I started using Linux in 2020, thanks to the "COVID holiday" and too much free time as a high school student. My first distro was `Fedora Xfce Spin`. And let’s be honest, vanilla Xfce isn’t exactly the most exciting welcome party for newcomers. It’s not familiar, it’s not sleek, and from a beginner’s point of view, it’s just... boring! boring! boring!
So, after 3 days of trying to get used to it, I switched to `Linux Mint Cinnamon Edition`. That was a game changer. It had a clean, familiar interface. I could actually get things done. Huge respect to the Linux Mint team for focusing on user experience.
But then curiosity kicked in. Like many Linux users, I went down the rabbit hole. I started Googling every issue I had, and clicking on links like `my Linux desktop/setup/rice/experience` to see how other people are using their Linux desktop. And... a world of `elite` Linux users showing off ultra-custom setups (Arch/Gentoo/NixOS, tiling window managers, Vim everything, and more).
I wanted to be like them, yeah a `Linux nerd`. So I installed my first window manager `i3`. I logged out, selected the i3 session, and... a black screen, a bar with no mouse support, just two icons (Bluetooth and Network Manager) and no clue how to open a terminal or browser to fix anything.
**So who’s to blamed?**
- i3 devs? When I was generating a config, maybe a simple post-login guide, on how to open a terminal, close a window, or log out would’ve saved me.
- Me? Maybe I expected too much. I thought it would **just work** after install. Maybe I assumed there would be helpful instructions after logging in.
Anyway, I pulled out my phone, found the i3 documentation (which, to be fair, is excellent), and two hours later, I was finally starting to feel like a `Linux nerd`. But here’s the real issue:
#### Usability Gap
After installing some Linux software, you’re often expected to:
- Learn a whole new scripting or config language
- Be a developer or think like one
- Spend a week setting it up before you can actually use it
Imagine if I had started with something like `dwm`, it would have been even worse.
Kindy, this isn’t about shaming developers or the incredible projects they build. Most of them are powerful, free, well-crafted, and made with passion and skill. But the user experience? That’s where things fall short. And as a result, **only a small, elite group of users** truly benefit. But maybe it’s time we asked:
- *Can powerful software also be humane?*
- *Can we make it more accessible without losing its soul?*
I’m still learning. I love the freedom Linux gives me. But sometimes, it feels like Linux software isn’t built for users, just developers. And maybe, maybe, that’s a problem worth fixing.
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