I’m curious how software can be created and evolve over time. I’m afraid that at some point, we’ll realize there are issues with the software we’re using that can only be remedied by massive changes or a complete rewrite.

Are there any instances of this happening? Where something is designed with a flaw that doesn’t get realized until much later, necessitating scrapping the whole thing and starting from scratch?

  • Björn Tantau@swg-empire.de
    432·
    7 months ago

    And the strangest thing about that is that neither PulseAudio nor Pipewire are replacing anything. ALSA and PulseAudio are still there while I handle my audio through Pipewire.

    • angel@iusearchlinux.fyi
      291·
      7 months ago

      How is PulseAudio still there? I mean, sure the protocol is still there, but it’s handled by pipewire-pulse on most systems nowadays (KDE specifically requires PipeWire).

      Also, PulseAudio was never designed to replace ALSA, it’s sitting on top of ALSA to abstract some complexity from the programs, that would arise if they were to use ALSA directly.

      • lemmyvore@feddit.nlEnglish
        101·
        7 months ago

        Pulse itself is not there but its functionality is (and they even preserved its interface and pactl). PipeWire is a superset of audio features from Pulse and Jack combined with video.

        • tetris11@lemmy.ml
          9·
          7 months ago

          For anyone wondering: Alsa does sound card detection and basic IO at the kernel level, Pulse takes ALSA devices and does audio mixing at the user/system level. Pipe does what Pulse does but more and even includes video devices

      • TurtlePower
        1·
        7 months ago

        So now I’m confused. You say KDE requires PipeWire, but I run a KDE Plasma spin and there is no trace of either PipeWire or PulseAudio.

          • TurtlePower
            1·
            7 months ago

            Lol thanks, but I don’t need to be right. I just want to make sure I’m doing things the way they’re supposed to be done so everything works as well as possible. Like I’ve had apps and stuff not work at all till I stumble into something like your comment that leads me to installing better softwares/drivers/etc., or setting the settings correctly, and boom, it magically works, no muss no fuss.

            • angel@iusearchlinux.fyi
              1·
              7 months ago

              I see, maybe I misinterpreted your previous comment. Anyway, I think if you’re using KDE on your desktop or laptop and your audio is working in most applications, you probably have either pipewire or pulseaudio installed. I would be very confused otherwise :D

              • TurtlePower
                1·
                7 months ago

                Ok, so here’s why I’m confused: I did finally find them both through searching the entire computer’s files/folders. It’s definitely there and installed. But when I try to locate it through Discover Software Center, it’s nowhere to be found, even to install. I know not everything can be found through Discover, but I would think that something so essential would show up. Hell, every last font I have installed on it comes up, so it’s pretty surprising to me that this wouldn’t. I haven’t really gotten into messing with drivers (especially since everything has worked ootb), so I don’t know if those are something to get from DSC or what. And no worries, I’m glad for the discussion because it’s helping me learn and understand the Wonderful World of Linux™️ better!