Re: GNUstep Live on OSnews

[Liam Proven]

On 31 July 2017 at 12:38, Xavier Brochard <xavier@alternatif.org> wrote:
>
> Hi Riccardo
>
> One problem is that the GNUstep project has nearly nothing to show to end
> users (except screenshots and descriptions). As a consequence a lot of people
> doesn't understand the project. They want to do a quick try but they can't.
> (in France we have the great http://linuxfr.org website where such questions
> often comes.)
>
> As I've always wanted to work on a light desktop using GNUstep, I propose to
> work on this :
> Even if the project is not about building a desktop, a lots of components are
> already present. My idea is to write a short how-to that can be polished along
> the time. It should answer to such basic questions that are evident for the
> team but not for the others :
> - which Window Manager can I choose ? which one for that task ?
> - how should I configure GWorkspace ?
> - where can I find themes ?
> - can I take some Etoilé components ?
> etc.
>
> Hence, starting with something light and extending it later. Nothing related
> to development but to building a working environment. I think it can help to
> attract devs because one can see what small apps / components are missing, and
> start to develop using GNUstep framework and tools.
>
> Later this how-to can serve as a basis for better packaging in distribs.
>
> I'm a sysadmin, working with end users in mind, trying to install simple, rock
> and solid desktops for them. But I'm not a dev, I will have a lot of questions
> to ask...
> Who wants to help ?

Happy to help.

But it's tricky and part of that is the unfocussed nature of the
GNUstep project.

Yes, it's a set of programming libraries, but it's also a desktop, and
possibly the least-known Linux desktop.

I have long wanted to build an Ubuntu or Debian remix with a GNUstep
desktop, but I lack sufficient technical skills. The packages in both
Ubuntu and the stable release of Debian are long out of date, but if
the packages are not drawn from the repos, it cannot be called an
Ubuntu Remix according to Canonical's rules.

I had chosen Ubuntu simply because I use it myself and have since it
was first launched. It's the most widely-used distro so help, support,
drivers and so on are readily available.

However, soon I will start a contract job with SUSE, so I may see if I
can build one using SUSE instead. This would solve the issue of
missing system-administration tools, as SUSE has its own complete
integrated sysadmin tool, YAST. SUSE also offers extensive automated
online package-building tools, so I may be able to work around the
problem of outdated distro packages.

I think it would be good for the GNUstep project.

[1] If the distro were a fairly complete, usable, lightweight offering
and so attracted some users and interest, then it would draw attention
and interest to GNUstep.

[2] If it got people using the apps, this should result in bug
reports, pull requests, code contributions, and so on.

[3] If people tried hacking on the code and discovered that the tools
were good and the libraries useful, this would result in more usage
and adoption. Especially if people found that they could build KDE or
GNOME apps using GNUstep, or cross-platform apps.

As it is, the project is very obscure and most people I talk to in the
FOSS community have never heard of it. Those who have think it is long
dead.

-- 
Liam Proven • Profile: https://about.me/liamproven
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