Editor’s Note: A friend of the site sent in this piece of writing about a fictional OS company, and how it’d need to improve on all other major players. The writing shows its age a bit in places. Some situations have gotten better, others worse. Read it with a historical lens.

Who are we

We are $NAME. We make software that allows you to use your computer to do things. Whether that’s productivity, entertainment, hobbies, or somewhere in between, something has to make sure that when you turn your computer on, it can then be used.

Why are we

For too long, the world has only known two viable options, Microsoft and Apple. While people have collectively produced many, many other options, the world has not yet decided any of them are viable. There are systemic reasons for that, and we aim to be different.

What are we

We are usable for everyone

We cannot accept any behavior of our software or our people that causes someone to be unable to use our software. We have to be usable by everyone.

This means we have to know what people want what from their computer. We have to be able to run that app that just a handful of people want. We have to find a way to offer a hand of friendship to the neglected.

We are stable for everyone

We will suffer. We will break. We will fail. We will rebuild. We will endure. We will take every precaution against actors conspiring against us, accidentally or purposefully. We will make sure the computer can always be used, even when the world rules that today is not our day. We will repair faults. We will recover from failures. We will empower the user to get back on track quickly.

We will not presume perfection from anyone. We will assume mistakes from others, even close partners. We will minimize their effect. We will detect them as soon as we can. We will ensure they are corrected.

We are different

There is a growing dissatisfaction with the existing options. But for us to be worth learning about, we cannot be the same as what the world already offers.

We are not Windows

We refuse to bind ourselves to seeing money as anything more than a tool to get work done. We refuse to invade users’ sanctums for any reason. We will listen to their requests. We will listen to their complaints. We will not insist on having the spotlight. We will not insist on maintaing a garden for users to live in. We cannot presume to know what users want before they speak.

We are not Apple

We cannot choose to limit ourselves to one hardware platform. We cannot insist on form over function. We cannot dictate how things will be against user wishes. We must embrace what our user needs are. We must embrace others’ ideas and differences. We must provide space for people to see things differently from us. We cannot presume to know what users want before they speak.

We are not Linux

We must endure. We cannot allow failure to stop a computer from being used. We cannot afford the luxury of an educated userbase. We must allow for users to limit their involvement. We must allow for users to speak quietly. We must allow for users to only know half of what they want. We must allow for users to say one thing, want another, and be clueless on how to do either.