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From: Rich <rich@example.invalid>
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.misc
Subject: Re: What Window Manager/Desktop Environment do you use, and why?
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2025 14:34:45 -0000 (UTC)
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Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> wrote:
> Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> wrote:
>>In other words, the difference in installation defaults is there precisely 
>>to cater to those whom I mentioned above, who don’t realize that you have 
>>configuration options.
> 
> And this is sending the wrong message.
> 
> I also blame the media, who set a totally wrong emphasis on the ease
> of installation, chastizing distributions for asking questions during
> installation, not being aware that this is giving CHOICE to the user¹,
> and only test the "default desktop", even calling it "X's desktop".
> 
> Greetings
> Marc
> 
> ¹ the user may be overwhelmed by the amount of questions an installer
> asks, but alas, this is rocket science, isn't it?

That is easy enough to avoid.  Start with a question of:

   Do you want to configure many details of your setup, or would you 
   prefer to accept all defaults?

   [Custom Configuration]

   [Accept All Defaults]

Which gives the additional "choice" of being able to choose "I just 
want it installed with no fuss" for those that want that vs. "I do want 
to adjust most knobs" for the others who do want to tweak the knobs to 
their liking.

Of course, it is harder on the packagers to then support the "custom 
config" path, because they now have to actually build out all those 
configuration questions and UI's to obtain the answers.


The above is quite like Slackware's installer.  Up front, just as one 
gets started one is asked, essentially:

   [Just install everything, ask me no questions]

   [Ask me if I want groups of stuff installed]

   [Ask me for each individual item if I want it installed or not]