[oi-dev] Making OI friendly to new users

[Atiq Rahman]

Hello,
I’ve been following OI for some time, and I’m concerned about a pattern
that has been slowing growth: new users frequently encounter installation
or boot issues and leave frustrated. I see this repeatedly in the forums,
often without resolution. This is a major barrier not only to adoption but
to community contribution. If we want more contributors, we first need more
users and for that, the first experience must be smooth.

At present, there are several critical blockers:

*1. EFI Installation & Custom Partitioning*:
  There is major confusion around custom partitioning. Most advice
discourages it in favor of using the whole disk which is unrealistic.
Nobody is going to buy a separate external drive for every OS they test. At
present, folks are able to install many distros using the internal disk.
Better EFI support in OI should allow safe custom partitioning without
restrictions.

*2. Missing Core Drivers:*

   - Many common Ethernet/LAN drivers are absent.
   - Common wireless drivers are also missing.
   - Graphics drivers are broken or nonexistent for much of today’s and
   yesterday's hardware.


These are basic requirements for installation and first boot. Without them,
users can’t even get online to troubleshoot or fetch updates.

These issues don’t just frustrate individual users, they shrink our
potential contributor base before it even forms. Every failed installation
attempt is a lost opportunity for feedback, testing, and future development
help.

I am deeply frustrated. At times, it feels like the stagnation in the OI
Leadership (or Association whoever leading it) is slowly killing the
project instead of helping it thrive.

I believe OI can still grow, but it will require prioritizing these
entry-level fixes. Making installation seamless for new users should be
seen as an investment in the project’s long-term health. I’d be happy to
help test or provide feedback on any efforts aimed at improving these.

Best regards,
Atiq
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