The truth is that FreeBSD doesn't want casual users, though.
The Linux (Ubuntu, etc) install experience leads to a usable desktop. Heck, the installer disc boots to a usable desktop.
Also no unsophisticated users even know the name of their favorite DE. Or what a DE is.
Requiring a text login and a shell command, even one as simple as "pkg install KDE" is a big ask for a casual user these days. Also, that command line will probably fail. :)
I write these things as a very big fan of FreeBSD! I think not catering to casual users keeps FreeBSD in a better technical place overall, but Linux is obviously much more popular. This carries risks too.
Actually pkg install kde is exactly what you should do. Just not in capitals.
But in FreeBSD 15 it will be part of the installer. However even an installer is too much to ask of today's mainstream users. I don't want freebsd to become mainstream though especially because what mainstream users want (everything decided on by a vendor) is completely contrary to what FreeBSD stands for and what I want.
Casual users become experienced users become contributors
I'm not saying Make Everything Easy. If there's real reasons not to have easy x11 onboarding, if FreeBSD really is intended to be an OS for experts (and I get that it may well be, for a variety of historical reasons), then fine
The Linux (Ubuntu, etc) install experience leads to a usable desktop. Heck, the installer disc boots to a usable desktop.
Also no unsophisticated users even know the name of their favorite DE. Or what a DE is.
Requiring a text login and a shell command, even one as simple as "pkg install KDE" is a big ask for a casual user these days. Also, that command line will probably fail. :)
I write these things as a very big fan of FreeBSD! I think not catering to casual users keeps FreeBSD in a better technical place overall, but Linux is obviously much more popular. This carries risks too.