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Desktop system for creators with a focus on simplicity, elegance, and usability. Based on FreeBSD. Less, but better!

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hello

Please see https://hellosystem.github.io/ for documentation.

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.

Following the published Human Interface Guidelines, and First Principles of Interaction Design liberally re-interpreted for today.

Based on FreeBSD.

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:

Lock-down:

Irrepairable, non-upgradeable hardware:

Less and less Mac-like desktop user experience:

How?

Just follow Bruce Tognazzini's First Principles of Interaction Design

https://asktog.com/atc/principles-of-interaction-design/

Contributing

This project lives from your involvement.

Please see https://hellosystem.github.io/docs/developer/contributing

We need help with issues flagged with help-wanted – maybe you'd like to look into issues flagged with good-first-issue. Other contributions are, of course, welcome.

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Desktop system for creators with a focus on simplicity, elegance, and usability. Based on FreeBSD. Less, but better!

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