Sahaj Linux

According to the common beliefs of the segment of non-technical computer users over the world, Linux is mainly a command line based operating system with an unfriendly Graphical Interface. This consist of a number of advanced functionalities which is firstly hard to learn for a beginner and secondly, are of little to no use for the common people like users in rural India. The root directory oriented perspective of the Linux file-system is also a reason for users to stick with the vulnerable and costly but simple Windows operating system. This paper looks into the mentioned segment of common computer users and describes an operating system named ¿Sahaj Linux¿ which provides an intuitive and minimalist approach to common day-to-day tasks of a general computer user coupled with the flexibility and power of a Linux system. Special attention is paid on a new approach for the File Browser which is however one of the central and most important applications of ¿Sahaj Linux¿. The File Browser is specially designed to resemble the common mental model of the directory tree structure among users for increased performance in terms of reduced number of clicks in regular use. The whole system is designed to provide extensive Indic language support like `Bengali´ in order to successfully reach the rural parts of India.