I kinda like the ability to customize the Linux desktop. But in practice, I always end up with some major problems and many edge cases where my choices just don't work.
A recent example was some web view showing a change log that respected the font color settings but not the background, resulting in white-on-white text with my dark UI.
I'm probably far more willing to spend time on such issues. But I never got to a place where I felt I was "done". In that sense, Linux only demonstrates the difficulty of UI choices, and how it may not be possible to leave it to users. Hell, it's not even possible, apparently, to leave to application developers, judging by the state of the non-customized Linux desktop. Design may be a creative endeavour that requires a competent dictator, and cannot be done in the bazaar-model of OSS.
(That, of course, is on top of the rather large number of flaws of any given Linux UI. Seriously: after reading much praise and endless criticism of MacOS here on HN, I gave (K)Ubuntu another shot. And the only possible conclusion is that Apple and Linux are measured on widely different scales.)
> And the only possible conclusion is that Apple and Linux are measured on widely different scales.)
+1
They are simply designed for different end users - and that is fine. I used macOS for ~5 years before getting fed up with the limited window management - but I understand why it is that way - most people don't care. So people who do, can just use KDE et al, peace.
A recent example was some web view showing a change log that respected the font color settings but not the background, resulting in white-on-white text with my dark UI.
I'm probably far more willing to spend time on such issues. But I never got to a place where I felt I was "done". In that sense, Linux only demonstrates the difficulty of UI choices, and how it may not be possible to leave it to users. Hell, it's not even possible, apparently, to leave to application developers, judging by the state of the non-customized Linux desktop. Design may be a creative endeavour that requires a competent dictator, and cannot be done in the bazaar-model of OSS.
(That, of course, is on top of the rather large number of flaws of any given Linux UI. Seriously: after reading much praise and endless criticism of MacOS here on HN, I gave (K)Ubuntu another shot. And the only possible conclusion is that Apple and Linux are measured on widely different scales.)