Linux Mint xfce Overview: Issues, Ideas, & Input

[ladybugsystem]

version: Linux Mint xfce 21.2 "Victoria"
General
For someone who has never used a Mint system before, it's a bit daunting for someone who only has a base knowledge of coding. It's clear it's geared towards people with a decent amount of coding experience. Also, I hope this doesn't come off as too critical because once I started I just ended up going over everything. I know it's A LOT though, but I hope it's helpful.

Although, to be fair, I understand that Mint is free and that sometimes limits your options when it comes to money and resources.

Also, as it relates to operating systems, as someone who did not know of all the options, finding it took me a long time. I think that marketing could be a little bit improved, so people know there are other options out there than using their computer's already built in system. Nor did I know that Linux Mint existed before 2023. Outside of the tech sphere, I'm not sure anybody knows it. Are there ways Linux Mint can reach a wider audience and make it more user accessible/friendly? (This is because I genuinely think more people will benefit)

What was helpful

• Guide shown after first install, taking you through what you need to update and install
• Making my computer run/load faster (although it still had some issues it had previously like my computer overloading too fast/my fan running nonstop even though barely anything is loading)
• Download time improved a lot
• I like how it doesn't force you to download specific elements and make you keep them
• Creativity of certain apps' format and vision

Questions to consider

• What draws users to use Mint?
• what causes users to download Mint for the first time?
• What are the developers' reasons and motivations behind creating Mint?
• I think more young people and new users might be more interested than you think in Mint, I think a question on more people's mind is a more free internet now that Net Neutrality has diminished -- for example, I've noticed how many more ads there are, on EVERYTHING, it's harder to find media without having a product subscription (the paywall to paywall cycle is a pain), and social media is an overall mess because in the end, the developers are based in their own bias of what they think is important and what they want to develop. All in all, it's hard for people not to feel like they're just someone companies want to profit off of. An operating system like this is a rarity compared to our monster-monopolies.
• History https://www.wired.com/story/guide-net-neutrality/
• Technology is built to break down, and social media isn't fun, it's taxing. It's not about community engagement, it's about promoting a product, or about who can be the worst to each other.
• Oh, and there's no originality. What's fun about the internet may become a thing of the past?
• Unless you're personally adept at technology, it's hard to find alternatives to losing your freedoms or what you're used to. (Or without a fair bit of research)
• Too much technology that you have to buy separately
• consideration of AI within system

Instructions (Installation Guide/website)

• Make it easier to find installation instructions
• Explain what an operating system does and what it changes about your computer
• Offer users to edit guide for bugs or suggestions
• Current installation guide has too many "options" of where to go so it's a bit confusing where to start
• New updates (boot log fix) is what I think caused my system to be unable to login after restarting
• I didn't know I would need to start USB from the BIOS before installing
• Where to find help could include general questions and error fixing because going to find help on your own is a bit daunting at first when you don't know much about Mint/Make it a bit more organized
• The explanation is too "tech-heavy", water down the language and make it easier to read, when it doubt explain more about what to do; it can get overwhelming looking at it all
• Users say that there can be issues with installing multimedia codecs and turning on the Internet during the installation process
• Include possible compatibilities (with systems)

Social Media
Looking through Linux Mint social media, I don't think it does enough to establish what it is, does, and impacts the world via a more free operating system. (For a reference to use, I suggest Tails)
Questions to consider and/or implement

• community engagement
• Personability (Even though brands trying to relate to people is a bit annoying, I think people would enjoy seeing something funny from time to time)
• Social media posts like what you are working on, what you need help with, screenshots, answer to questions, quick guides, thoughts
• Less "dense" updates (in terms of description)
• Possible changes in social media -- I think tumblr would be a good candidate because the user base is prone to anti-censorship.
• Newsletter through email with updates and consideration + what people can help with

Error Fixing
It's hard, at least for me, to sift through any error fixing in Linux forms (or otherwise) because you have to know about command, and have a decent amount of coding experience to properly fix any problems. Getting through any question is dense, for me. And doesn't always fix the problem for everyone. Some questions have too few, or zero answers.

Some problems/fixes
-> many users have different operating systems
-> users assume you have prior knowledge in coding, error fixing, operating systems and command
-> Implement a wider audience: Allow error fixing in more modern places like twitter
-> Broaden ease of access: Create an app that allows community engagement, allow community error fixing to be available from desktop

Using Linux Mint
So far Linux Mint xfce version is a bit difficult to navigate. I don't necessarily know how to read/do certain settings. It's great that it allows for a lot of changes, but it requires a lot of extra work to figure out how to do a specific task.

I don't necessarily know how to fix something when I get an error message when computer boots, or when I get one when doing "dmesg" in command.

I don't understand how to configure "Settings Editor" or what it does.

-Make an easily accessible page/database for users to offer edits, review code, and to add and fix bugs (like Wikipedia) --Shows current/changeable code, must add references or reason?
-> Must register an account to edit, but anyone can edit
-> With greater access, the more the system can be approved
-> System where it's hard to edit without a good reason, but discussion is available
-> Include ideas and discussion for creative input

-Hard to click on folders/apps (Include back area to go back easily)

-Move shut down button to task bar

-Make things searchable by specifics/all settings, because it is hard to go through everything to find a specific setting

-Adding what you can add/code to after installing Mint

Downloads
Most downloads do not run as a program even when I edit the read/write settings.

Software Manager
There are not enough reviews to properly confirm if an app is actually usable or not. The ones that are available are random and sparse. I don't know how different the versions of Mint are, but does Linux Mint share one Software manager with other versions of Linux Mint as well as other Linux versions? There are no screenshots which makes it hard to conceptualize what the game is. I suggest other users being able to add screenshots and add screenshots in their reviews as well. A lot of apps are without app icons, so users could add app icons for consideration as well.

Issues/Things to consider

• Make it possible for other users to contribute/develop/code other people's apps, report/fix bugs, or help verify apps? (a bit like Wikipedia)
• Apps should get reported and/or temporarily removed if there are enough people who report it unusable or has too many bugs
• There are also duplicates of apps. For example, I saw like 5 versions of Steam and the ones I did download gave me an error message saying it wasn't verified, but this was after I had downloaded it.
• What makes this software manager different than other ones/what puts it above the rest?
• Make it possible to download without entering password
• A bigger user base makes it possible to encourage more apps, but you could make it easier to develop them

Ideas

• what are ways we can collaborate with other web/software managers to make a bigger database? --old ISOs for apps, files, "Internet Archive", libraries, game managers (web and otherwise), News programs, open source images and data
• Can we incorporate/encourage apps that are free from other sources to be put on this app store?
• Can we incentivize app developers or creators?
• Inspo for more ideas: Chrome Web store, Firefox app store, Android & Apple store, Microsoft web store
• Possible app or website to encourage/create app development
• What musicians, artists, authors, media creators, etc. would be interested in providing their content for free?

*Notes to app developers

• What do you miss about apps or games you used to play in the past?
• What games have effectively died off due to a change in technology or what's available? (I'm talking about you, flash player)
• What did you like about technology in the past, and what made it easier to use?
• I think originality is a huge factor instead of basing apps on what's already out there
• I think online games/old flash games can be "repurposed" here
• New type of social media and new video/music apps could be a thing

Possible future projects

• Is it possible to collaborate with other anti censorship tech (help build a better software manager together for example) like the Librem 5 (https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/), and Tails?
• News: Vox, Npr
• Game databases: Open Emu, GX.mes, itch.io
• Database: Unsplash, Pixabay, Wikipedia, Internet Archive
• Browser: Opera, Duckduckgo, Firefox
• Apps/creation: Alice, game makers, Gamemaker.io
• Other: Musi (appstore)

I think working together, inventiveness, and creativity are key