In a comment in another diary, I posted:
I've founded a new dkos group that may prove useful...to people concerned about computer safety. It's called "Senior Linux." The primary goal, if the group ever gets going, is to develop an operating system that's friendly to senior citizens. From large fonts and guides to things like Medicare and social security all the way to maybe a "Where Did I Likely Leave My Glasses" app.
But a secondary benefit is that, after probably basing the first distro on another distro, I'd like to do a "Linux From Scratch" based distro where everything is user compiled. Probably wouldn't keep out a well-funded, really determined adversary, but it might make them work at it.
Page down below the orange anti-macassar if you'd like to see more.
Talking about computers and operating systems on dailykos is like talking about water with all the other fishes. We all use computers and operating systems to get here. After all, if you are reading this online, you managed to get here. So why change what works? And since talking about change to older folks is supposedly pointless, why bother?
Why? Because I don't think it's pointless at all. And I'm no spring chicken. There are two negative words in paragraph two already. And paragraph two is where tradition (or at least my tenth-grade composition teacher) says the usual festivus-like airing of grievances is supposed to go. But let's skip that for now and get right to how Linux works.
My favorite TV mini-series so far is the BBC production of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Even the opening and closing credits are worth watching. (In fact, for some people, that may be the best part.) And those of you that have seen the opening of a TTSS episode may recall the striptease of the nesting-Russian-dolls sequence:
That opening sequence is Linux. Rather, it's a GNU-Linux distribution. What's GNU, you may ask? What's a distribution? Is that the same as a distro? (yes). Patience grasshopper. All that will come in due time. But first, let us start at the end. If you are able to view the video you will note that the final doll is faceless and small and at the center of everything. In GNU-Linux the faceless center doll is the Linux kernel. The kernel is not GNU-Linux. It is Linux.
It is OK to use Linux to refer to more than the kernel, and most of the time that's what most people do. So shall we, but that's for later. Right now, it's time to bring the newcomers up to speed.
Where it began: Linus Torvalds and UNIX had a baby and it's name was rock and roll. Oops wrong cultural reference. :::Re-boot::: UNIX, like many cool things, started at The Phone Company. And C was there. C was the midwife that delivered baby UNIX. C is a programming language. It also started at The Phone Company.
C back then looked like this:
main()
{
printf("hello, world\n");
}
Later, C put on weight and now looks more like this:
#include
int main(void)
{
printf("hello, world\n");
}
Both programs do the same thing: show the words, "Hello world" on something. C takes things literally and the actual display would be:
hello, world
No caps. No punctuation at the end.
The cursor, assuming the target is a computer terminal screen, will be blinking on the next line thanks to the "\n " after the word, "World".
The good news is that if you can get a "Hello World" to run successfully in any programming language, you now know that programming can be done on your computer. But you don't have to.
Back to Linux. How do you pronounce it?
If you can't view the 6 second clip, try rhyming the first part of the word with "Sin" and then, placing a pretty much equal emphasis on both syllables, proceed from there. It'll be close enough. For us at least.
"Us" refers to the dailykos community. Specifically to the Senior Linux diaries and discussions of Senior Linux on dailykos. Or as we hep cats say, " dkos ," when typing in jargon.
Jargon is one of the reasons I wanted to do this whole Senior Linux thing on dkos. Or at least to start here. Now, one of the particular strengths of dkos is that the topic starter generally gets to set some ground rules for the subsequent discussion.
So:
The first Senior Linux ground rule on jargon is that it's OK to use it: but you ought to let people know what you're talking about. Not in every case, like the 'hep cat' reference above. And not every time for the serious stuff. But at least now and then.
The second rule of jargon at Senior Linux is that if you use it, you own it. So if a reader asks you what you're talking about, you should explain--politely. If they still don't understand, you should try again. Perhaps using a different analogy. Or another context. But please, please, please don't tell a non-trolling questioner to RTFM.
"RTFM" stands for, "Read The Fine Manual." Or, "Read The Free Manual." Or maybe, "Read The Friendly Manual." Used in that spirit, sometimes it's OK. Sometimes though, there's a different meaning attached to the letter, "F" of RTFM. A noobie (that's a newcomer) visiting a hardcore Linux developers' discussion group will often be told, "RTFM." And it's that 'different' meaning that's intended. With an "Ing" ending. Hopefully this will be friendlier place.
...
I posted a comment about Senior Linux in a recent diary about malware, and got a couple of responses. One commenter expressed a wish to see a "Tech Illiterate Linux" and to be able to run all their Windows programs in Linux. My answer:
There is WINE ... And it is supposed to let you run some Windows programs in Linux.
If I do post something about linux at dkos, it would probably be a multi-part series or a weekly. What nights would be most likely to attract people? I post a serialized novel here on Tuesdays at 8 PM and it has a rather small (but friendly and cherished) following. So much for my Tuesdays-waiting-to-be-filled-by-something-for-the-masses theory.
Another comment asked how to help and expressed a wish for a simpler Linux. I said in reply:
Senior Linux - Not Just for Seniors ... But senior-friendly. That would mean a distro that can run on the type of equipment that a person on a fixed income is likely to have. And with default typefaces (and icons) that are reasonably large but not "Fun With Dick and Jane" large. Good contrast, but not bleak nor garish.
"Simpler" is more difficult to define. Sometimes what looks simple is elegant and powerful. And difficult to program. But sometimes what looks simple is simply lacking in features. Often, if you're lucky, a program or an OS will have a 'magic trick' that lets one do all sorts of things once one knows the trick. That sort of program tends to have a fairly steep learning curve at first. But things get easier and easier because you've started to get into the programmer's head.
As for a link and helping, I'm looking to get ideas as to what day of the week would be good for people.
...
So what do you think? The only real cost is time. And it could be fun.
Are you interested?
PS, That \ is called a backslash. And since you are already programming every time you post a comment, if you try to quote that part of the diary (or if I try to edit the diary after previewing), your results will not be a \ - you have to cheat a little by typing & # 9 2 ; only squished together where you want the backslash to display.