hello (also known as helloSystem) is a desktop system for creators with focus on simplicity, elegance, and usability. Its design follows the “Less, but better” philosophy. It is intended as a system for “mere mortals”, welcoming to switchers from the Mac. FreeBSD is used as the core operating system.
With PC-BSD gone, it’s nice to see others step in to fill the void. This particular project was founded by Simon Peter, who also started AppImage and PureDarwin, so there’s quite a bit of pedigree here. It’s still in development and not yet ready for general use.
I like some of the design work behind Windows and Mac OS. A lot of the copycats (most of Linux) don’t get the design principles or follow through so the kernel and userland and driver model is fully integrated with the design vision, not to mention cruft and missing functionality. Projects like helloSystem are a useful step back from the problem and add a useful strand to discussion.
I know it’s shallow but proxy art (along with earlier programmer art) tend to be ghastly. More work needs to go in to HCI and graphics. Regardless of what is under the hood this is the pinch point for users and something which works well and looks nice makes a difference to the experience.
Windows XP and Windows 10 would like to speak to you.
The principles stands. Most users don’t care about the pile of cruft underneath if it works or appears to work and looks nice enough. Microsoft are capable of very good work sadly not refelected in the entirety of their products but consistently good enough to make Linux et al look and feel like an itchy woollen garment.
My reaction is the other way around. Microsoft can put pretty lipstick on the pig, but it keeps oinking and I can’t stand the sound. For me Linux is so much more consistent and dependable than Microsoft’s gussied up, rickety black box.
I’ve found that ElementaryOS is about the closest Linux has come to having a truly “beginner friendly” and visually pleasing aesthetic. It started out as a blatant macOS clone but has slowly matured into its own, highly improved design. The keyboard shortcuts are sensible and well suited for a broad range of users, and with just a couple of exceptions its design language is easy to understand and (to me at least) visually pleasing. The interface tends to disappear into the background leaving the user able to focus on the tasks at hand rather than fiddle with minor tweaks trying to achieve the perfect interface.
It’s not for everyone of course, and that’s also the beauty of Linux: One can make it look and feel however they want, limited only be the effort they want to put into it.