0

In my opinion, operating systems & DE should offer temporary reset some settings or set it to administrative-focused settings.

It aims to help computer specialist to solve our problems, remotely (via rdb/vnc) or locally for example.

Main problem with Linux is too many possible configurations, which will be trouble for computer specialist or other person.

Why computer specialist should learn how to work with each DE/System/Settings?
In this mode, DE should set special ENV to tell apps, which settings temporary reset or set in administrative settings. Also, DE should do the same with system and own settings.

Use cases:
1. I cannot configure printer, so IT specialist connect with my desktop via vnc. VNC server on my machine asks to set DE/SYSTEM/APPS in this special mode. I click approve and IT specialist could set, which settings to temporary reset, due to some settings couldn't be reset (like browser extensions, due it may cause problems). When printer was installed, IT consultant disconnect and everything, which was change by this special mode, was reverted.

Also, DE vendors should consult, how each DE should work in this special mode. For example - single vs double click, default color scheme (so It specialist which is disabled person do not have troubles), etc.

What do you think? Many people often complains, it is too many OS/DE/Possible configuration, so user are forced to do things by one's. Also, this mode could be used by screencast creators, so user do not get panic if he/she uses different icon set. User only turn on this mode and perform needed task. When done, user could disable this special mode.

I think I understand the idea you give ...
I doubt however if that is a good approach to the issue, _if there is an issue at all_ ...

There is no "standard" to which you could reset to. There is a reason why Linux systems are diverse, not just because they are configured to stand out, but _because_ they are diverse, the actually differ in more than just things like what buttons you have on your windows. Even without a desktop environment, so when handling with a base system via command line, even then you have differences. From a professional I would expect to be able to handle those differences, though...

What you already can do (and that clearly makes more sense from a privacy and security point of view):
create a temporary user account for the remote access. That could be what you consider a "standard" desktop, for example a KDE or GNOME desktop with no user specific configuration. This reduces the privacy risk you have when granting others access to your system (_especially_ administrative access!).

arkascha wrote:I think I understand the idea you give ...
I doubt however if that is a good approach to the issue, _if there is an issue at all_ ...

There is no "standard" to which you could reset to. There is a reason why Linux systems are diverse, not just because they are configured to stand out, but _because_ they are diverse, the actually differ in more than just things like what buttons you have on your windows. Even without a desktop environment, so when handling with a base system via command line, even then you have differences. From a professional I would expect to be able to handle those differences, though...

What you already can do (and that clearly makes more sense from a privacy and security point of view):
create a temporary user account for the remote access. That could be what you consider a "standard" desktop, for example a KDE or GNOME desktop with no user specific configuration. This reduces the privacy risk you have when granting others access to your system (_especially_ administrative access!).

So maybe install KDE layout/theme for make it similar to many DE and allow to set it temporary? In this case, there do not have exist an standard, if DE vendors cannot create it. IT specialist only connect via vnc and select made temporary look like GNOME/Windows 10/Windows 11/XFCE/Breeze?

Edit: Creating additional account for doing administrative task is not good, because user could have messed up with Plasma/Firefox/etc. config.

Lachu wrote:So maybe install KDE layout/theme for make it similar to many DE and allow to set it temporary? In this case, there do not have exist an standard, if DE vendors cannot create it. IT specialist only connect via vnc and select made temporary look like GNOME/Windows 10/Windows 11/XFCE/Breeze?

If course it is possible. The question is whether it makes sense. That is what I doubt. Why would you try to make KDE look like GNOME/Windows 10/Windows 11/XFCE/?
It is much easier simply to install a minimal environment parallel to KDE Plasma and use that for such tasks.

Lachu wrote:Edit: Creating additional account for doing administrative task is not good, because user could have messed up with Plasma/Firefox/etc. config.

That might be the case or not, but one does not need a "specialist" for such thing, one can simply remove such settings by removing the specific config files. One can even simply try if that is the issue by temporarily moving the files for a test run.
In my eyes the security / privacy risk you open up when handing over full access to your system weighty _much_ more than getting a "security expert" fixing your Firefox settings ...

(just my 2 cents)