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by eqvinox 1832 days ago
The problem isn't that you can't configure GNOME to behave to your preferences. The problem is that GNOME makes it hard to do so, and that's a philosophical decision the project made.

If I'm about to spend time customizing my DE to match my preferences and habits, I'd much rather spend the time on something that is made to be customizable.
1 comments
zxzax 1832 days ago
I don't think that actually is a problem though. For specific GNOME apps it's true, they tend to avoid having a lot of configuration settings. You can just avoid using those apps and use other ones.

The one part you can't replace is the shell, but you can pretty much configure every aspect of that using extensions. If you don't like the way the shell operates on a fundamental level, then you would probably be better served by using a different desktop.

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eqvinox 1832 days ago
You're making my point for me. You're suggesting I spend additional time cobbling together extensions (which presumably can end up unmaintained and/or break?) and swap out some applications.

This feels like ordering paella at a restaurant when I don't like seafood. Sure, I can eat around all the sea bits. But there's lots of other options at this restaurant, so why the f* would I order paella, knowing it has seafood I don't like?

I'm not gonna tell you not to order the paella, or that the paella is bad, or that the restaurant is bad, or whatever. But don't push the paella on me either please ;)

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zxzax 1832 days ago
I'm not sure I understand the point -- that's a different complaint entirely. The "cobbling together extensions and swapping out applications" is the customization, that's exactly what you asked for initially.

Edit: If the issue is that some extensions break and become unmaintained sometimes, that's unfortunate, but the only other solution there would actually be to put heavy limits on the extension API. Which would probably not be to your liking either because it would actually reduce customizability.

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Nursie 1832 days ago
The issue is that you have to install extensions, and that configurability has been deliberately removed, creating an inflexible and opinionated DE.

The problem is not that the extension API is too wide in scope, it's that you need to use an extension API at all to change even simple things.

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zxzax 1832 days ago
I'm afraid I don't understand -- the extensions are configurability. That hasn't been removed. If you didn't have an API to configure these things, there would be no way to do it at all, so it still sounds like you're asking for something contradictory. What would help here? What would be the benefit of removing the extension API, and what would you replace it with?
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Nursie 1832 days ago
It sounds more to me like you're twisting these things to make them seem contradictory.

> the extensions are configurability

And this is an inadequate mechanism.

(For me! If it works for you, that's great! Me, I like to be able to configure bars and widgets and menus and stuff wherever I want with a few clicks, which is why I run Xfce. Far be it from me to say there should only be one true desktop)

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