Linux is 'emerging'

Where is Linux going?

This is a question a lot of forums hash over and argue about constantly.

Linux essentially started life as a DIY, ( Do It Yourself) kind of OS. Meaning mostly that, if you want to use it, you will play every role in using it. End user, technician, even quasi 'developer' (depending on how 'into it' you got.)

As distros have evolved though in the last two years or so, more focus has come onto the end user.

How much do distro developers really expect "Joe Desktop" to really know about using a Linux desktop?

Do we really want Linux adoption to extend to "Joe Desktop" who knows enough about using a computer to turn it on and surf the web, play some media and email or IM some buddies?

In response, some new distros have evolved and some existing distros have somewhat 're-directed' themselves to answer "Yes" to these questions.

In the 'proprietary' software world, there are 'levels' or categories of users types that exist.

There is the 'end user' who has more or less come to look at a computer as an appliance. Turn it on, push some buttons and 'do' whatever it is they expect it to 'do.

There is the 'power user' who likes to tweak, modify and customize their system. They take it upon themselves to learn as much as they can about the software and system in order to have it perform and look exactly the way they want it to.

Then there is the 'technical user' who is essentially the person who is trained and performs repair and configuration services to these computers.

Products and education are available from vendors, at a price, to technical users to be 'certified' and considered qualified and capable of repair and configurations.

As Linux distributions reach out to "Joe Desktop' or the 'end user', there is an expectation by the end user that it ( Linux) will perform similarly to those proprietary systems they have used.

The end user does not expect to have to learn 'technician' or 'power user' techniques in order to use the system.

This means they will seek out 'power users' and technicians to perform the same assistance and service as they do for their proprietary systems.

However. Most Linux communities are still 'set up' for the DIY mindset. If you peruse most distro and community forums, there is an expectation of existing users for 'newbies' to do some legwork and seek out answers on their own.

I'm not saying this is a negative on the behalf of the existing Linux community. They are simply doing what they have always done. doing it themselves. It promotes a feeling of empowerment and self sufficiency for them and believe any 'intelligent' person would want the same.

This type of interaction in the existing forums and communities is not what the 'Joe Desktops' of the world are looking for though.

Someone told Joe Desktop that Linux is just as capable as Windows or Apple in getting things done and that it is free. Those are two words just about anyone likes to hear, 'capable' and 'free'.

So now there is a rift in the Linux user world. Where distro developers have reached out to Joe Desktop and some Joe's are responding, the DIY community is practically offended that people content to rely on others to be service providers are among them.

So, Linux has reached out to Joe Desktop the end user, but where does Joe Desktop go for help and direction?

If Linux is trying to make itself accessible to Joe Desktop, trying to put itself in the same accessibility area that Joe Desktop is used to, then how can anyone blame Joe Desktop for being frustrated when he finds he is suddenly out of his element when it comes to support?

Joe says "Hey, you came knocking on my door remember. You wanted me to give you a try."

Joe is right. if you are going to make the software accessible to a user community that is not typically a DIY group of users, then those distros need to make available a new method of providing support to that category of user.

The DIY community is right also. Just because distro devs want to expand their reach into the public marketplace, shouldn't mean that suddenly DIY'ers have to change how they have always interacted and communicated either.

Perhaps something in the middle might work? establish a new forum or place for end users to find help. Ask those in you DIY community to help patrol that area and help Joe Desktops with their issues as one would expect on a help line. Only those who have the temperament to answer the same question repeatedly in a calm and personable manner need apply.

For those distros that are supported by a company, ie the Ubutus and OpenSuses and fedoras of the world that have a corporate sponsor behind them, perhaps they would pay a few people to answer a phone or man a forum or live chat sessions as well as have volunteers willing to help out.

Think about it, if you walk into someones house and say "Here, try this tool." and when he looks at it and says "Cool, OK. Ummm, how does it work?"

Do you really tell him to go figure it out on his own? Of course not. if you want him to try it and use it, you will help him get to know how to use it so he will want to keep using it.

Linux is emerging and as it emerges, it will need to find ways to make help accessible to those new users as well as making the software itself more accessible.