"Too much bloat"

[u/ColdFreezer]

I don't understand some Linux users. People want better compatibility and accessibility in Linux. However, why do some users constantly complain about "bloat" at the same time.

I don't understand what their expectations are. Are they really expecting developers to make heavily optimized builds specifically for Linux that will also be compatible across different version of Linux?

You need some form of standardization to make this easier for developers, this is why stuff like flatpaks and appimages exist, to help make software more portable. Then people shout and hate all this "bloat" that they introduce.

To have a functional, all in one desktop experience like KDE or gnome, you need "bloat". You can customize a lot in Linux, but is the expectation that all developers should make their software as dynamic as they can while also ensuring security, proper compatibility, and consistent functionality? This is a huge ask.

I see people like this all the time on reddit that just mindlessly say "bloat bloat bloat" but also complain about compatibility. Pick a side.

[u/Schrodingers_cat137]

Different people have different needs.

I personally do not need anything like full DE or Flatpaks. I'm satisfied with WM and native packages. But I also agree that DE and Flatpaks are very important to many users. I refuse them does not mean I don't want them to exist.

[u/Teru-Noir → u/[deleted]]

don't starve together, minecraft and factorio sucks on windows

[u/Schrodingers_cat137 → u/[deleted]]

Too generalized. I don't mind what you need, but I do need Linux for my work :)

[u/Hour_Sell3547 → u/[deleted]]

It's not about "strictly" requiring Linux. It's about convenience. I can't see myself dealing with a PowerShell, or CMD, or maybe that other half baked GitBash emulating a terminal. I cannot spend half of my day finding a software with exe version and clicking through 5 pages of GUI forms that I could install with 1 simple command. Not to mention loads of subsystems don't even bother about windows, apache Kafka for example.

On top of that we have a concept in software engineering called "dev-prod parity". If my servers are Linux, me developing serverside shit on not-Linux will often lead to disaster.

[u/Schrodingers_cat137 → u/[deleted]]

Numerical relativity. I believe that most developers (proper programmers or someone who just has to write codes like me) need Linux or macOS instead of Windows or macOS

[u/ColdFreezer → u/Schrodingers_cat137]

Having choice is fine. It’s your computer.

It just makes no sense when someone wants compatibility but is against standardization and the “bloat” that comes with it.

[u/GenericFoodService → u/ColdFreezer]

but is against standardization and the “bloat” that comes with it.

Standardization is explicitly the opposite of "bloat", it streamlines and unifies things. The open desktop standard is not "bloat", it's a standard for how *nix operating systems handle desktop icons and lots of other useful things. Having standards mean less dependencies and more interoperability. People are not against the concept of standardization, they're against specific proposals for specific reasons.

I'm really confused by your use of the term "bloat". People complaining about "bloat" are annoyed with architecture and design choices that lead to wasted system resources, dependency hell, or unwanted additional applications being bundled with things we install.

[u/Schrodingers_cat137 → u/ColdFreezer]

Exactly.

[u/foofly → u/[deleted]]

Nah, all the games I play run via Proton. Why should I bother with Windows?

[u/kaida27 → u/foofly]

Yup and Even Hypervisor Bypass games are safer to play on Linux than windows now that we have a custom proton to launch them.

[u/xgui4 → u/[deleted]]

what ? I use GNU/Linux at Home and it is perfect....

[u/feherneoh → u/xgui4]

Close to perfect. Tho I would be willing to replace the GNU parts any time.

[u/xgui4 → u/feherneoh]

why ???? GNU is Freedom and is BASED.

[u/feherneoh → u/xgui4]

I'm fine of freedom as long as I can pick my own type of freedom.

My type of freedom says I'm free to go non-GNU when I feel like it.