A Linux distro that teaches the user as he/she navigates?

Anikom15 · 2009-05-02 16:22:20

Hi, I was wondering about this idea I had about making a Linux distro that teaches users how to use the desktop while teaching them the fundamentals of Linux, like installing packages. It would a noob distro. So I wanna get ideas laid out and see what you guys think.

I think Gnome would be a good environment. Nothing would be modified, just a default Gnome with all the fixin's, a bootsplash to cover up the boot menu, and an easy to follow GUI installer. When the user logs in the first time they'll hear a voice helping them out (along with captions that can be turned on or off). The tutorial can be turned on or off. Basically it guides the user and instructs him/her to open/close windows, drag and drop, chinge window geometry, minimize/maximize, create shortcuts, open programs, navigate filesystem(as well as mount/unmount, and teaching the purpose of the different directories), browse the internet, setup email, and install a program using some kind of GUI package manager. There might be more, like tutorials for OpenOffice or Abiword, the Gimp, and other miscellaneous programs.

I also need a name, so I welcome any suggestions!

Allan · 2009-05-02 16:24:07

I'd call it tutbuntu...

Varreon · 2009-05-02 16:32:28

What is it with everyone wanting to create a new distribution? If you just write your tutorial program, you'd be able to run it on a variety of preexisting distributions. I'm sure most people would rather install a package than install a new operating system.

Anikom15 · 2009-05-02 16:51:20

Varreon wrote:

What is it with everyone wanting to create a new distribution? If you just write your tutorial program, you'd be able to run it on a variety of preexisting distributions. I'm sure most people would rather install a package than install a new operating system.

It'd still need to be implemented. If someone new to Linux doesn't know how to install programs, how are they supposed to install my tutorial? Since I don't want to clutter other distributions, I think a simple "starting' distro would be good. It wouldn't be something permanent, just build a bridge to Linux. There could even be a Terminal tutorial and a guide to continue on to another distribution.

toad · 2009-05-02 17:01:16

Newbuntu? Noobuntu? Tut Arch Amen (okay, that is a little strained...)?

MoonSwan · 2009-05-02 21:54:28

Flash video tutorial is the answer and they already exist I believe.

Lexion · 2009-05-02 23:35:33

I think it's a good idea... The alternatives are a bit harder for comp n00bs and linux n00bs.

neo linux (neo means new) or neophyte linux (neophyte means newbie)

Xyne · 2009-05-03 00:05:00

Windows

shortlord · 2009-05-03 00:24:17

I think this is a good idea. But I agree with Varreon that it should be a tutorial program instead, if that tutorial prgramm is good you can build a distribution tailored specifically for this program later on.

I disagree that Flash video tutorials are sufficient for new Linux users. There are people who really want to learn something about their system and the philosophy behind it. Such a tutorial could explain basic concepts about free software and where to get help (point to relevant manpages and wikis). I really like the tutorial that pops up when wmii starts for example. I would have had no clue what to do without it and it basically showed me the beauty of tiling window management. That's what such a tutorial program should be IMHO, just a starter that shows you how to do basic operations and where to learn everything else that is needed. Often the users want to learn about their system, they just don't know how. Maybe the program could even include a selection of recommended packages for simple Distros like Arch. In my opinion Arch is a great starting distro for people who want to learn about Linux but have never used it before (or have just a bit of experience with other Distros). If everything goes well, they have a working base system, but they don't know which apps are good. The wiki lists a few recommendations, but not all of them are simple and you really have to find the wiki page and test them out. Why not something like "Arch Linux is designed to be simple. While it is possible to use a full-featured Desktop Environment like Gnome or KDE, we recommend to use simple applications. An example setup would include: Transmission as torrent client, Xchat as an IRC client, etc,". I think that would be really helpful for users that want a simple yet easily usable system.

miodi · 2009-05-03 20:56:40

What happened to just reading books, tutorials on the net, and inspiring people to just try new stuff?
I think a better effort would be to just help people on forums and improve current documentation.
I also agree on MoonSwan's flash video comment.

The tutorial app might be nice but what distros would be supported?
There's also the huge pain of keeping that information relevant and up to date as the distros change.
Perhaps the documentation already available in known places like different wikis is more easy..?

Still, it's cool that you want to help new users with GNU/Linux.

haxit · 2009-05-03 21:15:53

Xyne wrote:

Windows

He said TEACHES, not UNTEACHES.

Xyne · 2009-05-03 22:04:27

haxit wrote:

Xyne wrote:
Windows
He said TEACHES, not UNTEACHES.

I know, but after reading the description it was the first thing that popped into my mind. I instantly saw the little WinXP tray bubble popup with the suggestion to take a tour of XP.

Just to be clear, I agree that it could be useful to many newcomers to implement something like this (although creating a distro for it seems restrictive). My initial comment should probably have been accompanied by a smiley or something else (I went for the dry,terse approach). I hope no one took it as derogatory.

Anikom15 · 2009-05-04 22:21:56

Thanks for the suggestion guys. I think it's a good idea to pursue, but it'll be complex (especially since it's interactive) but if that guy who made Roller Coaster Tycoon did it with assembly language, I can definately do it with something else. I'm a noob programmer learning python, and have been brainstorming different ideas.

anrxc · 2009-05-05 00:35:29

miodi wrote:

What happened to just reading books, tutorials on the net, and inspiring people to just try new stuff?

Exactly, and you know what, the Internet happened. Nobody reads any more. An average newbie wouldn't read to save his life.

Once, changing your operating system (a big step) meant that you will read a book/something on it first, then install it if you liked what you saw, and no questions were asked on discussion boards. No need to, the book taught you all you needed to know to get started.

Please don't jump me for this one, I know you were all hacked up and kicked the crap out of your new OS the first day, congratulations. I'm not saying it was a rule, but it's a good and logical way to go about it.

Last edited by anrxc (2009-05-05 00:37:13)

f0nd004u · 2009-05-07 06:18:22

I'm a new Arch user, and I've only been using Linux exculsively for a few months. One of the things I really appreciated about the Beginner's manual was that it explained what the system was actually doing during the installation and configuration process, and it gave me the initial knowledge to figure out what's under the hood of the system and thus enabled me to get more out of the distro.

If you're building a tutorial distro, give the user credit for being intelligent and explain to them what the system is doing in real time. The problem I have with a lot of the "n00b" distros is that they do everything for the user without giving them the knowedge to tweak and fix it. You could do both.

Last edited by f0nd004u (2009-05-07 06:21:31)

Llama · 2009-05-07 09:31:41

Anikom15 wrote:

Thanks for the suggestion guys. I think it's a good idea to pursue, but it'll be complex (especially since it's interactive) but if that guy who made Roller Coaster Tycoon did it with assembly language, I can definately do it with something else. I'm a noob programmer learning python, and have been brainstorming different ideas.

Try Pardus Linux: review; http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=pardus

sjovan · 2009-05-07 09:42:21

Anikom15 wrote:

Varreon wrote:
What is it with everyone wanting to create a new distribution? If you just write your tutorial program, you'd be able to run it on a variety of preexisting distributions. I'm sure most people would rather install a package than install a new operating system.
It'd still need to be implemented. If someone new to Linux doesn't know how to install programs, how are they supposed to install my tutorial? Since I don't want to clutter other distributions, I think a simple "starting' distro would be good. It wouldn't be something permanent, just build a bridge to Linux. There could even be a Terminal tutorial and a guide to continue on to another distribution.

You do a google search.... "how to install applications <distroname>

Arch Linux

#1 2009-05-02 16:22:20

A Linux distro that teaches the user as he/she navigates?

#2 2009-05-02 16:24:07

Re: A Linux distro that teaches the user as he/she navigates?

#3 2009-05-02 16:32:28

Re: A Linux distro that teaches the user as he/she navigates?

#4 2009-05-02 16:51:20

Re: A Linux distro that teaches the user as he/she navigates?

#5 2009-05-02 17:01:16

Re: A Linux distro that teaches the user as he/she navigates?

#6 2009-05-02 21:54:28

Re: A Linux distro that teaches the user as he/she navigates?

#7 2009-05-02 23:35:33

Re: A Linux distro that teaches the user as he/she navigates?

#8 2009-05-03 00:05:00

Re: A Linux distro that teaches the user as he/she navigates?

#9 2009-05-03 00:24:17

Re: A Linux distro that teaches the user as he/she navigates?

#10 2009-05-03 20:56:40

Re: A Linux distro that teaches the user as he/she navigates?

#11 2009-05-03 21:15:53

Re: A Linux distro that teaches the user as he/she navigates?

#12 2009-05-03 22:04:27

Re: A Linux distro that teaches the user as he/she navigates?

#13 2009-05-04 22:21:56

Re: A Linux distro that teaches the user as he/she navigates?

#14 2009-05-05 00:35:29

Re: A Linux distro that teaches the user as he/she navigates?

#15 2009-05-07 06:18:22

Re: A Linux distro that teaches the user as he/she navigates?

#16 2009-05-07 09:31:41

Re: A Linux distro that teaches the user as he/she navigates?

#17 2009-05-07 09:42:21

Re: A Linux distro that teaches the user as he/she navigates?

Board footer