I started Yet Another Linux Blog in 2004 to chronicle my desktop Linux learning experience and to provide tips and tricks to the community. I began penning editorials about various injustices I saw in the open source world about this time and received some attention with a 9 month long experiment I put my wife through with Desktop Linux.
When I’m not blogging and doing webmaster and work stuff, I enjoy listening to music, being with my family. If you need to know more, please contact me at devn3t at gmail dot com. You can also check up on what I’m doing right now.
Devnet and Linux
I got my start in Linux in 1995 when I installed Slackware on a friends computer. The reason? No cash. All my money went to my education (starving college student going to a private college). I had already been using Solaris at my college and compiling eggdrop bots for IRC so Slackware was a natural progression. I used Slackware exclusively for the next four years (until 1999). At that time, I entered into the military and wasn’t stationary until 2001 so I had no access to my own personal computer for about 2 years (due to military training). Then in 2001, I installed my first true desktop distribution, Red Hat Linux 7.2. Things changed considerably after this experience. I began to frequent forums and chatrooms offering any help I could specifically to new users of Linux.
Around 2003, I began using and supporting MEPIS Linux and created 2 fan/support sites during my 2 years with MEPIS. I thought it had a future but that changed when I discovered PCLinuxOS. After about 5 years with the community at PCLinuxOS, we launched Unity Linux that aims to allow others to create their own distro quickly and on a solid base.
Devnet and Open Source
It is my belief that if open source is open and free for everyone and if Linux is Open Source (of course it is!) then Linux should be open and free for everyone. When I say everyone I mean EVERYONE…new users are no different. They shouldn’t be expected to RTFM (read the friendly manual) when the manual is as friendly as an axe murderer at a hardware store. We should help them understand HOW to find answers and improve that unfriendly manual. I think there is a gap between programmers and regular non-tech users and if we can bridge that gap, we can truly create a wonderful Linux desktop.
It is my belief that improvements in documentation, processes, and user interfaces can take Linux and new users where they need to go…and as Linux continues to draw professionals in, these items will become more refined and complete.
