Moving On

with the subtext that one is offered only one choice

Ah I see. You are looking at the whole of FOSS. I'm looking at the DE's one at a time. Gnome 3 is a take it or leave it proposition, since the developers have clearly stated that their vision is more important than their users. So yes, luckily we have a choice of a few other graphical environments, but I wouldn't describe that as a plus for major projects that abandon their users for self gratification.

Because FOSS at least allows for the possibility that the old version can be maintained until the new version is ready?

And how many times does this happen in real life? Who is doing the maintaining and is the project viable for a longer time or even as an indefinite replacement for it's successor, might the successor become ready but still not what one wants?

I'm getting at the point in which idealistic, rose colored views of FOSS are hard to maintain. At the moment I still deem the licensing better than the CSS alternatives for a mere end user, but the contempt for mortal humans coming from both FOSS and CSS aren't too far apart right now.

Quoting:And how many times does this happen in real life? Who is doing the maintaining and is the project viable for a longer time or even as an indefinite replacement for it's successor, might the successor become ready but still not what one wants?

RedHat will support GNOME 2 in RHEL 6 which will funnel down to CentOS and Scientific Linux as well. They have very long term support models.

@r_a_trip,

Why don't you take the rest of the day off! and start thinking about how to enjoy the weekend.

CSS???

> And how many times does this happen in real life?

I don't really know. I suspect a nice undergraduate or graduate level study of the field would be required to find out for sure. But as the Trinity desktop shows, the possibility does exist.

> ...but the contempt for mortal humans coming from both FOSS and CSS aren't too far apart right now.

I have trouble arguing with that, unfortunately. :(

> CSS???

Closed Source Software, I assume.

I've gotten very comfortable with Debian Stable, and I should be able to "enjoy" GNOME 2 until early 2013 and even 2014 (with Squeeze as Old Stable) if I'm really feeling clingy. And like @fewt said, there's always CentOS/Scientific Linux 6.x ...

Quoting:I'm getting at the point in which idealistic, rose colored views of FOSS are hard to maintain.

It depends on the size of the project and it's maturity, I think. For example the KDE and GNOME devs won't listen to anyoe who doesn't in some way already contribute code, while on the other hand all of the proposed changes and features I proposed to a small project.. PLUG, the FOSS version of Fender's FUSE application for their Mustang Amplifiers... were implemented almost immediately, and rolled into Version 1.0.0, thereby giving the FOSS version feature compatibility with FUSE, plus features that are unlikely to ever be implemented in FUSE, but which make the application way more useful and flixible.

I'm all-analog when it comes to the electric guitar. Nothing past the 1980s for me.

Friend of mine Guitar player and Guitar builder won't use anything except Valve Amplifiers.

@fewt: I'm having a great weekend sofar, but thanks for the suggestion.

CSS = Closed Source Software.

I'm a bit cooled down now. Of course there are a lot of very well managed projects, large and small, who do a wonderful job of pushing the envelope without going whacky.

It's just very frustrating to see flagship projects derail and have the developers blind and deaf to their predicament. It is damaging to the project, it is disruptive for the current users and plain bad pr for potential new ones.

Quoting:@fewt: I'm having a great weekend sofar, but thanks for the suggestion.

Don't you mean @Fettoosh? ;)

r_a_trip, you're right on. No need to apologize.

Sorry, my bad. That's what I get with typing on a mobile phone while walking.

@r_a :

Better than driving.

True, but I follow a strict no phone while driving policy. I intend to grow very old :-)

Quoting:CSS = Closed Source Software

I would rather call them PSS because that is what they are :-). (Proprietary Source Software).

Or MPS. My Precioussssssssss Software.

Tube amps do sound better ...

Well he does get a great sound. The tube amp plus his fan fretted guitar.. heaven.