yoink

[gfish]

I'm not usually much for memes, but this looks like fun.

1. Pick something on my interests list that you also like. Why do you like it?
2. Pick something on my interests list that you don't like. Why don't you like it?
3. Pick something that is on my interests list that surprises you. Why does this surprise you?
4. Pick something that is on my interests list that you know next to nothing about. What do you *think* it is?
5. Pick something that you think should be on my interests list. Why do you think it should be there?

Comments

[gfish.livejournal.com]

4. Yes, grep is a unix tool for finding instances of patterns in files. It is both simple and amazingly powerful, a combination I find very sexy. By itself, I think it makes an excellent case for the continuing utility of command line interfaces. It summarizes everything I like about the unix paradigm. Plus it's just a fun little word.

5. Ooooo, that looks like a wonderful class. I wish I could take it. I don't think I have a broad enough range to legitimately claim 'ancient technologies' as a whole, but I'll think hard about adding it if I get into a couple more. And I've already been thinking it would be interesting to try making a bow... and with the smithing I could do a crossbow. Hrm. Maybe I should just add it now. :)

[grinninfoole.livejournal.com]

What is a command line interface? You mean like those old DOS interfaces? And what, exactly, is the UNIX paradigm?

[gfish.livejournal.com]

Like those, but not sucky. :)

(The following contains simplifications. And I certainly don't claim unix is perfect, etc. The pedants out there can hold their tongues.)

Everything in unix is a file (or a stream of text). This makes combining tools and scripting actions amazingly simple. It has a graphical interface (several, in fact!) but the command line is still the real interface. It is also designed to be multi-user, and has a sane separation of applications and OS functions, making it more secure and stable.

[grinninfoole.livejournal.com]

So, once one learns the language, programming becomes a matter of grammar and editing? I can dig that.