Basic Linux knowledge popularization understand the meaning of GNU/Linux (1)

"UNIX is simple, and you don't need to be a genius to understand it"

Since the term GNU/Linux is too long, if it is not specified below, "Linux" refers to GNU/Linux ".

In this age, I am afraid no one needs to introduce what Linux is? If you think "Linux is just something similar to DOS", I'm afraid you haven't seen a day in the cave for a long time? What is the status of Linux next to you?

So why should I write such an article? Because, I found that many people do not understand Linux and UNIX. Although they are using it, they sometimes ask: "Why cannot Linux be like Windows ......? "," How to Redhat Linux cannot mount NTFS partitions! "," In Linux, what are hard drives used? "," When will OpenOffice be fully compatible with Word files? "," What else can't Linux do for Windows? "......

They have 40 Gb hard disks, but only allocate 2 GB space for Linux. Sometimes they complain, "How does this occupy so many hard disks! "Windows seems to occupy most of the hard disk. They put important data in Windows partitions, and seem to be unable to trust Linux. They are always looking for novel, nice-looking GUI programs, and are dismissive of command line things. They are very interested in Drag & Drop, menu configuration, and automatic upgrade. If they find a Linux program that looks like a Windows program, they will be very happy to say: "haha! Linux ...... Now! "If Linux wins Windows in a certain test, they will jump up happily. They cannot solve the problem in Linux, or even run Windows programs using Wine. Sometimes there is no way, so we have to restart Windows, or simply save the trouble, to download a VMWare Virtual Linux in Windows.

You support Linux. If you like Linux, you can feel happy. What you need to understand now is that Linux has never been a toy and is a descendant of genius UNIX. UNIX is the greatest invention since the invention of a transistor, and it has been better than Windows since its birth. Linux does not need to catch up with Windows, and does not need to kill Microsoft. Its ultimate goal is to change the entire computer world, as well as people's freedom, to give people fun and convenience. Many other UNIX have been defeated by Linux, not to mention Windows!

If you see the above situation, it means that your thoughts have been influenced and misled by some subtle influences of Windows. You have not been able to understand the UNIX ideas that exist in Linux in essence. UNIX designer Dennis Ritchie said: "Unix is simple. it just takes a genius tounderstand its simplicity. "But I don't think so, because I am not a genius, but I am brave enough to completely delete Windows. Half a year later, I realized the ideas and benefits of UNIX. Because I believe in the belief that "Linux can do things that Windows can do, and it can do better. "

At the beginning of this section, it should be changed to: "Unix is simple, but in a world that abets Windows's misconceptions, you need faith and courage to understand its simplicity! "Let me tell you something I understand.

Microsoft's position

Microsoft's reputation in universities in Europe and the United States, especially in computer science, may be heard. I know MIT, Stanford's professor, Bell's lab expert, and even a high school computer teacher from a small European country. In their eyes, Microsoft is only a small company with no real technology, dedicated to commercial propaganda and monopoly in backward countries. This "small" does not mean that it has fewer people and less money, but that it has fewer advanced technologies.

I wrote an algorithm demo program in my last cooperation with Wang Yi. The algorithm was a brilliant invention by Steven Fortune, a scientist at Bell Labs. In order to make the program available to most people around me, we chose VC + MFC as the platform. I also received enthusiastic encouragement from Fortune when analyzing algorithms. I sent me a piece of information and wrote back several times to explain many details. However, after the program is completed, I sent the sample to Fortune. He replied, "Sorry. I am not talking about MFC on my machine. "It's very polite, but I already feel his disdain for Windows. Then I compiled the MFC static program into the program and sent it to him, so he didn't reply back. He obviously does not look down on me, but does have difficulties.

How do you feel this scientist's attitude towards Microsoft and Windows? It's not dislike, but he has no such thing as Windows! Microsoft has not developed in the high-tech field. How can it survive? When they develop in developing countries, their people still have no idea about computers. I may even be able to enter the computer department of a university. I will send them software, I will donate money to build the building, and I will give a speech to the Turing Award winner!

Now, almost all Chinese universities, including Tsinghua, are installed with pirated Win2000 and Office XP. The course selection system of the school is not IE and cannot be viewed correctly. The paper is edited by Word and presented by ppt, even 863 of projects use VC to write programs. A long time ago I saw a newspaper saying, "Why does Microsoft not crack down on piracy? "This article says that Microsoft is not only not cracking down on piracy in China, but also is laissez-faire. "I want you to pay me back more than twice in the future! "Indeed, its goal is achieved quickly.

Computer Education in China under Windows

Bill Gates was my idol a long time ago ...... // Blush

In China, Bill Gates has been regarded as a sacred "Teenage computer genius" by many people. Even some people refer to his name as "Teenage computer genius? Quot; give your fist a day. Many people talk about Microsoft's "new technology" and "high technology. Various books such as "VC Programming Bible" and "have a deep understanding of Visual C ++" will have very boring words on the first few pages. "In the chaos of that group, windows 1.0 was born as an amazing genie ...... "

How do people use these pirated programs when Microsoft software has been stolen by so many people? First, let's take a look at the computer training class, which teaches some DOS commands, typing, basic Windows operations, Word document processing, PowerPoint, and advanced classes, which may include Excel, Access ...... The number of people taking Microsoft certification exams, MCSE and MSDE, is endless, And the exam tutoring classes are posted with "280 yuan. The exam reference materials are even more expensive. Some computer bookstores use Microsoft Press on both shelves. I have a student who takes the certification exam. Each exam requires more than 200 yuan, and you will not be able to take the exam again, but you will have to pay for it. Later, he also talked with me with relish and said that I spent a four-digit XXXX record, get a signed Bill Gates certificate and a Windows XP Internal release worth RMB 6000.

"The computer is starting with the doll." Let's take a look at what the dolls learn. After most parents buy their children a computer, they will first install a pirated Windows, and then buy a pirated game to start playing. If a child uses Delphi to compile a program, that would be terrible. The newspaper reporter and television station rushed to report that the junior high school student of XX school has already used Delphi to write programs when others are still playing computer games. The camera also targeted Bill Gates in the photo frame above his display!

I didn't know what an operating system I was when I first joined the Computer Science Department in college, because I used to only use "chinamanet learning machine ". the new students talked about Windows 95 and VC "...... I think that I have been behind for decades. I can't answer any questions from them. I finally found a familiar student and asked, "What are the things you talk about every day? "A:" win95 is an operating system, which is similar to DOS. "" What is death? "" You don't even know what DOS is? Don't confuse the computer. "Of course, the school does not talk about VC programming or other things, but Pascal's teacher once said," Hi, our school is really lagging behind. Now everyone else uses C, C ++, and even VC. We are still talking about Pascal. I don't know when to have VC classes. You also need to use VC to go out, so you have to learn by yourself. "Some students often hold a very important book such as" Windows Programming Daquan "in class, and do not attend classes at all. When they eat, they will read the words and say to me, "code optimization is endless", "the Hungarian naming method is a great invention "...... This is the case of many computer departments in China.

Do you feel notified? This is not accidental, but Microsoft's long-term wishful thinking. It should make the ignorant people regard it as sacred, and it should make UNIX-supported people. Once the Xwindow people say UNIX is good, when the Xwindow is good, they will be surrounded by a group of people to preach: "This can also be done in Windows", "You are biased against Windows", "Microsoft is the mainstream", "do you dare to look down on win2k? ",". NET is the world trend "," Microsoft is a new technology after all ", and" money is a technology "...... Even after the comparison, I still want to say: "Windows performance is almost poor, but it is easy to use", "Windows is used by ordinary people, and the requirement is not so high", "Microsoft is so rich, isn't it easy to surpass UNIX in the future? "......

Computer Education in developed countries

I met a Danish student when I asked a question about the Scheme language in USENET some time ago. He solved all my problems and recommended me to read some very "esoteric" books about program language syntax and grammar. He told me that many websites can learn LISP, Scheme, artificial Intelligence and algorithms. He asked me to read Jonathan Rees's paper. He also packaged and sent me a copy of MIT's "How to DesignPrograms". He said that he installed Linux on his PC and he edited it with Emacs to run the Scheme program. He was amazed by his knowledge and interests in Emacs. His graduation design after his graduation from a bachelor's degree is a Scheme interpreter. This is beyond my reach.

He is so bored that he will answer every question in detail. I sometimes think it is too detailed. Why is it so patient? I think he seems to be my high school teacher. What kind of person is he? I inquired about him curiously. Originally, she was a computer teacher in a normal high school in Denmark! Note that I changed my personal pronoun!

She said she taught in high school program design and algorithms, computer language grammar analysis. She said that with Scheme, her students don't have to worry about the issue of pointers out of bounds, memory leaks, and other programming languages, but focus on the problem and the algorithm itself. It is conducive to cultivating students' ability to solve problems, especially the ability to solve mathematical problems with computers.

Oh, my God! Why are there so many mathematicians and physicists in Europe? You can see what others are paying attention! If our computer education continues like this, it will only go further and farther along the detour!

The wishful thinking of Microsoft and its friends

Let's take a look at how Microsoft's revenue came from. First of all, Windows 98 series operating systems, one is more than 100 US dollars, each upgrade is almost the same price. Windows NT is several times more expensive, and there are limits on the number of users, 5 Users, 10 users ...... In the future, if you want to increase the number of users, you have to pay in proportion. This strange phenomenon is compared to the president of General Motors: "The Microsoft car you bought has only one seat at the beginning. You have to pay the car company for each seat you add, an overhaul is required every 100 miles, and an engine change is required every year. "

Can an operating system that has spent so much money to buy be used? It is not even provided by the compression program! After you install Windows, the first thing to do is to download a WinZip file. "for $29", Windows will be infected with viruses. please buy a Norton AntiVirus for $70 immediately. What about hackers? Buy another Norton Internet Security instance, for $100. The System needs to be optimized and the disk needs to be organized. Buying Norton System Works is your best solution, for $100.

But you still cannot do things right now! Do you want a Word, PowerPoint? Buy an Office XP, which is cheaper, $459.90.

Those programs won't be used! How do I set the menus? What are the functions? I can't learn it either. Buy a book and check it out. I recommend "Special Edition Using Microsoft Office XP", which is not expensive, $27. 99. in this book, most of them are screen capturing, or it is more cost-effective to buy an old one, $17.85.

If you were just a secretary, the above would have gotten together. But you have a higher pursuit, and you want to become a Windows programmer. First, buy a Visual Studio. NET, or compile the program. $494.95.

In order to keep up with Microsoft's trend and the world's trend, can't you register an MSDN or something? This is more expensive, but it is worth some money. $2,799.

Well, you are now a white-collar. Now you can live a "free", "secure" life like this # what can be done by Windows but cannot be done by Linux?

"What Windows can do but what Linux can't do is what it doesn't need to do. "

A friend said that I didn't use Windows for six months, and sometimes asked me, "You only use Linux. Have you found that some things that Windows can handle cannot be done by Linux? "

I replied: "What Windows can do but Linux cannot do is what you don't need to do. "

What Windows can do is what Linux can do.

Some features in Windows are really what we need, so Linux developers and users also need this feature, they will implement this feature, and it is much better than Windows. Most scientists and engineers use Linux or some commercial UNIX, so almost all commercial scientific engineering programs, such as Matlab, Mathematica, AutoCAD, Candence, Synopsys, Avant! ...... All of them are UNIX versions, including Linux), and then consider porting to Windows, or even not porting to Windows at all, because Windows machines generally do not have enough capacity to run such a program. Do not think that PSpice is available only for Windows. It is much better for UNIX to use it, and it can run on large hosts. Of course they are not free, but they are worth that price.

However, some things in Windows are not very similar in Linux, or you find many similar things, but each of them is much worse than that in Windows, there are two possible reasons:

There is a similar program, but it is ignored because it is not beautiful at first glance. While other programs look pretty, they are written by some beginners. Now, due to the birth of Gtk + and Qt, it is extremely simple to develop graphical interfaces in Linux. Many junior high school students and even primary school students can compile some pretty useless programs. If you pick such a program all day long, you will never be satisfied with it.

I have also made such a mistake. I have ignored the excellent FVWM, lftp, Mutt, and wget! When I retrieve them, I am so ashamed. They are now my friends. With these programs, you can change everything about them, the first time I saw FVWM, I thought it was just something with a thick and ugly border. But now, my classmates all said, "Wow! Pretty. "

There is another completely different way to achieve the same goal, or even better.

Many people are very concerned about Open Office, Star Office, AbiWord ,...... They hope that one day a Linux program can open a complex doc file completely compatible. But you will never have that day. Why? To take advantage of the market, Microsoft will not allow programs in other systems to be fully compatible with its document format! It will change the internal structure of the doc file and hide some secrets, so that other company programs will always have some problems when opening the doc file, so you must purchase Microsoft Office and Windows.

You should think about it. Many high-IQ university professors, scientists, and students all use Linux or other types of UNIX, and they do not have Word availability. How to Deal with documents? There has been no Open Office program for so many years. Is there no way to write documents?

Obviously not. Look at the high-level academic journals, papers, university professors webpages, and beautiful PDF slides. What did they do? It turns out that UNIX users already have very convenient things such as troff, LaTeX, and SGML that can process documents, and they are much better than Word. Word is clearly ignored by these giants, so that no one has long wanted to develop a Word-like program in Linux, unless some companies want to compete for Microsoft's job.

Many people keep Windows on their hard disks only because they use Word and PowerPoint. You can check my TeX webpage later and you will know why I can leave Windows completely.

What Windows can do is useless. Linux will never do well.

Computer games

Some people say that Linux cannot play all the games that Windows can get. Indeed, although there are a small number of games in Linux, such as Quake, there is no Counter Strike, no Star Craft ,......

It doesn't mean that computer games shouldn't be played, but it should be appropriate. A computer is a tool used to handle transactions, help you learn and solve problems, rather than a toy! If you indulge in computer games all day without going out and feeling the outside world, you will become increasingly cold and less humane. You and the real world are getting farther and farther away.

You can kill people in CS, You can explore in Tomb Raider, you can even skate in TonyHawk's Pro Skaters ...... But It's not real! Although you have high "counter-terrorism skills", you are so timid when encountering gangsters. Although you control Laura's agility, how do you always get broken when playing basketball? Although you can easily make a " kickflip to hangten grind to fakie" in THPS, you won't be ollie when you step on your own skateboard!

If you occasionally play computer games. However, there are far better gaming methods than Windows + PC. Sony's PlayStation2, SEGA's DreamCast, Nintendo's N64, Namco's arcade ...... Every game is better than a Windows game, and every game has such high 3D performance that Pentium4, Itanium + GForce4 cannot beat them!

Linux users are all concerned about solving key issues in the world. Where do they have time to play games on their own machines? Every day, they use Linux to efficiently finish their work and enjoy it in the sunshine. Playing games is also an intellectual game like pushing boxes and greedy snakes. So, do you know why Linux has almost no game?