[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Linux Needs Critics here

[sander85]

well.. for commercial software there is EULA usually..
the same goes for open source, and most of the time software is under GPL
if you read the license (http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/gpl.html) you should notice these lines:
15. Disclaimer of Warranty.
THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE PROGRAM “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.
about complaints or problems.. for most projects there are bug reporting systems for that, it's up to you to make your life better, if you write complaining article about whatever bothers you in open source software, don't expect developers fixing the problem if there is no bug report about it.. (they have a lot of bugs to fix,they don't have time to read complaining articles ;))
open source is all about community, and it's up to you if you wanna be part of it or not, if you wanna get some you have to give some too..
it's all that simple =)

[richlion]

If we were to criticize Linux, we would also have to criticize other OS vendors. I’ve been using Linux operating systems for other reasons than regular users do, due to my professional work. At work I have plenty of UNIX-es, so it’s natural I have a Linux boxes at home. However I will never take Ubuntu as the first choice.
I have used Windows XP for many years too, but that’s history. Of course, I may complain about Linux glitches, but look around. Look at all the software that’s produced on any OS, Windows, Macs, etc. Have you not noticed that the software evolution is heading in the wrong direction? Is it only Linux that is responsible? After all, Linux is just an operating software, where as all the other software is an add-on you use.
What do you want to criticize, the operating system, or the software that comes with it?
If you would like to criticize Linuxes, you would have to first install at least 10 distros and compare them. Ubuntu for me is again not the choice. Look around, how many choices you have with Linuxes and how many with other operating systems?
My choice is Sabayon-Gentoo. One good reason – it’s easy to install and has ALL the software I need. Price is not the issue, the fact that I can have an installation for free is not the main reason I use Linuxes.
Sander85 is right and I agree with him. You would like to criticize, but you have not mentioned how much time you spent communicating problems and helping programmers solve them.
On the other hand, try and contact Microsoft saying their OS system lacks “this or that”, that we are threatened everyday with viruses, malware, etc, that we have to purchase tons of additional software to get the full functionality Windows doesn’t have out of the box?
So far Linux distributions have evolved enormously in a way you could have hardly imagined a year ago. It makes competition tougher.
Regards,
Richard

[Boomshadow]

You have "complaint" confused with "insult."
A better example of a complaint that would count as unconstructive criticism would be "I can't work with Linux! It's not user-friendly enough."
A constructive way to word that would be, "Linux needs to make it easier for users to install and configure software and settings."

[Internet2k4]

Linux developers should just be reading the user forums for netbooks that ordinary consumers are buying, and fixing the problems that are identified. They will have to get out of the geek feedback loop. A better distinction than "complaint versus criticism" would be "excuse versus reason" for the way Linux either works for a user or doesn't.

[lionroar]

It think the biggest problem I have with Linux fanatics is that we cannot rely on visual effects to show how way better we look than Windows. That proves nothing. Youtube with all those videos of compliz are driving me nut. Let show more videos of other great stuff using linux. There is no need to prove we make real good use of visual effects than Windows, that has already been proven. Let focus on other stuff as well.

[sander85]

well, take it from the hackers point of view..

there is a funny comic about it: http://www.geekheroc...lla-heartbreak/ - under the picture there is longer description how hackers use bugzillas :P

they are doing it from their own free time, noone pays them.. so why should they care about some forum? :)

complaints are usually very welcome, but they should be formed as bug reports with some more info than just "it doesn't work and now whole linux sucks" ... this way it just won't work :)

[petiepooo]

The following is criticism: "Your body odor has become unbearable--it's clear your deodorant isn't working."
A complaint is offensive. It's a verbal attack. Genuine criticism is intended to help and often hints at a solution (get a better deodorant, dude!). Criticism might be blunt. It can be harsh. But it has genuine intentions.
Lets continue this analogy a little. The commercial software consumers are used to having to tell their vendors that their Right-Guard has turned left. They see the vendors clothes, but not their underarm. They're at the mercy of a vendor that can simply say, "Tough! You have to live with it."
With Linux, the users are more empowered. They can say, "Hey, I noticed you have a problem with body odor. I took the liberty of bringing in a different deodorant. Here, unbutton your shirt and lift your arm so I can try it out."
When the response to criticism or complaint is, "Do something about it," instead of silence or "We'll get to it sometime around 2012," there becomes less to complain about. You could say complaints are something only powerless users do.

[WinTard]

My opinion of the situation regarding all critics is simple:

If you don't contribute, don't complain. PERIOD.

Linux should this, Linux should that. Horsefeathers! Linux is a success through natural organic evolution, and is what it is, exactly as it should be. Moral people would rather care about Linux instead of the other way around. Cherish and encourage the selfless mutual cooperation instead.

Complainers should fix it themselves, or STFU. That is the whole philosophy of the Open Source Initiative. Contribute, or bust!

The mechanism of mutual cooperation, feedback, and paths for improvements are well established as it is, for real contributors. Who cares about petty users whims and their wants? I certainly DON'T.

To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin:
He that is good for making criticism is seldom good for anything else.
~ Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, American Scientist/Publisher/Diplomat

~~~~~~~~~~
Children need models rather than critics.
~ Joseph Joubert

If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence.
~ Lao Tzu

It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

When you have given nothing, ask for nothing.
{Albanian Proverb}

Put all excuses aside and remember this: YOU are capable.
~ Zig Ziglar

Housework is something you do that nobody notices until you don't do it.
~ Source Unknown

Honest hearts produce honest actions.
~ Brigham Young, 1801-1877, American Religious Leader
{and criticism is never honest or positive}

Don't think you're on the right road just because it?s a well-beaten path.
~ Source Unknown

Love people. Use things. Not vice-versa.
~ Kelly Rothaus

Beware of a man of one book.
{Latin Proverb}

Learning never exhausts the mind.
~ Leonardo da Vinci, 1452-1519, Italian Painter and Sculptor

Even when the experts all agree, they may well be mistaken.
~ Bertrand Russell

You know you are on the road to success if you would do your job, and not be paid for it.
~ Oprah Winfrey, American Talk Show Host/Actress/Entrepreneur

Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, 'What's in it for me?'
~ Brian Tracy

The cynic, a parasite of civilization, lives by denying it, for the very reason that he is convinced that it will not fail.
~ Jose Ortega y Gasset (Spanish philosopher and humanist, 1883-1955)

A parasite cannot live alone.
{African (Ovambo) Proverb}

Misery loves company.
~ John Ray (English naturalist and botanist, 1627-1705)

Is not disease the rule of existence? There is not a lily pad floating on the river but has been riddled by insects. Almost every shrub and tree has its gall, oftentimes esteemed its chief ornament and hardly to be distinguished from the fruit. If misery loves company, misery has company enough. Now, at midsummer, find me a perfect leaf or fruit.
~ Henry David Thoreau (American Essayist, Poet and Philosopher, 1817-1862)

A question that sometimes drives me hazy: am I or are the others crazy?
~ Albert Einstein

If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade.
~ Tom Peters

Positive anything is better than negative nothing.
~ Elbert Hubbard

[csgrad]

Although I see where you are coming from, I wholeheartedly disagree. It is not a question of the Linux community being anti-criticism. Instead, there is the requirement that the criticism be helpful.

For example, "The user interface sucks and is confusing," is not helpful, because it offers no advice on how to resolve the issue. Instead, when you offer your criticism, include answers to questions like the following: Which aspect of the UI is confusing? How could the UI be designed to make it more intuitive? What needs to be modified to address your criticism?

In my experience, when people's criticisms are ignored or derided, it is because they have not provided enough information on what they would like to see. Using your deodorant example, here would be a better criticism: "Your body odor has become unbearable--it's clear your deodorant isn't working. You might try brand X or Y instead."

[pcunix]

I understand. I've written what I thought were mild criticisms and been beaten up pretty badly.
But: imagine two sisters, one industrious and hard working, one lazy, greedy and nasty.
Imagine that the bad sister lies about everything, takes credit for work she didn't do and amazingly, most of the world believes her.
The good sister might get a little testy when you complain that her hair isn't perfect today..

[WinTard]

I agree with your statements. Alas in life there is the infamous 80/20 rule. 80% of all accomplishments are performed by 20% of people. The rest are mere lazy bums and opportunists...

~~~~~~~~~~
There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there.
~ Indira Gandhi

[fishmeister]

Firstly, I've found open source developer discussions to be very frank to the point of being brutal. To be involved you need to have a thick skin.
The negative response you get is probably from the end user "community", not the developer community. The "free" argument can have some truth to it, however. A lot of work in OSS is done to fulfil a specific personal need, not to please you as a paying customer. When the developer's problem is solved she may have little incentive to polish it up to work just right for you. You need to think about who's writing the software and why.
Having said that you can facilitate change if you participate. Find the appropriate channel for your criticism: submit a bug report, post on the suggestions forum, join the testing team, whatever.

[gboyce]

While I agree that some people take criticism as complaining, I think you may be attributing too much of this to Linux supporters rather than just people.
Is the world of Linux supporters really that much worse than Windows supporters, Mac OS supporters, Tivo Users or Volkswagen drivers?

[pcunix]

+Is the world of Linux
supporters really that much worse than Windows supporters, Mac OS
supporters, Tivo Users or Volkswagen drivers?+*
*


Definitely not. Search for any of the blog posts where Linux folk have taken issue with Microsoft - you'll find Windows people being savage in the comments.





People take it personally. I use a Mac for my desktop, Linux for my server. Say either one sucks and effectively you have said my judgment sucks.


I don't care because I feel confident in my choices. But a lot of people do not, and they react badly.

[taustin1382]

This article is Bull Sh1t..... maybe you should try researching the way "criticism" is reported to developers before writing this crap.... (bug reports and suggestions)

sorry you didn't get enough "criticism" in the above posts..

now your going to make the article better... right?....

[acitta]

There are plenty of Linux critics. Just sign on to any development mailing list and you will see plenty of criticism. If you have a complaint about something, file a bug report on the appropriate bug tracker and discuss it on the appropriate mailing list. Don't just whine on your blog. Linux is community developed. It improves because people participate in helping it improve. Programmers contribute code. Users contribute bug reports and suggestions. That is why Linux has progressed so far since starting as Linus Torvalds hobby. Some Linux users are so critical, they start their own distribution out of spite!

[geohump]

Sorry, I have to disagree, and here is why:
Bloodbaths. Daily Bloodbaths.
Everyday on the Linux Kernel list and tens (possibly hundreds) of other email lists and forums Linux people are tearing each other new holes over this or that issue. Its an endless stream of competitive, cut-throat one-upmanship where the winner is the one with the best technical approach. The whole entire reason for good/successful F/OSS projects having a mush higher quality and security that their respective closed source counter parts is that they are wide open to public criticism, AND the critics can grab the code and shove it in the developers face, saying "Right there! Thats where you screwed up!" :-) Just because the author of the article doesn't have the techno-chops or the strength of heart needed to fully engage in that daily bloodbath of criticism doesn't mean its not happening. It just means he isn't man or woman enough to contribute in that arena. When he gets stronger thru practice, then he may be able to support his points well enough to get through. But his claim that there are no critics is laughable. Even if we didn't continually bash each other half to death (metaphorically) Microsoft's paid shills would be in there doing it anyway.
Laughable claim. Totally laughable.

[rgammans]

Linux does need more constructive criticism.
It also needs less poor criticism.
Part of the problem F/OSS developers faced with criticism can often interpret it as a 'please implement this'. Which I can understand them reacting badly to. They have their own internal idea of what they want to do with their free time to make X work.
They feel if you want that you can code it, or pay for it to be coded yourself.
Of course they are also they raving fanboys in any community, for example have your every criticised MacOS? Woah.
I think every linux project probably needs somebody like you on board - who is trusted by the developers to herd the criticism into the bug tracker.
In fact you may get better response to your criticism if you file it a wishlist items on the the feature request tracker of whichever project you want.

[GraysonPeddie]

Hah! Can't agree more with your article.
Criticism is king if you want to make open source software as easy as if you're uing commercial software. Same with operating systems.
Okay, Ubuntu is very easy, but what if they want to setup a home server if they came from Windows background? It'd be great if there's a "Server Manager" for Ubuntu Server if they are familiar with Ubuntu. Sure, openSUSE has a couple of configuration tools, but some may not be straightforward compared to Windows Server 2003/2008. I know this does not make any sense for home users, but how about having Samba as a Primary Domain Controller to make it work with Windows so that Windows users can join a domain?
If Linux wants to compete with Windows Server 2008 Foundation for small businesses and they want Linux to be as easy as Windows Server, criticism is king!
Don't take criticism as a complaint. As the author stated (and this bears repeating), if you say "Linux is free; why complain," this implies Linux is inferior to Windows -- even openSUSE and Ubuntu (including Ubuntu Server).