> Right, I prefer slim systems and I typically uninstall everything input method related that my distro has chosen to preinstall. I cannot read or memorize a single CJK character, so why would I need that.
Yes, I'm exactly talking about this mindset.
This is basically why Linux has such poor input method support.
Because English has a special privilege of not needing input methods to be input in, combined with the fact that the majority of Linux application programmers use English only, that means basically all apps that don't consider i18n seriously are by default 'wrong', opposed to apps running on Windows/macOS which are by default 'right'.
> Basically I use my mother tongue (and a couple of other European languages I speak) only in Email, chat or maybe some web form.
Does that mean European languages are able to being input without special input methods?
> I can feel your pain though, because 10+ years ago we had the same problem with the couple of non-ASCII characters you need in most European languages.
The non-ASCII characters fit in the character array model that most western people think in, and as a plus they are fittable in the upper half of ASCII.
Asian CJK languages require a different model from the western ones.
> In order to have the situation in Linux improve there just need to be enough CJK contributors to fix existing bugs.
It's a failing fight. That only works on an ideal world where every program has enough contributors. Thats not true.
>> Right, I prefer slim systems and I typically uninstall everything input method related that my distro has chosen to preinstall. I cannot read or memorize a single CJK character, so why would I need that.
>Yes, I'm exactly talking about this mindset. This is basically why Linux has such poor input method support.
Don't understand me wrong. That input methods are useless for me, because I know zero CJK characters, does not mean I think they are useless to everybody or Linux in general. How would I help the CJK users by having something installed I never use and I have no knowledge to use?
> I mean, there is a reason why Windows & macOS all selects a similar architecture on text inputting
Yes, there is a reason. Microsoft and Apple want to make money in CJK countries. And they have architects that make system-wide decisions.
That is not how Linux works. Companies contribute where their business is. That is server or embedded. After Canonical closed bug number 1 https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/1 no big player is interested on Linux on the desktop anymore. Individual contribute what they are interested in and what they know best. I fear most Westerners don't understand the challenges of CJK and other more "complicated" scripts. I myself "blame" Americans if they do it wrong and something accepts only 7 bit ASCII. I can fully understand if CJK or right to left people blame us "8 bit people" (character set, not coding) for doing it wrong. We just don't get it, that's a fact. But I don't think studying Korean etc. is a realistic solution. The only way to change it is to have more people and companies contribute that a) need it and b) really understand the user needs.
> Does that mean European languages are able to being input without special input methods
I cannot talk about East-European languages or really small languages. But for the bigger West and Central-European languages the answer is yes.
Every character is either on the national keyboard or (if typing another language) can be typed using dead-key accent or AltGr. Sometimes the compose character is needed, but I need that so rarely that I forget the combinations...
Yes, I'm exactly talking about this mindset. This is basically why Linux has such poor input method support. Because English has a special privilege of not needing input methods to be input in, combined with the fact that the majority of Linux application programmers use English only, that means basically all apps that don't consider i18n seriously are by default 'wrong', opposed to apps running on Windows/macOS which are by default 'right'.
> Basically I use my mother tongue (and a couple of other European languages I speak) only in Email, chat or maybe some web form.
Does that mean European languages are able to being input without special input methods?
> I can feel your pain though, because 10+ years ago we had the same problem with the couple of non-ASCII characters you need in most European languages.
The non-ASCII characters fit in the character array model that most western people think in, and as a plus they are fittable in the upper half of ASCII.
Asian CJK languages require a different model from the western ones.
> In order to have the situation in Linux improve there just need to be enough CJK contributors to fix existing bugs.
It's a failing fight. That only works on an ideal world where every program has enough contributors. Thats not true.