Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 10:49:18 -0700 (MST) From: Larry Lee <lclee@primenet.com> To: jfieber@indiana.edu, lclee@primenet.com Cc: chat@freefall.freebsd.org Subject: Re: Commerical applications Message-ID: <199701221749.KAA15464@usr07.primenet.com>
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> From jfieber@fallout.campusview.indiana.edu Tue Jan 21 21:16:18 1997 > > On Tue, 21 Jan 1997, Larry Lee wrote: > > > My general assumption is that the FreeBSD kernel is pretty good, and no > > more work is required here for general acceptance. There are other areas, > > predominately installation and applications and general cosmetics, which > > which I believe should be addressed to reduce some of the entry barriers > > that newcomers experience. > > These are reasonable assumptions. Unfortunately the economics of > FreeBSD do not support the areas of needed improvement very well. > When dealing with the kernel and other "hacking" types of work, the > most qualified designers and most qualified implementers are the same > people. > > With interface design, this is rarely the case. Furthermore, while > kernel hacking can be easily done by an individual working alone with > email communication, good interface design is considerably more > difficult, particularly when the designer and the implementer are > different people. Finally, on a volunteer project, people have > little motivation to work on projects they can't "own" which > makes designer/implementor relationships difficult to establish. As I understood it, the fundamental complaint is: FreeBSD is a great OS, but it isn't getting the general acceptance that it deserves. I think there are specific reasons (deficiencies in FreeBSD) that are responsible. Someone else might disagree with my assessment and present their own ideas, but at least we would both by trying to change things for the better. But as I read the previous paragraphs you seem to feel that it can't be done. Everyone is a primadonna with no interest in working towards a common goal. It's easy to find reasons for why something can't be done, but it doesn't accomplish anything. > > So what kind of people are we talking about? Computer science students, > > professional programmers, and Unix knowledgable commercial sites > > with embedded applications; Or do you want to address the larger > > arena of desktop applications? > > The latter is a bit unrealistic, so yes, the former. The people you want to appeal to are already knowledgable in the internals of a computer, its operating system, and development environments. So tell me why aren't these people flocking to FreeBSD? Where are they going? What's there that isn't here? I actually thought/hoped that it would be more beneficial to use FreedBSD for something. So I was voting for the latter. 1% of all the PC's in the world is a lot more than 50% of all unix programmers, and that translates to a lot more users. I know I made up the percentages but I hope you see the point. As far as the rest of you comments go, I think we have some fundamental differences as to what is needed and whether it's even possible. Let me summarize and respond without quoting. I do think that most people use their computers as communication and organization devices, and what is needed in the basic offering are applications such as word processors, internet access, fax machines, as well as installation procedure to make this stuff work. I don't think FreeBSD needs to be a windows clone to be accepted. Specifically, I don't agree that icons, point/click, and drag/drop are _requirements_ to doing useful work. Although I will go see what I can find about CDE. I do agree that FreeBSD needs some serious help with respect to installation and configuration. Larry
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