Special editorial contributed by John Gowin of Linux Orbit.
Once again, I’ve learned a lesson. Opinions are a dicey thing at
best in the world we live in, but when it comes to desktops for
Linux, if you have an opinion, you’d better wear a cup. It’s a
tough neighborhood.
I can now list three things not to start conversations with
strangers:
- Religion
- Politics
- Linux Desktops
The first two because they both invoke emotional and sometimes
irrational responses. The latter because some might look at you
like you’ve grown a second head (the non-geeks) and others might
become too emotional and irrational (the geeks*).
Loyalties run strong and deep in the Linux world, and they run
strongest and deepest in the desktop development community. Without
trying to offend any developers of some of the less widely used
desktop managers, I would like to look at the two most widely used
desktops for Linux; GNOME and KDE.
The rivalry
In Webster’s unabridged (not the OED, but good enough) rival is
defined as:
One who is in pursuit of the same object as another; one
striving to reach or obtain something which another is attempting
to obtain, and which one only can possess it’s; a competitor; as,
rivals in love; rivals for a crown.
Ask either development camp who is their major rival, and they
will point at the other. Each is striving for dominance on the
Linux desktop. Regardless of their motivation, my question is:
WHY?
Linux, from its inception has been and always will be, motivated
by choice. The choice of having an alternative to the growing
monopoly that Microsoft represented. The choice of open source
versus proprietary software. The choice of a new gen.., oops,
sorry.
GNOME and KDE both represent solid technologies with strong
developer communities. And yet, in the last few months, despite
their roots, they seem to be playing the same games that the
opposition plays. The term used the most often is FUD: Fear,
Uncertainty and Doubt. And if they don’t cut it out, the Linux
desktop may lose credibility.
The deal
And now to address the title of this article. The term “flame”
has become infamous within the Internet community. If you are an
idiot you deserve to be flamed. If you are wrong you deserve to be
flamed. And if you voice an unpopular opinion you might not deserve
it, but you’re going to get flamed.
“Flaming” is the art of lambasting those that to the
knowledgeable seem to be complete imbeciles, in public
(messageboards, usenet) or in private (e-mail). Regardless of what
you call it, it is usually hostile. If not hostile, it is at the
very least confrontational and intolerant.
Intolerance in my humble opinion is often synonymous with
ignorance, and the Linux community deserves better.
Opinions are by definition, not truths. If you believe that KDE
is better than GNOME, that is your opinion. If you believe that
GNOME is better than KDE, that is your opinion. Neither of these
opinions “make it so”. And frankly, both camps should back away
from making any such opinions common knowledge.
“Why?” you might ask.
It is in the best interest of both development communities to
continue on their paths without press releases from individuals
representing them saying that one is not as good as the other. It
belittles the efforts of both in the eyes of the press. And it
points to an opinion of the opposition (Microsoft) that the Linux
community is becoming too fractional and won’t continue on its
track of cooperative development.
The point is, cut it out and make nice KDE and GNOME. The future
of the Linux desktop depends on it.
This article is an example of an unpopular opinion. However, you
are free to flame me. Before you purge your bile to me in an
e-mail, take a deep breath, and think about it. Regardless, I’d
love to hear what you have to say.
John
Gowin
Linux Orbit
Editor in Chief
*geek is a label to be worn with
pride.