Linux nostalgia: What I miss from times past

The evolution of Linux has led to many improvements, but a few things have been lost along the way. Jack Wallen revisits the aspects of Linux he wouldn't mind bringing back.

My experience of Linux goes back to the days of Caldera Open Linux 1 and Red Hat Linux 4.2 — before the creation of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Since then, I have seen a lot come and go and I was glad to see the back of most of it. But I actually miss some of what we have lost — certain pieces of software and certain ideas or ideals. Time for trip down Linux memory lane.

1. Linuxconf

Linuxconf was the best admin tool I have ever used on Linux. From this single interface, you could administer everything — and I mean everything — on your Linux box. From the kernel upwards, you could take care of anything. With the dumbing-down of the Linux operating system, which was a necessity to increase average user acceptance, tools such as this have disappeared. That's a shame because an admin tool such as Linuxconf was ideal for serious administrators and users.

2. The challenge

This may sound perverse but there are days when I really miss the challenge of old-school Linux — and the ensuing sense of accomplishment. In the early days, getting Linux installed gave many users a real sense of satisfaction. Obviously I love how easy Linux is to install today — and how that simplicity enables users of any skill level to use the operating system. But there was something to be said for overcoming the challenges presented by Linux in the early days. It was a badge of honour only a select few could wear.

3. WordPerfect

There are plenty of good word-processing and text-editing tools available for Linux. But none of these writing tools is as good as WordPerfect in its heyday. It was the ideal word processor. It didn't get bogged down with feature bloat and yet it was so well designed that it stood out as a real writer's tool. It would be wonderful if someone would bring it back.

4. Install fests

I remember when local Linux user groups hosted Linux install fests once a month. Users would bring in their computers, and members of the groups would install Linux for free. It wasn't just about Linux. It was about building community and spreading the ideal that was building a head of steam at the time. Although the installation of Linux is easy enough for any user to accomplish, the camaraderie and community of those parties are definitely missed.

5. Linus' sound byte

In those early days, when it came for the installation to run a sound check, you would hear Linus Torvalds say: "Hello. This is Linus Torvalds, and I pronounce Linux, Linux." I always laughed when I heard that. Of course, to me, that was much more than a sound check. It was the father of the operating system I was using reminding those using it that Linux was a community effort and everyone was welcome to be involved. I really miss the welcoming community, typified by that recording.

6. Window managers

Remember when the Linux desktop consisted of X Windows and then a window manager on top of that — and nothing more? Of course, you can still have that if you install the likes of FluxBox or E16. But generally the days of the window manager-only desktop have gone the way of...