The Debian Desktop Project [LWN.net]

The Debian Linux distribution has a new Debian Desktop Project, which was recently announced by Colin Walters. The project's aim is well stated: "Our motto is 'Software which Just Works'. In short, our goal is to bring Debian, GNU, and Linux to the mainstream world."

The list of project goals includes:

Support for both the GNOME and KDE desktop environments.
Keeping the needs of both novice and expert users in mind.
Making configuration simple and foolproof.
Focusing configuration options on standard desktop users.
Integration of project management utilities into the standard Debian distribution.
Simplification of installation questions with the non-technical user in mind.
Having Fun.

To get an idea of what the project aims to accomplish, the current objectives include:

A menu rewrite project.
Integration of KDE 3.
Improvement of the Debian installer.
Integration of webmin and/or Ximian Setup Tools into the Debian core.
Improvements to the ppp system.
Work on X11 configurations.
Work on USB implementation.
Internationalization and multilingualization.
A clean-up of debconf questions to simplify system installation.
Creation of a desktop-optimized kernel.
Work on the Debian TODO list.
Building Debian themes for GNOME and KDE.
Adding items to this list.

Debian would be a better distribution if it were to move toward these goals, the timing is certainly right for development of easy-to-use and easy-to-install Linux software for the masses.

Perhaps a good goal for this project would be to morph Debian into something that your grandmother would be comfortable using, assuming your grandmother isn't a software developer. Hopefully the project will undergo frequent testing by people who are not especially computer literate, with the literati looking over their shoulders.