Yesterday (12-Aug-2007) I read series of articles by Kim Brebach:

13 reasons why Linux won't make it to a desktop near you

Is Linux Really Ready for Simple Users? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7
and Part 8

It was wonderful and expiring experience. Kim is excellent writer and very entertaining. He made 13 very interesting observations about way the so called end user will not see Linux on their desktop. I don’t like to go into argument is he right or wrong, but at the same time I notice that he mist the main reason. I will get back to this in the minute.

What really expire me to write this story is his point that there is no Beginners Guide for Linux. Yes, Kim is absolutely right. So let me start write it right now.

Beginners Guide for Linux

What is Linux?

I’ll skip the usual history of Linux and I’ll get strait to the point. Linux is all about freedom! But what that means you will ask me? Before I answer to you let define what freedom is.

In the book “The 7 habits of highly effective people” Stephen R. Covey defines the freedom as our ability to choose. Anything else is called liberty, not a freedom. Getting back to the question: “What is Linux?” Linux is all about your ability to exercise your freedom, to make choices that best fit your needs. This sound wonderful, but where is the catch? There is no free lunch! “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of those actions.” The same in other words “When we pick up one end of the stick, we pick up the other” [1]. So, you can choose not learn the Linux shell commands, but at the same time you choose to limit your ability to unleash full power of the Linux.

Who are the competitors of Linux?

Surprisingly the answer is very simple “No body”. What about the Microsoft Windows or Apple Mac OS X? Both products are not real competitors, because they are targeted at different crowd. Microsoft has only one single goal to maintain their dominance by all means, even if they will have to break the law or manipulate the law. Apple on other hand asks you to surrender your freedom of choice and they promise to provide you in the return with smooth computer experience. What about FreeBSD? Well I don’t see FreeBSD as competitor. FreeBSD is based on similar principle as Linux and many applications run on both OS-es. I think FreeBSD and Linux are allies.

Is the Linux free?

As we already know there is no such a thing like ‘free lunch’. Yes, you can get Linux by downloading from the Internet for free, but you are expected to pay the full price by contributing to development and to excel Linux. And I’m not talking about writing a code. You can contribute by using your strongest skills.

You are Linux beginner, but you are good writer. Oh boy, we need you. Please, as you start swimming into the ocean ‘Linux’ write down your experience. Fix the outdated documentation. Help us with better documentation. Your effort will be greatly appreciated by the new beginners after you.

You are Linux beginner, but you are good attorney-at-law. Oh boy, we need you. Please learn about GNU General Public License (GPL). Join the Open Source Foundation (OSF) http://www.opensource.org/ and help us protect our freedom.

You are Linux beginner, but you are good marketing professional. Oh boy, we need you. Please help us by promoting Linux and advice about marketing opportunities.

You are Linux beginner, but you are good business leader. Oh boy, we need you. Please help us organize our resources better in order to become more efficient and get Linux moving even faster.

You are Linux beginner, but you are good graphic designer. Oh boy, we need you. Please help us make Linux more attractive for the eyes.

You are Linux beginner, but you are good movie maker. Oh boy, we need you. Please help us by creating video tutorials and etc.

You are Linux beginner, but you are good ….what ever! We need you!

Coming back to the beginning of our story, why the simple user will not see the Linux, because the simple user has not stepped in and contribute.

As user you have the choice: Pay Microsoft and Apple and surrender your freedom or contribute to Linux and have your freedom. I have made my choice and I’ll give my free-time to help Linux and preserve my freedom. It is time to choose everyone!

Svetoslav Trochev

[1] Stephen R. Covey. “The 7 habits of highly effective people“