How NOT to use Linux - Overclock.net

drelyn86 · 10-10-09

So, I read this on the Archlinux forums, and thought it might spark an interesting discussion. I feel as if this post reflects a problem with how Linux hobbyists are using their systems. Let me know your thoughts.

Quote:

10 years of linux, or how you can waste time slowly

So, not that many of you would care, but this month I have a rather odd anniversary: it was 10 years ago that I laid eyes on my first Linux ditribution, and it was the thing that "started it all" for me. I was in the 9th grade, still using Windows, but I had access to a Redhat box, and I loved it. I remember playing Sokoban a lot on it, and I seem to remember Netscape. I also remember *****X, but that was years after.
Any man would consider this a happy occasion, but I do not. Why? Because apart from some stuff that you learn as you go on, stuff that you need to learn in order to maintain your system in working condition, apart from that I feel like I've learned nothing. It's not Linux's fault, but my own, simply because I've spent years making sure that my box looks " *****in' ", and spent alot less time actually learning what I was supposed to in the first place.

So, what do I have after 10 years?
I suck at firewall-ing, I'm certaintly more pro-efficient with Ubuntu's Firestarter frontend, or even with ZoneAlarm on Windows, than I am with, let's say, PF. I'm ashamed to say that I've always chosen the easy path: no open ports on my main box, rather than learning how to configure a secure machine.
I can make Gnome look 10 times better than Vista, but I don't think I've spent more than 10 minutes inside GConf. I have used ALL mainstream aswell as less known window managers, and learned how to configure them all. All this just to be back at my first love (used Kde/Gnome before): Ratpoison!
I have made atleast 1000 different font configurations, just to fall back to Monospace which I simply love (apart from the damn # beeing italic and the @ beeing horizontally squashed instead of a nice round shape!).
I have edited so many different xinitrc's and xorg.conf's that I could print an alternative Bible in 8 point font.
I have probably written so many Xdefaults color schemes that could easily fill an alternative New Testament in the forementioned Bible.
I have changed so many wallpapers that I could cover my city in A4 paper if I were to print them.
I have switched/reinstalled distros so many times that I could make a whole happy relationship out of the spare time I wasted.
I have read and written the word "theme" so many times that I could probably do a `find /` and i'll still get less characters.
And last but not least, this was not only a waste of time, but a waste of good health. I spent time in a hospital because of the lost nights, junk food and the freaking tons of Cola drinks.

Do I feel sad about these past years? Yes and no. Yes because I wasted them instead of learning, and no because I love *NIX and I don't see myself leaving "the scene" in the near future. All I need to do is stop doing useless stuff, and I beg of you to consider doing the same.

Don't sit for hours infront of your computer setting useless stuff up, like conky bars, window manager configs and the likes. All you have to gain from this is a few thanks and a few "WOW!'s" in the Screenshot's section. That's all! You may be as ignorant as to say that you do that because "you like a nice looking box", but Linux is all about the learning. Leave the configuring as your last "TODO", or as a first only if you intend to leave it like that, because you could end up like me, with nothing to show for after 10 years. Out of experience I can say that no matter how much work you put into a theme/style/setup, you will always find something in someone else's setup that you like, and start setting stuff up again. This never ends!
I'm not that idiotic as to think that you are ALL like me, maybe some of you actually do learn stuff and don't just set stuff up, but the rest, take my advice, and use `man` as often as you can.

What I have learned is programming. I started programming in the 4th grade on a Spectrum clone, but I started doing "hardcore" programming like..6 years ago. I'm only a medium sized coder, simply because, as with Linux, I've wasted time learning a lot of different programming languages instead of concentrating on one, then moving on. That's all that I (kinda) have to show for. Why "kinda"? Because none of my codes look "professional". Sure, they work, but they lack in the efficiency/optimisation department (have a look at BareWM...lolage on me!)

I don't exactly expect any replies, this was my way of "releasing the load", but feel free to say anything you like, be it advice or sharing your own experiences.

Source: http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=81868&p=1

trueg50 · 10-10-09

Haha, very funny, and especially true of Arch linux.

EntTheGod · 10-10-09

I would love to learn from linux... but i wouldnt know where to start or how to go about it, so i mostly just waste time on it making it look nice lol

drelyn86 · 10-11-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by trueg50

Haha, very funny, and especially true of Arch linux.

Especially true of just about every distribution. Ubuntu users easily waste hours at a time learning how to configure Compiz.

This guy spent the past 10 years doing this:

The Master Chief · 10-11-09

I love linux.

Mygaffer · 10-11-09

Its an OS. It allows you run programs that allow you to get work done/have fun. So how exactly has he wasted his time? He used an OS that I assume allowed him to do everything he has wanted.

Do you have to become a sys admin to feel like you haven't "wasted time" using your OS? I just don't understand where this guy is coming from.

dharmaBum · 10-11-09

So he's upset he spent all this time configuring an X-server, instead of actually using Linux?

Jimi · 10-11-09

I use linux to basically force myself to learn how to program. On windows I'd probably waste my time playing tons of games, but when I put myself in the linux environment it sparks almost a different part of my brain that I think using more in the longrun will help me a lot more than mindless games on windows.

Honestly, you can spend forever configuring all that stuff, or you can try and just go with the litest and most basic stuff, and not care about looks. That's why I use DWM. It's just a bar with workspaces and the desktop.

-iceblade^ · 10-11-09

i agree with this...

what's the point of having freedom if you don't use it? that is a problem with Ubuntu - you feel happy because you use it and meanwhile you end up doing the same things you can do on a windows machine instead of diversifying or learning. at least Arch pushes you to learn a bit.

lich · 10-12-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by dharmaBum

So he's upset he spent all this time configuring an X-server, instead of actually using Linux?

Wow, I'm starting to get quoted, that's rather nice

.
You people need to read the entire thread, I did not spend 10 years configuring X, I'm a fairly good programmer so it was not all wasted, BUT I did waste a lot of time making UI setups. That's the only thing I regret. read the whole thread.

		Overclock.net - Overclocking.net > Software, Programming and Coding > Operating Systems > Linux, Unix
How NOT to use Linux

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)