Free Software - A practical starting point
People searching for alternatives may struggle to know where to start if not tech-savvy. Unaware of
the different options, overwhelmed by the amount of information, unable to parse the instructions
correctly and focus on the relevant parts they may lack confidence in their abilities.
When approaching a new subject people assume the existence of a "best" path forward. This way of
thinking is quite dangerous as they tend to wait for perfection, instead of starting and making
incremental progress. Furthermore the notion of "best" is not absolute but rather contextual. Advice
presented below take into account a multitude of cases, average and condense them into a single narrative.
Starting point
Approaching the problem will depend on multiple factors; user's needs, knowledge and time.
Technology interactions can be divided into several categories: desktop operating system, mobile one,
web browser or a combination of the three.
New operating system
Main devices after backups can be used to install new operating systems, however it might be viewed
as too risky for the majority of people. A more suitable approach would be to recycle old discarded devices
destined to collect dust or finish in a landfill by giving them new lives as testing machines. The
fear of loosing data and valuable time gone will help the transition. When comfortable enough, users
will be able to replicate everything onto their main device.
Current operating system
If switching is not yet an option, users can still benefit from the many free software running on
top of their non-free system as well as web-based system independent alternatives.
Discovery process
Organic
A trials and errors approach may be a satisfactory to very curious and invested users. Discovering
the breath of the ecosystem and the endless way of solving similar problems while more time consuming
will be a worthwhile investment.
Planned
For others the amount of information may be overwhelming, in such case a more methodical approach
is preferred. A careful look over technology usage will help devise an incremental plan of action.
Finding help
Newcomers may find reassurance in offline help with people in their circle or through local groups.
Otherwise online help is plentiful. Official documentations though sometimes challenging provide
up-to-date information. In official forums questions may be asked if not previously
answered. Unofficial tutorials, articles may also provide a trove of information with various
degrees of quality and relevance.
Asking questions
Discussion spaces are varied in their purpose (general support, issues/bugs report, technical
conversation, etc) and audience (user, tester, developer, etc). Questions should be asked in the right
channel to receive proper attention. Discussion guidelines and code of conduct have to be properly
understood to ensure proper interaction. Information should be provided in a well organized, concise
yet complete manner; system info, logs, steps already taken, etc. Mastering this skill takes time,
perfection is not required but effort is very much appreciated and rewarded. Taking these things
into consideration are important as the other participants in the discussion are most likely
volunteers taking their free time to answer.
Considering answers
The multitudes ways to solve the exact same problem may result in confusion. The proposed answers
ranging from the simple to the seemingly complex have to be sorted according to levels of
understanding. In all scenarios it is imperative to have good comprehension of every steps before
their execution otherwise the stability and security of the system will be at risk.