[clug] Has Ubuntu resulted in a decline of Linux distribution innovation

[Paul Wayper]

On 19/06/09 19:38, Alex Satrapa wrote:
> On 19/06/2009, at 18:47 , Jason Stokes wrote:
>
>> Perhaps this is flamebait, but I see very little need for the
>> proliferation
>> of distributions anyway and would be extremely happy if there were just
>> one, or perhaps two, "big distributions" that everyone uses for most
>> purposes.
>
> You're addressing the issue of "the Paradox of Choice":
> http://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_on_the_paradox_of_choice.html
>

Really, the choice is actually much simpler: do we let one or two big 
distributions dictate how our operating system / GUI / mabulator works, or do 
we let the open market work?  Believe me, if it's the choice between a dozen 
different competing window managers, programming languages, toolkits, distros 
of Linux, operating systems, or whatever, and having the one 
$BIG_COMPANY_WE_ALL_HATE version forced upon us, I'll gladly go with the 
former, language/distro/toolkit wars and all.

The "Paradox of Choice" is nothing compared to the "Tyranny of a Dictator".

OTOH, because I'm in the real world, I appreciate things like Ubuntu, Fedora 
and Debian being popular.  It builds a user base from which I can learn and 
means a certain standardisation that I can contribute to.  It's noteworthy 
that these days much work is being done to make truly cross-distro and 
cross-GUI software, and to calm the raging $THING_I_CARE_ABOUT wars and 
trolling.  Things like Upstart, the development work on X, and even Launchpad 
are great ways to get everyone in the Open Source Community without dictating 
one way of working and cutting off options.

Have fun,

Paul