Consequence of Choice?
I was watching the TED talk by Sheena Iyengar last night and it prompted a couple of thoughts about Open Source, Linux and choices.
Before I continue, have a look at the video below:
Are we overwhelmed by choice?
In the Linux and Open Source world we are saturated by choices all around us. The first and most apparent example is the multitude of Linux Distros, many of them forked from others.
Traditionally we feel that choice is a good thing, as Sheena indicates in her talk, there is an assumption that the more choices we have, the more likely we are to choose the best option for what we want.
But when do all these choices actually hurt our progress?
Linus Trovalds mentioned in his git talk, that projects don't move forward based on the amount of forks you have, but by the amount of code that is being merged back into the original project. I think many Linux distros are very good at merging code back upstream, so I don't think there is much to worry about on the distro front.
So where is the problem then?
There is however a very strong, almost fanatical following of users, who believe that their choices of software, design or user experience should be in one or the other distro.
Whenever a developer decides to change something based on the overall vision they have for the product, these individuals will flame the developers for removing their choice app, or moving window control buttons from right to left.
Where Apple did it right
Now I don't really like Apple as a company, and I personally dont like OS X and it's derivatives much, but I do have to say that Apple got it right in one aspect, and that is the fact that they deliver a consistent user experience across all their products.
Yes, they may not offer us with the multitude of choices we have in Linux, but in making the choice for the users, they guarantee that the majority of their users will have the same experience (Incidentally I'm not one of them).
Sensible Reduction of Choices
I do think that choice is good, and I would like choice to be available in the future. I do however feel that we should relinquish control, in part at least, over some of the minor choices.
Lets look at Linux and in particular Ubuntu for example. Many people were outraged at the fact that Ubuntu moved window control buttons from right to left, and complained that the developers did not listen to the community.
But you still have choices. You can choose to install a theme with the buttons on the right. You have a choice to install a different distro of Linux. You have a choice to ditch Linux completely and run Windows. You also have the choice to just accept the decision and get on with your life. You do have choice.
The same holds true with applications installed with the OS. I think the current level of choice we have in Linux and Ubuntu is currently hanging in a stable balance.
In closing
It may be a good idea to relinquish some control over your choices, and we may even be pleasantly surprised by the result. Just remember to not give away too much or you may wake up one day completely locked into one vendor. Keep that balance…
Ben - on 28 Jul 2010
I don't think, if you want those users who were outraged at the movement of the window controls to be satisfied, that removing the choice is the solution. Rather, I think you should make the choice once (whether based on user feedback or not) and stick with that choice no matter what someone else says further down the line (unless there is an obvious usability or other issue that it created). That way, users aren't surprised by a change which they could have made but didn't, either because they didn't want to or because they didn't know it was a choice they could make, and if you do have to make a change down the line, you will (or should) have a good explanation for that change. And those few users who do want the change can either do it themselves, or choose another distribution which has the change.
Ben - on 28 Jul 2010
Quick note:
I'm not one of "those users" that I spoke of in my comment above. Also, rather than "be satisfied", maybe I should have said "not be upset". Either way, I think you get the general idea.
You can use Markdown to format your comment.
William Chambers - on 28 Jul 2010
I don't really think you lose choice by trying to consolidate projects. I feel that that talking about removing choices is just a quick way to get attention when really you're talking about improving quality.