Linux Lite 2.6 Suggestion Thread

[torreydale]

To newtusmaximus,

Someone else had a similar question and they experienced success by installing the software package "Recoll."

[Wirezfree]

@ newtusmaximus
In the old MS search world it had 2 fields,
1 for find file with "...." in it's name, and another option find file(s) "containing text" which is what recoll does
It's in Menu > System > Install/Remove Software (synaptic) search recoll but it is quite old. 1.17....


There is a Ubuntu PPA for recoll 1.20

[newtusmaximus]

Thank you gentlemen.  Loaded Recoll 1.17 - Just the job   One less task to full migration!!

[Wirezfree]

@ Jerry(LL Creator)
Recoll, It might be nice to addition into LL Software Centre..??,
nice compliment to Find File(Catfish) it would give a Win XP like feel/option..??
Just a thought

On a seperate note,
I'm really struggling, after constant daily use over the past 12 months, I'm finding it hard to find fault
If there was one thing, which I thinks already been raised, "Auto Check for Updates" and "Apply"
I'm fortunate, though some may say "sad" I have LL on 5 pc's, and I have to remember to check them all.

[gistofit]

---Offensive approach to user error and technical support---

Something that is somewhat overlooked at times in pursuit of the main nuts and bolts is excellent tutorials and guides.  Linux Lite is one of the best at these from my experience.  I am fairly new to linux in general but it was Lite that gave me the encouragement I needed to go all in with linux.  The simplicity of the distro COUPLED with the tutorial/manual was so welcome in the world of distribution chaos.  Having a great simple "windows user" friendly disto is awesome and for a new user to not have to figure out the linux lingo, distribution methods, flavors, compatibility problems, terminal commands, etc. etc. etc. (the main things that make up the linux learning curve) but have a guide that is custom made for their distro (linux lite) makes all the difference in the world. 

Something I think the linux community as a whole sometimes understands but needs to be more pre-eminent in is that "friendliness is king".



Here is why I think effort should be put into this area:

-It is easier to make a guide to show someone how to do "random thing in linux" then to code it into the main release.

-You can reach almost every users needs without spending the time coding it all. (Yes still annoying being customer service but I think it should be treated offensively instead of defensively)


obviously you start with most important things first.  I am thinking of some kind of importance "tree" if you will. 

The Roots are linux roots more importantly Linux Lites Roots - This is the part most people don't see and ex windows users don't need to know about at all in the beginning.

The Trunk is what makes it into the Linux Lite Releases.  These are the obvious and simple parts that hold up everything else.  You see it right away.  It is the largest most in your face component.

The Limbs are the built in Linux Lites extras.  The top 20 or so most commonly requested and used additions that are oh so conveniently just a click away!  As some grow bigger they demand inclusion into the release.


at this point we have (hopefully) catered to 80-90% of our followers.  wonderful!


Branches are just outside of this.  Maybe a major program used in other linux distros that didn't make the easy install list so you have to use the other slightly more clicks installer or heaven forbid the terminal!  Maybe theme changes, personal layout preference, different default apps, etc. 

Twigs are nitty gritty.  twigs involve years of know how and a post to a forum for guidance.  Most definitely twigs involve terminal.  But even this isn't bad with a guide whether the guide is a person or a manual.

Leaves.....come on now.  I will leave that alone.

as the tree grows twigs can become branches which can become limbs.  even the trunk can get bigger (but lets avoid becoming a bloated windows monstrosity that is all trunk)

thinking offensively in this area does nothing but benefit everyone involved.

if it is organized well people can vote on what grows and what gets pruned. 

I think Linux Lite is excelling already at the trunk and limbs parts. Most distros are in their own unique ways.  What I am suggesting is that the next step be taken to conquer the branches.  I don't think ANY linux distro has done this well yet.  The focus always seems to stop with limbs.  I think if you can conquer the branches(which I do see as more community tweaking and less developer focussed) this could explode. I think Linux Lite is THE distro to make this happen.

No number of developers will EVER be able to fix everyone's twigs.  There needs to be a better system of teaching everyone to mind there own. 

Organizing and curating this community effort almost as aggressively as the main project would do wonders for the branches. 



I know I ramble.  I am still new.  I sit in the midst of newish user experience and future ideals and voice my opinions.  Like all linux users I want to see it succeed and I put forth this as one possibility.  What are you thoughts?  I feel on the verge of loony and I am sure my analogy breaks down horribly in many ways. 

What ways can we improve the power, interactiveness and reach of the Help Manual??
When someone has a questions that gets answered in a forum how does that "twig" get added to the "tree of friendly convenience"??
Where can we see this "tree" grow and get more arborists involved??
Who are the arborists going to be??
Why am I still using the tree analogy??

lets turn this -----------------------



into this ------------------------

[Valtam]

Hello gistofit, thank you for taking the time to create this post. There is some carefully, well thought out feedback here.

One of the most important aspects that sets us apart from most other 'distros' is that we deliberately target Windows users. This is something that I haven't seen occur in the linux community in great numbers. Of course, linux folk are more than welcome to try and or use LL on their day to day machine, but everything that we do, we gear towards Windows folk. At this point I need to say that we are still some way from reaching that point as completely as a linux based operating system could hope to, but we will never lose focus on that, I can promise you.

If we stay with the tree analogy, then I must say that the bigger a tree gets, the more nutrients it will need. We are a small organization made up of incredible volunteers, generous with their free time.

Documentation was a strong focus from the day one. If you're going to target Windows folk, who are used to concise, well explained in layman's terms instructions, you better do it right. We I think, are on the right track.

I have so many ideas about how to make an OS easier to use. I record these ideas for future use through a variety of mediums, so that these ideas are never lost.

We have always been open to, and to a large extent, reliant on the community to provide useful feedback. When an organization listens to it's users, it creates a product that people want to use. It's how they would want things to be.

For us to reach the 'branches' stage we need more nutrients (people). Then, we can release and properly and effectively support and maintain those useful tools. When we need help with software, we pay developers to contribute via the donations we receive.

The way I see things as they currently are, we must continue to stay focused on our core goals without distraction or the temptation to do to much. This is a time game, and I'm extremely patient. We will reach our goal. We will water the tree each day, and when the time is right, it will bear fruit, for all.