Emma Liv

Actually mad rn about how obtuse the instructions are for installing #BSD ( #openbsd #freebsd) with a desktop environment all set up. I don't think I'm a *dumb* person - these guys have had literal decades to make an installer that "normal" people can use, and the fact it's in the state it's in tells me: "this isn't for you, filthy casual".

If you believe in your OS, I'd think you'd want it to be more accessible, but I guess the barrier to entry makes for bragging points.

#computers #tech

9:47pmWeb
Show threadJez Caudle 11h ago
@not3ottersinacoat Which bit are you struggling with?
Show threadEmma Liv10h ago

@JezCaudle Got as far as:

(base install)

su
pkg_add xfce xfce-extras
start xfce4 (or was it just sart xfce?)

*incomprehensible errors*

look up online instructions

*incomprehensible commands*

gives up

(edit: my level of expertise is "can install Void Linux, probably. If you ask me to install Gentoo I'mma glare at you until you back away").

Show threadJez Caudle 10h ago

@not3ottersinacoat Did you enable xenodm when installing?

I use this guide to install XFCE: http://www.k58.uk/openbsd.html

Running OpenBSD 7.8 on your laptop is really hard (not)

Show threadEmma Liv10h ago
@JezCaudle I will check this out another day when I've relaxed a bit, and thank you.
Show threadJez Caudle 10h ago
@not3ottersinacoat You are more than welcome. Come back to me if you have more questions.
Show threadFritz Adalis10h ago
@not3ottersinacoat
Did https://www.openbsd.org/faq/faq11.html not work? The instructions are terse but simple.
OpenBSD FAQ: The X Window System

Show threadEmma Liv10h ago
@FritzAdalis I'd like you to try and read that link from the POV of a "normal" person, and perhaps then consider your use of the word "simple" here.
Show threadMark 🇨🇦💪10h ago
@not3ottersinacoat there are user friendly FreeBSD "distros" like GhostBSD and others I think? my beef with openbsd was really just the autopartitioning, it doesn't fully utilize large drives efficiently.. for the rest of the install I found a guide and had xfce up and running fine with only a half dozen commands. But I totally get what you are saying..
Show threadEmma Liv10h ago
@mark The problem with following a guide (aside from making sure it's current and relevant) is I learned a long time ago (thanks Linux!) not to blindly follow instructions I don't understand. and if the official documentation doesn't shine a light on what the guide is saying, then we've hit a wall. Maybe it's my particular need to understand to a certain level, and not being able to meet that threshold, that is frustrating me here.
Show threadnieuemma8h ago

@not3ottersinacoat I've never tried any of the BSDs, as far as I can recall. I love Linux, and have installed a number of distros and struggled with many different issues.

As far as I am concerned, Arch Linux has had the best documentation of everything, but I still struggle with even ArchWiki sometimes!

Things are so easy and simple when you know them, and so many times harder when you don't!

I appreciate any true attempts at making good documentation, but so many fall short of being very helpful.

Show threadBryan1h ago

@not3ottersinacoat valid complaint. There is a certain level of experience/expertise required for these installers.

Having said that, its open source! As a former colleague would say, "now its your problem too".

I cannot speak for any of the BSDs, but I know there's a avoidance (albeit adversarial at times) of explaining things which are documented/described elsewhere. And, for many BSDs, adoption is a non-goal. Its a hobby. Use it if you want to...or don't!

This, of course, makes things difficult for a newcomer...but as a once newcomer myself, I can assure you you'll know so much more about your system if you try. Its not downhill, but the view is amazing when you get a little higher. But, its a journey, for sure.

Anyways, if you're interested, I'd be happy to offer pointers if you get stuck...as long as you're willing to take "what have you found so far?" as a frequent answer.