Re: Accessing gnome utilities via ctwm in Fedora27

On Fri, 30 Mar 2018 23:38:24 +0100
Aaron Sloman <[email protected]> wrote:

> Letting off steam!
> 
> It's possible that what I've just learnt may be of use to other ctwm
> users whose linux distributions change in 'hidden' ways. This wasted
> a *lot* of my time!

[snip description of Fedora change and almost undiscoverable workaround]

> 
> Would it be possible for CTWM users to extend the functionality
> of .ctwmrc with an environment section, e.g., by analogy with 'Color:'
> 
> Something like:
> 
> Environment_extensions:
>     {
>         XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP GNOME
>         PATH ...
>     }
> 
> so that all commands invoked will from ctwm will have the required
> environment-extensions. 

I'd argue against doing this on general principle, because what it's
really doing is complexifying ctwm to work around a deliberately
complexified Fedora (or Redhat or CENTOS). Sort of like when the
systemd guys wanted the Kernel guys to work around systemd malfunctions
by changing the kernel.

In the Redhat universe, complexity is a money making technique. Don't
take my word for it, here's what their former CTO said about money and
complexity:

http://asay.blogspot.ru/2006/10/interview-with-red-hat-cto-brian.html

Search for the first instance of the word "complexity".

Instead of gumming up ctwm because Fedora complexifies, I'd recommend
making a short document called "A Fedora/Redhat/CENTOS User's Guide to
Running ctwm". Put the gotchas in there, so others can follow your
footsteps.

And, in my opinion, the real solution is to move away from
Fedora/Redhat/Centos and the whole Redhat softwaresphere. The entire
philosophy of Redhat clashes violently with a desire to configure one's
own machine in a simple and logical way. A ctwm user is likely to be a
DIY person, not a corporate Redhat dweeb or someone wanting to use the
development branch of a corporate distro.

SteveT

Steve Litt 
April 2018 featured book: Troubleshooting Techniques
     of the Successful Technologist
http://www.troubleshooters.com/techniques