While using Linux for exclusively for the past 5 years, I've been exposed to the concept of Open Source software (open-source software).
Open Source software is that it is free, and comes with source code.
In brief, Open Source is software that sets you free. Over the past 10 years I have used Debian Linux and FreeBSD, having installed it on low end PC computers. As well, I have installed Knoppix on PCs on which Window XP would not installed.
So my computer experience would be considered to be advanced and extensive by a few people. Though, I view my experience as intermediate, since there is so much more to learn.
As an advanced computer user, I would have no exclusive preference for any kind of operating system since I would feel comfortable using Linux, OS X, Windows, Solaris, BSD, and Unix.
Thus am I thankful that my experience with open source software has set me free.
Showing posts with label UNIX. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UNIX. Show all posts
20080222
Update on my Reading as of 2008
Last Friday, Feb. 22, 2008 I just got up, and still feel tired. Five hours of sleep does not cut it for me. More than likely though, I'll be either having a coffee, black with lots of sweetener, later on or just buy a Red Bull and wake up.
Although I had taken out from the Burnaby Public Library three books on computers, my lack of enthusiasm is annoying. I thought for sure that I'd be more serious about learning Python, but the Essential Reference book by Beazley does not inspire me.
As well, I thought that my rediscovery of Gancarz's The UNIX Philosophy would inspire me to write my own UNIX manifesto. Even Graff & van Wyk's Secure Coding gets the programmer's creative juices flowing.
I suppose then that I am just another script kiddie, which sucks majorly. :"(
Later on that weekend I started reading from Gancarz's book and Graff & van Wyk's with no problems, but because Beazley's book is example only rather than a cookbook, it's slow-going.
Though I did find a few websites on my two favorite programming languages, Ruby and Python.
Here is Gancarz's UNIX Philosophy in a nutshell:
"In 1994 Mike Gancarz (a member of the team that designed the X Window System), drew on his own experience with Unix, as well as discussions with fellow programmers and people in other fields who depended on Unix, to produce The UNIX Philosophy which sums it up in 9 paramount precepts:
Small is beautiful.
Make each program do one thing well.
Build a prototype as soon as possible.
Choose portability over efficiency.
Store data in flat text files.
Use software leverage to your advantage.
Use shell scripts to increase leverage and portability.
Avoid captive user interfaces.
Make every program a filter."
Mike Gancarz: The Unix Philosophy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix_philosophy#Mike_Gancarz:_The_UNIX_Philosophy
Although I had taken out from the Burnaby Public Library three books on computers, my lack of enthusiasm is annoying. I thought for sure that I'd be more serious about learning Python, but the Essential Reference book by Beazley does not inspire me.
As well, I thought that my rediscovery of Gancarz's The UNIX Philosophy would inspire me to write my own UNIX manifesto. Even Graff & van Wyk's Secure Coding gets the programmer's creative juices flowing.
I suppose then that I am just another script kiddie, which sucks majorly. :"(
Later on that weekend I started reading from Gancarz's book and Graff & van Wyk's with no problems, but because Beazley's book is example only rather than a cookbook, it's slow-going.
Though I did find a few websites on my two favorite programming languages, Ruby and Python.
Here is Gancarz's UNIX Philosophy in a nutshell:
"In 1994 Mike Gancarz (a member of the team that designed the X Window System), drew on his own experience with Unix, as well as discussions with fellow programmers and people in other fields who depended on Unix, to produce The UNIX Philosophy which sums it up in 9 paramount precepts:
Small is beautiful.
Make each program do one thing well.
Build a prototype as soon as possible.
Choose portability over efficiency.
Store data in flat text files.
Use software leverage to your advantage.
Use shell scripts to increase leverage and portability.
Avoid captive user interfaces.
Make every program a filter."
Mike Gancarz: The Unix Philosophy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix_philosophy#Mike_Gancarz:_The_UNIX_Philosophy
20071029
What Windows Really Is
From Windows as a GUI over DOS to DOS-less NT, then later XP, and onwards to Vista, this product has basically merged the MSDOS kernel into the GUI, mostly to inculcate the "point-and-click" mindset first fostered with Apple Mac.
However, development of the X Window System happened independently of the influence of Xerox Alto on Mac OS, and Microsoft's license of certain aspects of Macintosh user interface from Apple.
Then through aggressive marketing, Windows came to dominance.
In response, Mac OS became Unix-like in 1999 with the release of OS X.
References:
History of Mac OS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Mac_OS
History of Mac OS X: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Mac_OS_X
History of Microsoft Windows: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Microsoft_Windows
History of X-Window System: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Window_System#History
However, development of the X Window System happened independently of the influence of Xerox Alto on Mac OS, and Microsoft's license of certain aspects of Macintosh user interface from Apple.
Then through aggressive marketing, Windows came to dominance.
In response, Mac OS became Unix-like in 1999 with the release of OS X.
References:
History of Mac OS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Mac_OS
History of Mac OS X: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Mac_OS_X
History of Microsoft Windows: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Microsoft_Windows
History of X-Window System: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Window_System#History
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