How I Learned To Love Linux! And You Could Too!
So, I’ve been on my tech journey. And on my journey, I’m forced to work on new thing all the time, and make interesting investments.
The best investment I’ve bought is a physical copy of a book that stays on my desk at all times — ITF + CompTIA IT Fundamentals.
This book has been awesome in helping me understanding up to date technologies and breaking in down in a simple way. It goes through all relevant aspects of IT — hardware, operating systems, networking, security, troubleshoot methods, and software development.
My favorite part of IT is operating systems.
I love working within the various operating systems — like Windows 10, MAC OS, Linux!, Android, and iOS.
The chapters in the book break it nicely like what is a operating system, and what each one does.
One definition is that “An OS provides an interface between user and machine,” ITF + CompTIA IT Fundamentals, pg. 107
Another is that an “OS enables coordination of hardware components,” ITF + CompTIA IT Fundamentals, pg.108.
The book says that each hardware device speaks a different language, but a operating system can talk to and manage them all through translation files called device drivers.
Through the chapters you’re educated on the most popular operating systems in use today and in the past such as Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS.
Personally, right now I’m using a Windows 10 laptop, which is super surprising cause in high school — I primarily used MACs. I was super MAC user, hated using Windows.
Why?
Because I used to download old school games like Sonic the Hedgehog. While downloading, I downloaded one to many viruses on my parents’ Windows XP machine. It kinda scarred me. And I didn’t like using Windows till they pivoted toward a user friendly UI with Windows 8/ 8.1.
A couple years ago I decided to try my mom’s computer with Windows 10. And loved the experience. It reminds of using mobile friendly OS.
Last year, I decided to expand my prowess and proficiency in using operating systems. Here’s what I did:
- I bought a cheap Dell Latitude running Ubuntu Linux
- Bought a Linux course with a focus on a command line interface
- Bought a Android phone
- Studied Windows Powershell
In the future, I want a Window 11 machine and another Mac again
My favorite operating system to date is Windows 10 and Linux.
Linux, Linux, Linux… I love Linux -it’s so different. The biggest difference is using the command line over the GUI. If you don’t know what a GUI is — it’s basically on your desktop. Linux has icons, however it’s really known for the CLI. What’s a CLI — think about the Matrix — A CLI looks like the crawling screen in the Matrix. It controls everything in the operating system. Linux is fully customizable — you change the look of it, create cool scripts, change certain internals of the operating system as well. The amount of creative freedom and expression surpasses Windows or Mac… No wonder why developers love it so much.
I’ve personally lived all my life with electronics, always staring at screens, so transitioning into IT isn’t a surprise. Going into this industry — I’ve developed certain principles that have remained unchanging.
For example, in the entertainment industry, storytelling is an universal principal that everybody needs to know (from the interns to higher level producers)
A simple eye opening principle of the IT industry that I learned is the synergy of hardware and software.
When learning about basic computers — you always start off with hardware.
Why?
Cause you can’t build software without good hardware.
You need a powerful and compatible machine to run good software.
Now, even though I love learning about software and operating systems and video games and A.I. — the books always started with hardware.
And you need to understand the system as a whole as well as it’s components such as a CPU, RAM, motherboards, and PSU (power supply). (I spent many, many understanding CPU’s).
That’s the Yin and Yang of computers — the two elements, hardware and software.
It’s the foundation of IT.
You can’t have one without the other.
