This repository is where developers and interested advanced users brainstorm on helloSystem. If you are looking for documentation, Live ISO downloads, and other practical information, look at https://hellosystem.github.io/.
What?
A desktop system for creators that focuses on simplicity, elegance, and usability.
For mere mortals. Welcoming to switchers from macOS. Not just a theme. Not a clone of anything, but something with which the long-time Mac user should feel instantly comfortable. The latest technologies, without the complexities of Linux distributions. Without lockdown. Without Big Brother. The user in full control.
Less, but better!
Why?
Because we used to like the Mac, since 1984.
Consistent user interface across all applications (e.g., all applications have the same global menu bar, and all applications have File -> Quit in them with the same Command-Q shortcut)
Consistent user interface over time (e.g., the above has not changed since 1984)
WYSIWYG: Black text on white background, like on paper. Not amber on black or green on black like most computers before it
No need to use the command line
No confusing text messages when the system is starting
Everything done via the global menu bar
Menu shortcuts on the Command key (the key left to the spacebar)
Easy to use disk images
Spatial file manager (e.g. every document or folder has one, and exactly one place on the screen; each window and each object inside a window keeps its location on screen)
Applications can be “managed” by drag and drop in the file manager
Every application is one file (or one “bundle”, which is one object in the file manager)
No complicated text commands to learn, no need to use a Terminal application
Because we used to like the Mac, since 1984. But it’s increasingly getting… difficult:
Because Apple has become Big Brother by even considering Client-Side Scanning, distrusting its users and treating them like potential criminals, searching through users’ data
Because Apple runs services like Visual Lookupand mediaanalysisd on macOS which may leak data from the local system to the OS vendor’s servers (and potentially anyone surveilling them)
Because we want to run apps from “unidentified developers” that need no blessing by the operating system vendor and no workarounds like https://lapcatsoftware.com/articles/textedit-gatekeeper.html (Note: Maybe sudo spctl --master-disable does the trick if you are root on the machine, which means no luck on “managed” devices; normal users can do: xattr -r -d com.apple.quarantine /path/to/MyApp.app for each app)
Gatekeeper (“It forced Mac developers, who had previously been legally free, to sign a strict contract.” Source) (Note: Maybe sudo spctl --master-disable does the trick if you are root on the machine, which means no luck on “managed” devices; normal users can do: xattr -r -d com.apple.quarantine /path/to/MyApp.app for each app)
Because what used to be simple is becoming increasingly difficult. Example: Install a kernel extension https://twitter.com/CastIrony/status/1444077820041318400 – probably the process doesn’t even work on “managed” devices where some central IT department thinks it knows best which kexts the users “need”. Lock in and lock down
Because we disagree with phone-home, tracking, activation. Apparently it is not necesseary to activate Macs. Has the NSA ordered this “feature” so that they can track people even better?
Because Apple is spying on you. Yes. Despite all the talk about “privacy” there is the DSID
Because Apple user interfaces are becoming less and less Mac-like (as measured by the original Human Interface Guidelines). Example: The Tragedy of Safari 15 for Mac’s ‘Tabs’
Because Apple is watering the desktop down with inferior mobile UX and hybrid apps (“Catalyst”) that don’t behave like real mouse-centric (“AppKit”) desktop apps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIFQC8iA65k Apple proprietary GSX Software needed to “pair” repair parts to the device, making straightforward repairs unnecessarily complicated to impossible
