Simple is Sexy when it Comes to Open-Source
Simple is Sexy when it Comes to Open-SourcePublished By: ComputerWorldViewed: 10142
February 27, 2004 (Computerworld)
-- These days, open-source software is the metrosexual in the IT
industry. It's cool and sexy to be open-source. Those of us who've been
around open-source for a long time always thought that, but now
mainstream businesses and the mainstream press are picking up on that
cool factor as well.
It's getting so much press that IBM even paid $2.3 million to run a
Linux ad during this year's Super Bowl to make people think that IBM
equals Linux.
Although the publicity is all well and good, the reality is that
we as a community need to not only provide technically superior
software, but also superior usability. In my opinion, that's our
biggest weakness in trying to attract the entire mainstream audience.
If we want everyone to use and endorse open-source software, then we
need to make it accessible to everyone. There are a few areas of
concern to work on.
Give 'em a GUI
We need GUIs for everything. Whether they are Web-based GUIs or more traditional windowing environments, a user needs to be able to use his mouse. And most importantly, the GUI has to start with the installer, and never end. Give them their tabs, scroll bars, wizards and widgets. Just don't ask them to open a command shell.
Include everything at install time
Combine tools
There are a lot of XML parsers, utilities, services and data repositories out there. There are also a lot of great integrated development environments. But I have not yet seen a good XML IDE from the open-source community, even though XML is in use all over the place in the open-source community. Also, Apache, ProFTPD, Samba, CUPS, Open LDAP and others are all great systems on their own, but I've yet to see a really good and easy-to-use integrated file-and-print server from the open-source community. The amazing thing about this is that all small, medium, large and even mega-companies, plus schools and universities, governments and even some home networks use file-and-print services. Wouldn't it be cool to get a single CD install with everything integrated and a nice Web-based interface to manage it?
Keep it simple
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