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Linux's Difficulty with Names

Posted by VISITOR on · 8 comments
xyzcomputing.com; By Sal Cangeloso 		Mail this story
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When compared to their Window's equivalents, the names of many Linux programs are difficult to recognize and even tougher to remember. This may seem like splitting hairs, but it is actually an important usability issue.

This article at XYZ Computing takes a look at Linux's strange naming practices. When compared to their Window's equivalents, the names of many Linux programs are difficult to recognize and even tougher to remember. This may seem like splitting hairs, but it is actually an important usability issue. Just think, if you had to do a bit of graphic design which would be easier to pick out of the menu, GIMP or Photoshop? Or if you wanted to play a song, Media Player or xine?

[ED: While there is a certain logic to the complaint, it fails to recognize where copyright infringement plays a role. Moreover, the extreme methods some companies have used to protect the names of their products. Furthermore, on the chat tool how much more information does one see in aim over gaim or how hard is to guess what mplayer does? - HC] [ED: It will all be moot once Linux pushes Windows aside and the new ISV have brillIant naming. Sal just a bit of patience is needed - HC]

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Comments (8)

zzsql ·
I would agree wtih that article in that weird names in Linux does affect usability. Especially when the name of the operating system is weird like Ubuntu.

As cool a distro as that is it won't be a viable alternative to "Windows" until it has an acceptable name. Yes it's petty but to the user and executives making decisions it goes a long way to have a more mainstream name.

greg in atlanta
sharkscott ·
I am sorry, but people who do not like to learn new words are the same people who do not like to read. When you have a limited vocabulary , having to learn all kinds of different new words is hard.
jimf ·
A large portion of the problem is unfamiliarity with Linux and a whole new set of Linux apps. Certainly the Linux naming is different than Windows. I thought that at first too, but, a lot of that is just what we were used to in Windows. I would argue that 'Vista' is no more acceptable than, for example, Debian, or Red Hat. Again, is Nero or Roxio any more acceptable or descriptive than K3b?
mjjohansen ·
I think this article is complete nonsense and almost too short to be considered an article. A basic toolset would be Firefox, Evolution, OpenOffice and Gaim. Is that weird? The only relevant one of the examples listed is a classic: 'How do you pronounce Xine?'. Even if certain names are somewhat irregular, does this not suggest creative use of language? One would suspect the people who developed the programs were more interested in them sounding cool than having a nice name for the marketing department. Also, a funny thing is - if you click on the image at the centre of the article, you will actually see the programs explained, which Windows doesn't, so you have to figure out for yourself what Outlook Express is looking out at.
mdl ·
I have an idea. Why not have KDE programs start with a K and Gnome programs start with a G? That would help. :-)
bstadil ·
This from a company called XYZ Computing. Give me a break
hughesjr ·
A program is a program and a name is a name ... How is Outlook more related to e-mail than Evolution or Thunderbird ...

Or MSSQL better than mysql ...

gedit or kedit compared to notepad ....

OpenOffice compared to MS Office ....

come on ... this is silly ...

Well ... Internet explorer is a good and discreptive name for a web browser when compared to Firefox or Mozilla or Konqurer I guess...
TxtEdMacs ·
hughesjr - I guess you were unaware that the name "Internet Explorer" was a name gained by theft. The owner suffered bankruptcy trying to protect his copyright against MS. Finally, the trustees were paid a pittance in settlement, whereas the erstwhile owner lost everything.

The article is essentially bogus, how is it that when one of the Linux (F/OSS) offerings has the better name it is left off the list? In my jaundiced view this is more of another instance of someone that does not want to be confused by real facts in contrast to dubious, asserted facts or just made up nonsense.

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