User Error
42 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 40 ratingsA show about life, Linux, the universe, and everything in between.
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Episodes
Check Out The New Show!
August 25, 2020 23:15 - 40 seconds - 470 KBGreat news! Dan, popey, and Joe have started a new show and it's called The New Show. Check it out at thenew.show (https://thenew.show) They answer your questions about Linux, tech, and life itself. It's a completely new show. https://thenew.show/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/newshow-300x300.png
Episode 88: Well, Actually
March 27, 2020 07:15 - 36 minutes - 25.2 MBThe details that make a great distro, things that make us wince, smug people online, great photos, imposter syndrome, and more. 00:00:27 Do you ever get imposter syndrome? 00:08:16 What's your unusual "fingernails on chalkboard" equivalent? 00:12:26 What gives a Linux distro that feeling of polish? 00:23:16 What's your favorite photograph? 00:28:12 How do you feel when someone chimes in online with "well, actually…"?
Episode 87: AksError
March 13, 2020 07:15 - 36 minutes - 25.3 MBApps that make us feel old, emotional songs, using actual paper, evolution of language, IRC channels we never look at, and more. 00:00:35 Do any songs trigger you to cry? 00:05:40 How many communication channels is it possible to keep up with? 00:11:25 Do you own a 2d printer? What was the last thing you printed out? 00:17:22 In an ever-shrinking world, should we drop tradition and use the easiest and most logical spellings and pronunciations? 00:25:52 Which hugely popular apps...
Episode 86: \o/
February 28, 2020 08:15 - 37 minutes - 26 MBWhether open source needs to be a complete experience, a deep need for conflict, preferred social media, and our favorite emoji. 00:00:30 Why do you prefer Twitter over Facebook? 00:07:57 Can Linux on the desktop ever succeed without a full ecosystem? 00:18:32 Hoodies: zip or no zip? 00:22:26 Do people really want all the drama to calm down? 00:29:40 What's your most commonly used emoji?
Episode 85: Name Your Shoes
February 14, 2020 08:15 - 39 minutes - 27.2 MBOpen source at work, learning languages, naming cars, and innovations that haven't appropriately delivered. Plus permission vs apologies, who has the most shoes, and more. 00:01:33 Does your car have a name? 00:06:56 How do I convince my employer to adopt open source software? 00:14:00 Is it better to ask permission or beg forgiveness? 00:18:40 How many pairs of shoes do you own? 00:25:00 If you were to learn a foreign language, which one would it be and why? 00:28:52 What i...
Episode 84: Useless Dreams
January 31, 2020 08:15 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MBWhether we'd use Windows if it was FOSS, pointless tech, bathing habits, useless jobs, annoying popey with dream stories, and more. 00:00:45 What desirable tech does everyone else want, but you don't see the point of? 00:06:17 What’s the most useless job that you’d still be willing to do? 00:10:34 If Windows was released as open source, would you start using it? 00:18:34 Bath or shower? 00:24:58 Is there any software which is feature complete that you use on a regular basis? 00...
Episode 83: No, But
January 17, 2020 08:15 - 40 minutes - 27.9 MBContext switching, improving Linux conferences, a positive approach to life, what makes us cringe, and more. #ErrorAsk: What's the dumbest idea for an app that you can come up with? 00:03:24 Have you ever met your own doppelganger? 00:06:55 Can you just jump right in to each type of task, or do you have a ritual before? 00:13:12 What’s missing from Linux and open source conferences? 00:23:53 Should you “yes, and” life? 00:33:37 What makes you cringe?
Episode 82: OK Then
January 03, 2020 08:15 - 41 minutes - 28.2 MBWhether the Web is yesterday’s news, a possible new approach to law and order, resolving conflicts, and some surprisingly useful life hacks. 00:00:37 Is the Web irrelevant now 00:09:12 Should we apply a git-style approach to improve laws? 00:16:52 Is it wrong to take the blame when it's not your fault? 00:29:26 What's your best life hack?
Episode 81: Larry Two-tails
December 20, 2019 08:15 - 39 minutes - 27.5 MBThe future of Internet video, the best way to develop open source software, skills vs talents, and our favourite types of animal companions. 00:00:24 What is likely to knock YouTube off its iron throne? 00:09:12 Is it really Open Source software if it’s not developed collaboratively? 00:20:54 What's the one thing you wish you could do well but are terrible at? 00:33:18 Dogs or cats?
Episode 80: Imaginary Turkey
December 06, 2019 08:15 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MBTalking to ourselves, delicious family meals, and the complexities of modern work. Plus inexpensive acquisitions, the price we put on security, and popey refusing to answer the simplest of questions. 00:00:26 Is turkey dinner really worth the effort? 00:06:33 What's the best bargain you've ever acquired? 00:11:56 If you were given $1,000 for every person you shared your master password with, how many people would you share it with? 00:18:28 Have you ever had an imaginary friend? 00:22:34 Is t...
Episode 79: Is Vegan TV Art?
November 22, 2019 08:15 - 39 minutes - 27.1 MBDisposing of hard drives, what a TV really is, and the veganism of software. Plus the serious business of coffee, why modern music sucks, and making Popey feel bad. 00:00:28 With better technology, why don’t we necessarily see better art? 00:08:43 Is Linux (or FOSS) the vegan option within software? 00:13:23 Do you own a TV? 00:20:03 How do you prepare your coffee? 00:24:45 How do you forgive yourself? 00:31:58 How do you dispose of your old hard drives for security purposes?
Episode 78: Ctrl V
November 08, 2019 08:15 - 43 minutes - 30.2 MBPaying attention to all the Linux users we never hear from, being less clever than we thought, and our biggest fears. Plus alternatives to copy paste, and whether Popey loves pink. 00:00:44 Would the Web/Internet be better or worse if the concept of copy and paste had never been invented? 00:07:29 What are you afraid of? 00:13:51 Is it time to stop ignoring the vast silent majority of Linux users? 00:27:37 What's your favourite colour and why? 00:34:54 Have you ever had a geni...
Episode 77: Blinking Eye Patches
October 25, 2019 07:15 - 38 minutes - 26.2 MBTech mistakes, communicating with spouses, and why you shouldn't let popey drive you anywhere. Plus patching humans as if they were code, back to basics web browsing, cold drinks, and conkers. 00:00:31 Is there anything you close your eyes while doing that other people might think is odd? 00:04:32 What's your biggest or most significant tech blunder? 00:11:09 What's your favorite thing about your least favorite season, and your least favorite thing about your favorite season? 00:16:...
Episode 76: Ghost, Meat, or Block?
October 11, 2019 07:15 - 38 minutes - 26.4 MBOur first computers, the future of food, and ethical sources of funds. Plus the spooky reason that Popey unfollowed Joe. 00:00:24 What was the first computer you ever used? 00:11:13 Do you believe in ghosts? 00:15:28 Would you eat "clean meat"? 00:23:18 Ignore, mute, or block? 00:27:45 Should we refuse to take money from anyone we may object to?
Episode 75: Memelord
September 27, 2019 07:15 - 39 minutes - 27.4 MBBeing a good FOSS citizen, forcing popey to answer stupid questions, and personal freedom vs societal harm. Plus paying for podcasts, and how many domains we all own. 00:00:34 What do you owe to upstream? 00:11:14 Should all drugs be legal? 00:20:57 Would you ever subscribe to a paywalled podcast? 00:25:24 How many domain names do you own? 00:30:42 What are your favourite and least favourite memes?
Episode 74: Splitting Fun and Profit
September 13, 2019 07:15 - 36 minutes - 25.1 MBIt's another #AskError episode. The finances of social situations and FOSS projects, automated vehicles, and ways to cheer up. Plus bad language, and being late. Check out Linux Headlines (https://linuxheadlines.show) and Self Hosted (https://selfhosted.show) 00:01:22 How do you deal with splitting up money with friends after a group trip/bbq/dinner? 00:06:20 What’s the best way to organise the finances for a FOSS project? 00:14:49 Do you swear in front of your family and, if not, wh...
Episode 73: Stealing the Top Bunk
August 30, 2019 07:15 - 35 minutes - 24.5 MBAnother #AskError special. Sleeping arrangements, hypothetical distro infrastructure, and IT milestones. Plus bad habits, frugality, and breaking the law. You can listen to an outtake from this show on Jupiter Extras (https://extras.show/9) 00:00:52 Top bunk or bottom bunk? 00:02:59 How would the distro landscape change if Ubuntu didn't allow other distros to use their infrastructure/repos? 00:14:31 Are there any things that you are irrationality frugal/tight/stingy with? 00:18:01 ...
Episode 72: Sliding Politics
August 16, 2019 07:15 - 40 minutes - 27.7 MBDealing with users who hate change, dumb phones, and different approaches to social media consumption. Plus infidelity, the state of the world, and consequences of small decisions. 00:00:16 #AskError: Do you read everything or follow all the people? 00:04:53 Changing software and user backlash 00:10:12 #AskError: Hypothetically speaking, do you think it was easier to be unfaithful in a relationship 20 years ago or now? 00:18:07 Dumb phone trope 00:24:54 #AskError: Do you have a...
Episode 71: Duvets Are Not Tech
August 02, 2019 07:15 - 39 minutes - 27.1 MBIt's another #AskError special! Sleep tech, missing apps on Linux, a deep question, and much more. 00:00:36 What sleep tech do you use? 00:07:59 What’s the first thing you’d do if you won the lottery? 00:13:30 What one application is completely missing on Linux? 00:17:15 Do you ever use default folders like documents, pictures, music etc? 00:25:47 What’s in your conference bag? 00:29:38 What is love?
Episode 70: Old and Insecure
July 19, 2019 07:15 - 37 minutes - 25.6 MBWhether Linux is inherently secure, the next phase of online interaction, and wasting our free time. Plus where to focus your contributions, and a tricky hypothetical question. 00:00:53 Without security through obscurity, would Linux make for a more secure desktop than Windows etc? 00:08:19 #AskError: Would you rather be old and rich or young and poor? 00:18:37 What will the next form of social interaction online look like? 00:27:18 #AskError: If you had to choose between contribu...
Episode 69: Partner Password Policy
July 05, 2019 07:15 - 42 minutes - 29.3 MBHow many users distros actually have, automating our homes, and the importance of common views and interests with our partners. Plus Popey discovers a new way to annoy Joe, and sharing passwords with loved ones. 00:00:29 Distro User Numbers 00:13:17 #AskError: do you get annoyed by people who use "last seen recently"? 00:19:20 Home Automation 00:29:16 #AskError: do you share any accounts or passwords with your partner? 00:34:45 The importance of having things in common with you...
Episode 68: Delete Your Community
June 21, 2019 07:15 - 42 minutes - 28.8 MBTwo #AskError specials in a row! Advice for our younger selves, leaving communities, our listening habits, and hoarding. Plus the most serious question that’s ever been asked on the show, and more. 00:00:42 What's the one bit of Linux advice you'd give yourself if you could go back to the start of your journey? 00:04:17 What would make you delete your Twitter account? 00:11:29 When do you think you’ll buy your first electric car? 00:19:06 Have you ever been banned from a community...
Episode 67: Mind the Apps
June 08, 2019 01:00 - 35 minutes - 24.5 MBIt's another #AskError special. Meditation and mindfulness, friends making obvious mistakes, and AppImage popularity. Plus cashless society, and hoarding phone apps. 00:01:14 How do you manage apps on your smartphone? 00:04:51 Why isn’t AppImage part of the larger universal packaging discussion? 00:14:43 How would you feel if cash went away? 00:19:39 Thoughts on meditation and mindfulness? 00:28:43 What do you do when you see someone you know making an obvious mistake?
Episode 66: Cross Desktop
May 25, 2019 05:15 - 45 minutes - 31 MBLinux desktop standards, how the Web has changed over the years, and the ethics of space exploration. Plus what to do if you see a crime, and the things we hate the most. 00:00:12 Free Desktop 00:12:43 #AskError: if you witness a petty crime, should you intervene? 00:17:55 Old vs new Web 00:28:41 #AskError: what are your pet hates? 00:37:47 Should humans spend billions on space exploration while so many people live in poverty?
Episode 65: Dungeons and Distros
May 10, 2019 07:15 - 42 minutes - 28.8 MBWhat it takes to make a proper distro, how we send emails, and the constant quest for knowledge. Plus D&D, and April Fools annoyances. 00:01:00 Email etiquette 00:10:17 #AskError: Thoughts on Dungeons and Dragons? 00:14:00 What does it take to be a proper Linux distro? 00:26:33 #AskError: Do April Fool’s Day tech “jokes” annoy you? 00:32:16 Always learning new things
Episode 64: Abandoned Support
April 26, 2019 07:15 - 44 minutes - 30.5 MBWhy Linux doesn't just work on all hardware, criticism of your field, and the ethics of acquiring old software. Plus venturing outside, and how we install unusual applications. 00:00:37 Why is hardware support so terrible? 00:12:21 #AskError: How much time do you spend outside? 00:16:08 If you're wedded to a concept or axiom for your job, is there any way you can be objective about criticism of your field? 00:26:13 #AskError: If an application you want is not available in your dis...
Episode 63: Linux Without Borders
April 12, 2019 07:15 - 42 minutes - 29.3 MBWhere bad feeling and rivalry in the FOSS world actually originates, what we should be teaching our kids, and the violence that underlies everything around us. Plus Joe is a lazy swine, and dodgy VPN providers. Follow the show on Twitter (https://twitter.com/usererrorshow) 00:00:33 FOSS Rivalry 00:10:27 #AskError: How often do you clean your tech and with what tools? 00:13:11 Teaching kids to code 00:24:09 #AskError: Are all VPN providers as shady as they seem? 00:32:43 All pro...
Episode 62: Emergency Condiments
March 29, 2019 07:15 - 41 minutes - 28.2 MBWhat attracted us to Linux in the first place, planning for when tech goes away, and why we aren't surrounded by alien life. Plus a difficult culinary choice for Dan, and what we'd use instead of Linux. 00:00:33 How do you balance embracing new tech with planning for its obsolescence? 00:09:01 #AskError: Is there any food you won't eat? Even in an emergency? 00:15:56 Why did you start using Linux? 00:26:40 #AskError: If you started working at a company and could only choose Mac or...
Episode 61: Faith in Microsoft
March 15, 2019 08:00 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MBMaybe it's finally time to cut Microsoft some slack, the pace of technological change, and what a couple of common terms actually mean. Plus Joe fails to convince the others about his favourite movie, and one of the deepest questions that you can ask. 00:00:12 Is it time to give Microsoft the benefit of the doubt on their Linux love? 00:08:34 #AskError: If you could only watch one film for the rest of your life, what would it be? 00:12:38 Is technological change really accelerating?...
Episode 60: Disturbing Messages
March 01, 2019 09:00 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MBHow to deal with Internet drama in the Linux world, the rise of live streaming, and disturbing people with messages and calls. Plus preparing for end times, and the best moment of Joe's life. 00:00:25 #AskError: What's your biggest claim to fame? 00:03:47 Internet drama and Linux 00:15:31 #AskError: If you send someone a message and it disturbs them, whose fault is it? 00:22:46 On demand vs live streaming 00:32:25 #AskError: Should you prepare for the apocalypse?
Episode 59: Data Conspiracy RISC
February 15, 2019 09:00 - 39 minutes - 26.8 MBIs the great hope for open hardware actually going to materialize or is RISC-V just hype? Are some conspiracy theories worth more than just passing disdain? Plus hoarding all your own tracking data, and some great #AskError questions. 00:00:18 #AskError: What's the best decade for music? 00:04:13 RISC-V 00:12:43 Collecting our own data 00:24:02 #AskError: Pain for principles - where's your threshold? 00:30:24 Conspiracy theories
Episode 58: Stranger Distro Danger
February 01, 2019 09:00 - 41 minutes - 28.2 MBNew JB team member Ell (https://twitter.com/ell_o_punk) joins us to discuss e-waste, the motivations for our distro choices, and letting children out of your sight. Plus some solid #AskError questions about food and aliases. Also check out Joe's new show Choose Linux (https://chooselinux.show). 00:00:26 Intro 00:01:26 Computer sustainability 00:13:17 #AskError: What one meal could you live on for the rest of your life? 00:17:06 Distro choice 00:25:09 #AskError: What is your favorite bash alia...
Episode 57: Free To Succeed?
January 18, 2019 09:00 - 41 minutes - 33.5 MBIs the decision to listen to this really up to you, or is it predetermined by chemistry and physics? Can mobile Linux ever succeed beyond a small niche? Plus hoarding physical media, terrible books, and extreme weather. 00:00:35 #AskError: What's the worst book you've ever read? 00:04:45 Physical media vs streaming 00:11:29 Can mobile Linux ever succeed? 00:27:02 #AskError: If you could get rid of summer and winter and just have a single meh season, would you do it? 00:32:25 Is...
Episode 56: A Good Walled Garden
January 04, 2019 09:00 - 42 minutes - 34.2 MBAndroid vs iOS, turning users into contributors, and good vs bad in the world. 00:00:29 #AskError: What Linux-related opinion makes you completely disregard anything that person says? 00:03:10 iOS vs Android 00:15:35 How do we turn more users into contributors? 00:30:45 Is there more good or bad in the world?
Episode 55: Great News, We Lied
December 21, 2018 09:00 - 39 minutes - 31.4 MBWhether new users have to suffer the pain of the command line, lying about Santa, and the best tech news of 2018. Plus we learn whether Dan is a hipster, and more. 00:00:40 #AskError: What will self-driving cars be called? 00:02:02 Lying to children about Santa (https://joeress.com/lying-to-children-is-never-ok-even-about-santa/) 00:09:19 Do new users still need to learn how to use the command line? 00:19:36 #AskError: How much do you spend getting your hair cut and how often? 00:...
Episode 54: Backup to the Moon
December 07, 2018 09:00 - 44 minutes - 35.5 MBIt's another #AskError special! Getting normals to do backups, should we stop making distros, ridiculous pipe dreams, and more. 00:01:08 How do we get normal people to use proper passwords and backups? 00:13:19 What's the most popular movie you've never seen? 00:16:54 Is it time to stop making new Linux distros? 00:31:40 What's the most ridiculous pipe dream you've ever had? Come and hang out with us on the forum (https://community.error.show).
Episode 53: Deconstructed Dialog
November 23, 2018 09:00 - 42 minutes - 34.4 MBThere's something almost intangible about the way Linux presents itself and Popey tries to explain it, the balance between living for the moment and planning for the future, and doing it wrong with social media. Plus moving country, and stupid folding phones. 00:00:11 Intro 00:01:29 Is social media a good thing? 00:12:59 #AskError: Have you thought about moving to the USA? 00:18:36 Seeing through the facade of Linux 00:28:09 #AskError: Folding phones: dumb idea or dumbest idea?...
Episode 52: Little Packages of Joy
November 09, 2018 11:45 - 44 minutes - 35.7 MBWhat's the best strategy when it comes to desktop Linux applications? We look at both ends of the spectrum, and wonder how much big tech companies should dictate who has access to their platforms. Plus some solid #AskError questions, having kids, and our new forum at community.error.show (https://community.error.show). 00:00:14 Intro 00:01:02 #Askerror: Does the pronunciation of words like "Ubuntu" matter in the slightest? 00:05:14 Is it right for tech companies to silence right wing crazies?...
Episode 51: Universal Basic Disruption
October 26, 2018 13:15 - 42 minutes - 33.7 MBIt’s a special all #AskError episode! A hypothetical Linux world, the future of welfare, tech disruption, and terrible email addresses. Plus Distrowatch rankings, and a crucial seasonal question. 00:00:32 Spoopy month? Y/N_ 00:04:15 Are the Distrowatch rankings worth the pixels they are rendered on? 00:10:10 Is universal basic income a good idea? 00:23:32 How much does your email address matter? (https://www.wsj.com/articles/is-your-email-address-holding-you-back-1535470160) 00:27...
Episode 50: Understand The Hype
October 12, 2018 16:00 - 48 minutes - 39.4 MBIt seems to be all about Plasma these days so we want to know if the hype is justified. We have a couple of great #AskError questions, and wonder whether we are heading for a tech dystopia. Plus the heaviest of all subjects rears its head again this week.
Episode 49: Not Dead Yet
September 28, 2018 16:00 - 53 minutes - 43.2 MBChris joins us to talk about his recent brush with death, we wonder how Linux on Windows is affecting bare metal adoption, we wish phones weren’t so big and stupid, and a great #AskError. 00:00:22 AskError: What's the best movie you've only seen once? 00:06:17 Is Linux on Windows the real future of Linux on the desktop? 00:19:08 Chris nearly died 00:39:51 Phones are big and stupid now Special Guest: Chris Fisher.
Episode 48: Living The Dream
September 14, 2018 16:15 - 45 minutes - 37.2 MBUser Error is back with a new set of hosts! We answer some #AskError questions and talk about whether the Linux desktop will ever make money. Plus we wonder if dockless bike sharing is a good idea and whether travel really is as great as everyone seems to think. 00:00:13 #AskError: What are the best and worst parts of living the dream? 00:05:38 Dockless bike sharing 00:16:43 Travel is good for the soul 00:26:48 #AskError Do you go to sleep in silence, or lis...