this post was submitted on 30 Mar 2025
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The diversity of Linux distributions is one of its strengths, but it can also be challenging for app and game development. Where do we need more standards? For example, package management, graphics APIs, or other aspects of the ecosystem? Would such increased standards encourage broader adoption of the Linux ecosystem by developers?

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 hours ago

While all areas could benefit in terms of stability and ease of development from standadization, the whole system and each area would suffer in terms of creativity. There needs to be a balance. However, if I had to choose one thing, I'd say the package management. At the moment we have deb, rpm, pacman, flatpak, snap (the latter probably should not be considered as the server side is proprietary) and more from some niche distros. This makes is very difficult for small developers to offer their work to all/most users. Otherwise, I think it is a blessing having so many DEs, APIs, etc.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Rewrite the entire kernel exclusively in rust!

-hehehe-

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 hours ago

And that's how WW3 started..!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (1 children)

Each monitor should have its own framebuffer device rather than only one app controlling all monitors at any time and needing each app to implement its own multi-monitor support. I know fbdev is an inefficient, un-accelerated wrapper of the DRI, but it's so easy to use!

Want to draw something on a particular monitor? Write to its framebuffer file. Want to run multiple apps on multiple screens without needing your DE to launch everything? Give each app write access to a single fbdev. Want multi-seat support without needing multiple GPUs? Same thing.

Right now, each GPU only gets 1 fbdev and it has the resolution of the smallest monitor plugged into that GPU. Its contents are then mirrored to every monitor, even though they all have their own framebuffers on a hardware level.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 13 hours ago

This right here is why i moved to a single display setup.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (3 children)

I'm not sure whether this should be a "standard", but we need a Linux Distribution where the user never has to touch the command line. Such a distro would be beneficial and useful to new users, who don't want to learn about command line commands.

And also we need a good app store where users can download and install software in a reasonably safe and easy way.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

I really don't understand this. I put a fairly popular Linux distro on my son's computer and never needed to touch the command line. I update it by command line only because I think it's easier.

Sure, you may run into driver scenarios or things like that from time to time, but using supported hardware would never present that issue. And Windows has just as many random "gotchas".

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 hours ago

I try to avoid using the command line as much as possible, but it still crops up from time to time.

Back when I used windows, I would legitimately never touch the command line. I wouldn't even know how to interact with it.

We're not quite there with Linux, but we're getting closer!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (1 children)

Why do people keep saying this? If you don't want to use the command line then don't.

But there is no good reason to say people shouldn't. It's always the best way to get across what needs to be done and have the person execute it.

The fedora laptop I have been using for the past year has never needed the command line.

On my desktop I use arch. I use the command line because I know it and it makes sense.

Its sad people see it as a negative when it is really useful. But as of today you can get by without it.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

It’s always the best way to get across what needs to be done and have the person execute it.

Sigh. If you want to use the command line, great. Nobody is stopping you.

For those of us who don't want to use the command line (most regular users) there should be an option not to, even in Linux.

Its sad people see it as a negative when it is really useful.

It's even sadder seeing people lose sight of their humanity when praising the command line while ignoring all of its negatives.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago) (1 children)

lose sight of their humanity

Ok this is now a stupid conversation. Really? Humanity?

Look, you can either follow a flowchart of a dozen different things to click on to get information about your thunderbolt device or type boltctl -list

Do you want me to create screen shots of every step of the way to use a gui or just type 12 characters? That is why it is useful. It is easy to explain, easy to ask someone to do it. Then they can copy and paste a response, instead of yet another screenshot.

Next thing you know you will be telling me it is against humanity to "right click". Or maybe we all should just get a Mac Book Wheel

Look, I am only advocating that it is a very useful tool. There is nothing "bad" about it, or even hard. What is the negative?

But I also said, I have been using a Fedora laptop for over a year and guess what? I never needed the command line. Not once.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (1 children)

Ok this is now a stupid conversation. Really? Humanity?

Yeah, humanity. The fact you think it's 'stupid' really just proves my point that you're too far gone.

or type boltctl -list

Really? You have every command memorized? You never need to look any of them up? No copy-pasting!

Come on, at least try to make a decent argument to avoid looking like a troll.

I'm glad rational people have won out and your rhetoric is falling further and further by the wayside. The command line is great for development and developers. It's awful for regular users which is why regular users never touch it.

You lost sight of your humanity, which is why you don't even think about how asinine it is to say "just type this command!" as though people are supposed to know it intuitively.

Gonna block ya now. Arguing with people like you is tiresome and a waste of time.

Have fun writing commands. Make sure you don't use a GUI to look them up, or else you'd be proving me right.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

You blocked me over a difference of opinion?

Wow.

All I am trying to say it that it is a tool in the toolbox. Telling people Linux needs it is not true, telling people it's bad is not true.

Quit trying to make it a negative. I would encourage anyone to explore how to use this tool. And when trying to communicate ideas on the internet it is a very useful one.

I have never blocked anyone, I find that so strange. It's like saying because of our difference on this issue, we could never have common ground on any other.

And you ask me to remember my humanity?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

I think there are some that are getting pretty close to this. Like SteamOS (although not a traditional DE) and Mint.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 hours ago

Mint is pretty good, but I found the update center GUI app to always fail to update things like Firefox with some mirror error (regardless of whether you told it to use it or not). It happened for my old desktop (now my dad’s main computer), my LG laptop or used HP elitedesk G4. Using “sudo apt update” + “sudo apt upgrade” + Y (to confirm) on the command line was 10x easier and just worked. I do feel better/safe now that they use Linux for internet browsing instead of windows too.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 20 hours ago

Standardizing package management? Imagine everyone being stuck with .rpm

[–] [email protected] 36 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (6 children)

Where app data is stored.

~/.local

~/.config

~/.var

~/.appname

Sometimes more than one place for the same program

Pick one and stop cluttering my home directory

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 hours ago

Yea I like how a lot have moved to using .config but mozilla just moved out of there and now has a .mozilla folder outside of it.. wtf... It is insanely sad.

I have actually moved my entire "user home folder".. folders out of there just because it is so ugly and unorganized. I now use /home/user/userfolders/.. all my stuff like documents / videos etc in here

[–] [email protected] 1 points 15 hours ago

This would also be nice for atomic distros, application space and system space could be separated in more cases.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 18 hours ago

This would be convenient indeed, but I've learned to be indifferent about it as long as the manual or readme provides helpful and succinct information.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 19 hours ago

I have good news and bad news:

A specification already exists. https://specifications.freedesktop.org/basedir-spec/latest/

[–] [email protected] 4 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (1 children)

it's pretty bad. steam for example has both
~/.steam and
~/.local/share/Steam
for some reason. I'm just happy I moved to an impermanent setup for my PC, so I don't need to worry something I temporarily install is going to clutter my home directory with garbage

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

that .steam is a bunch of symlinks to the .local one.. which makes it even worse. they have also .steampid and .steampath.

and even worse a bunch of games are starting to add them there too.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Factorio puts game saves in ~/.factorio for some reason...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 hours ago

damn, of all the people you'd think those guys would actually have used the .local or .config =[

I have 73 dot files in my home directory lmao

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