linux on the desktop

so you can see i have a pretty long detailed post on remote desktop on linux

remote desktop on linux is a crucial example of a use-case that is very common although somewhat specialized, any IT administrator realizes this is a crucial part of any remotely administered operating system

although linux does offer solutions, the problem is consistency.  for example, at one point, early versions of gnome offered vidalia.  essentially a vnc clone that was integrated into gnome.  it worked well, and using gdm was able to handle logon/off remotely even from the lock screen, just like windows

then ... the person or persons maintaining vidalia stopped, so gnome dropped it

after that, the next version of the gnome desktop environment shipped without any kind of remote access.

now, i can already hear everyone saying 'oh they're volunteers' etc etc 

yep, i know that

but that doesn't change the fact that one day, i had remote desktop access that i needed to perform my job, and enjoy my life using a computer.

then the next day, i didnt.  

meanwhile, microsoft windows has had remote desktop, using the same set of universally available applications installed with the os, for decades

of course, i just set up x11vnc and went about my business, and since then, many different remote desktop solutions have come and gone, none of them really working consistently

 

if you expect people to use linux as their daily driver, it has to be a real daily driver that never breaks.  it cant be like centos 7 and just stop being supported with no upgrade path.  you can't just get rid of remote desktop one year and then bring it back the next.  i mean you can but then you're essentially saying 'this is a hobbyist os' and not 'this is a production ready OS'