Linux and Tacos
I had a revelation today, while my wife and I were driving home from work. While not as revolutionary as the Flux Capacitor (hey - he fell off a toilet!), it still kinda struck me thunderbolt-ishly.
Here's the deal. I never used to like Mexican food - I just have this thing about too many vegetable ingredients...anyways, I slowly came to the realization today that I'm actually beginning to like Mexican food, thanks to repeated visits to some restaurants near work. If you're daring enough (which I almost never am), and try different things, sometimes they grow on you. Right after this occured to me, I immediately thought of Linux. (leave it to a programmer to compare food and technology)
For me, Linux has been alot like Mexican food; first, I was afraid to try it. But you know how it goes, a bunch of your friends like it, and you tag along for the company. Same thing with Linux, for years, I wasn't confident enough to even look into it. But then, one fateful day I was able to get ahold of an old desktop to experiment with. The first Linux OS I ever used was Redhat Linux 9.
I was amazed at how similar it was to installing Windows 2000, except I had no clue about swap spaces and bashes. Slowly, ever so slowly, over the past couple of years (and versions and versions of Fedora Core, SuSe, Knoppix, and SLAX), I've tried more and more, and have begun to (I think) finally understand.
Oh, and it's been frustrating. Many times things don't work - I normally blame it on my impatience and ignorance. But oh - those times when it finally does do what you want, I think I begin to feel what attracts all those Linux fanatics out there.
It's almost like you personally make things go, because you have so much control over EVERYTHING the Linux system does. You open up your xterm, and suddenly the world is at your fingertips, via the simple blocky cursor. Know the right commands and you can do almost anything, and, fake or not, it really makes you feel like some movie-type mastermind.
I wish I knew more about the kernel programming - I'd love to start my own distribution, specifically geared towards Java programmers. Perhaps you've seen my posts on the modularly-cool SLAX? Well, I just haven't been impressed with its stability; again, probably owe-ing to my lack of knowledge, or incompatibility with the hardware I have available, but I've had it hang on me for no reason, cut network connections, and not even boot. I just don't think its as well-rounded as Knoppix yet (which is, in my opinion, a truly exceptional piece of software - I just wish it was more easily customizable).
I'll get there eventually, I hope. I'm just not sure if anyone will still be programming in Java when I do. ;)
Here's the deal. I never used to like Mexican food - I just have this thing about too many vegetable ingredients...anyways, I slowly came to the realization today that I'm actually beginning to like Mexican food, thanks to repeated visits to some restaurants near work. If you're daring enough (which I almost never am), and try different things, sometimes they grow on you. Right after this occured to me, I immediately thought of Linux. (leave it to a programmer to compare food and technology)
For me, Linux has been alot like Mexican food; first, I was afraid to try it. But you know how it goes, a bunch of your friends like it, and you tag along for the company. Same thing with Linux, for years, I wasn't confident enough to even look into it. But then, one fateful day I was able to get ahold of an old desktop to experiment with. The first Linux OS I ever used was Redhat Linux 9.
I was amazed at how similar it was to installing Windows 2000, except I had no clue about swap spaces and bashes. Slowly, ever so slowly, over the past couple of years (and versions and versions of Fedora Core, SuSe, Knoppix, and SLAX), I've tried more and more, and have begun to (I think) finally understand.
Oh, and it's been frustrating. Many times things don't work - I normally blame it on my impatience and ignorance. But oh - those times when it finally does do what you want, I think I begin to feel what attracts all those Linux fanatics out there.
It's almost like you personally make things go, because you have so much control over EVERYTHING the Linux system does. You open up your xterm, and suddenly the world is at your fingertips, via the simple blocky cursor. Know the right commands and you can do almost anything, and, fake or not, it really makes you feel like some movie-type mastermind.
I wish I knew more about the kernel programming - I'd love to start my own distribution, specifically geared towards Java programmers. Perhaps you've seen my posts on the modularly-cool SLAX? Well, I just haven't been impressed with its stability; again, probably owe-ing to my lack of knowledge, or incompatibility with the hardware I have available, but I've had it hang on me for no reason, cut network connections, and not even boot. I just don't think its as well-rounded as Knoppix yet (which is, in my opinion, a truly exceptional piece of software - I just wish it was more easily customizable).
I'll get there eventually, I hope. I'm just not sure if anyone will still be programming in Java when I do. ;)
posted by James at
10:37 PM
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