On 2020-01-14, Pierre Neidhardt wrote:
> I just wrote a short draft which hopefully should explain in layman
> terms why Guix matters.

Thanks, it's a nice read!


> * Open source is not enough
>
> We might be tempted to think that free open source software gives us
> transparency about what's in the application.  While the compiled application we
...
> In practice this means that it's almost always impossible to /reproduce/ the
> exact same compiled application that is offered for download.

I object a bit to "almost always impossible" :P

There are a number of projects that have achieved reproducibility for a
majority of the distributed software, including small to large-sized
distributions. Even a few small projects that manage 100%
reproducibility.

How about "often difficult" instead?


> * Trust all the way
>
> To sum up, we need the following properties in order to be able to trust
> computer software:
...
> - Separate multi-user application collections: on a multi-user system, every
>   user can install their favourite applications independently.  Applications
>   don't "pollute" the other user sessions.

I wonder if most people even undertsand the concept of a multi-user
system all that well? might be worth leaving out to keep the talking
points short...


> * Can everyone use Guix?
...
> More work needs to be done in terms of accessibility and easy of use so that the
> less technically-minded among us can also enjoy Guix some day.  Then, hopefully,
> we will find Guix preinstalled on computers, ready for everyone to use.

"easy of use" -> "ease of use"


live well,
  vagrant