Copilot: What is my purpose?

User: You download and install Linux.

These monsters crave power. They see oppressive regimes all over the world, stepping on people in a variety of ways, and think: “yeah, that’s the stuff.”

I agree and disagree.

The premise is solid: unify config so it’s standardized and machine parse-able for better integrations like an easier-to-build UI/UX. It could even have ramifications for cloud-init and older IaC tech like Puppet.

The problem is Linux itself. Or rather, the subsystems that are cobbled together to make Linux a viable OS. You’re not going to get all the different projects to pivot to a common config scheme, so this YAML standard would need a backend to convert to/from whatever each little deamon and driver requires. This creates a few secondary problems like community backlash (see systemd), and having multiple places where config data must be actively synchronized.

I think the current crop of GUI config systems are aleady well down the most pragmatic path: each config panel touches one or more standard config files, wherever they are, and however they are structured. It’s not pretty under the hood, and it’s complicated, but it works. These tools just need a lot more polish on the frontend.

How… how do they not have a smooth on-ramp for what is basically a straight upgrade to the same service?!

That also sounds like the kind of prank that Cards Against Humanity would pull if they had access to as much cash. I love this so much.