktop operating systems, especially the currently dominant one.

There is indeed a strong “Linux”/etc focus on the backend/server-side, thankfully, as they drive the information society world today, running most web and database servers and other infrastructure, supercomputers, important scientific projects, artificial intelligence development, mobile and embedded devices, like probably even your automobile. The said command line interpreters actually make life easier and faster for those who learn how to use them. This is not a weakness, but a very powerful feature.

Having said that, there has also been great development for decades on what we call Free Desktop environments, with many different implementations, some more end-user oriented than others.

Screenshot of Pantheon desktop, from Elementary OS, having a landscape wallpaper image, a transparent top bar with white characters and icons, highlighting the activation of an item responsable for opening an application selection menu with several icons to launch them and a text field for app searching. At the bottom, there is a dock with icons, probably for opening applications already running.

Regular web browser and most application users have no need to know much about what the computer is doing behind the graphical human-machine interface. They rely on other people for technical support, and Free Desktop environments do not change this fact. The main difference is that there are more options and freedoms, giving the impression of a harder choice. However, when asked to install software and maintain such a machine, it is the job of good computer technicians to learn the needs of their clients, know or find the options, and meet those needs. It does not have to be like a religion with a single, unquestionable, true solution for all situations, as is unfortunately often the case. On the contrary, the idea here is to empower users to fulfill their freedom and keep it sustainable.

My old man (over 70 years old), who is fortunately healthy but had never used a computer before, became a Xfce/Firefox “light” end user without proper training. He knows how to turn it on, enter his password, start the browser that has an icon, load some sites I left on the Bookmarks Toolbar, e.g. his banks, stock market, email provider, favorite news. Eventually, he learned how to type in other simple addresses, search, and even call me for remote assistance if needed. All this before he started using smartphones. Just like or better than the average older user of other systems. There are some PhD professors at the university who, even on the dominant OS, have a hard time doing all this, perhaps lacking the necessary will. He actually tried the built-in proprietary system without my interference after buying a new laptop (already years ago), but soon asked me to “fix” it. From time to time I upgrade Xubuntu for him, then it remains stable, resource efficient, secure, has what he needs, so how could he not be happy with it? He complains when a website doesn't do what he wants it to, the internet provider goes down, or the printer hangs, like everyone else. Based on what is so praised about the typical proprietary operating system, it should be very easy for all people to get used to it, right?

The lesson is that any habit change is very difficult for most people, and they are usually stubborn. If they had been taught from the beginning how to use some Free Software desktop environment, tools, and applications, even if they were different from most common proprietary counterparts with similar functionality, they would get used to them and probably avoid the opposite situation. Just as the masses have been brainwashed into believing that there is only one way to use a computer. That is why they prefer to keep it the same, even if it is subject to premature obsolescence, vendor lock-in, privacy and security compromise or any other kind of heavy dependence on Big Tech, rather than learn anything at all that would make them capable of broad freedom.

#FreeSoftware #FreeAsInFreedom #GNU #Linux #GNULinux #FOSS #GNOME #KDE #Xfce #LXDE #Pantheon #Budgie #Firefox #FreeDesktop #desktop #POSIX #PC