[PLUG] /usr/bin vs. c:\Program Files and a hammer (was Ubuntu Dapper ...)

Michael Rasmussen mikeraz at patch.com
Wed Mar 29 17:21:33 UTC 2006


sofar wrote:
> On Wed, 29 Mar 2006 00:14:40 -0800, Galen Seitz <galens at seitzassoc.com> wrote:
>> John Jordan <johnxj at comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Indeed, education is the key. But I still must fault Linux a bit here.
>>> Someone else said "/usr/bin" is as easy to learn as "c:\Program
>>> Files." I must disagree. It's a picky point, to be sure, but a novice
>>> will have no idea what "/usr/bin" is for. ...
>>> didn't it? I'll agree that "c:\Program Files" is not completely clear
>>> either, but it's a lot clearer than "/usr/bin."

The key here is a distinction between how easy it is to learn and how easy it is
to figure out without being told.  Both are easy to learn.  Someone may think they
know what C:\Program Files is for without being told.  A quick scan of my work
WinXP system shows 396 directories containing files with the extension exe. 
C:\Program Files is an understatement at best.

I'd assert that any one who does not know what /usr/bin is for needs to stick with
the options provided for in menus and desktop icons.  If one needs more than what
is  provided for by those visual prompts remembering /usr/bin is the least of
their worries.

side story


I have a friend who does residential remodeling. He's worked in his trade for over
25 years and has a waiting list of over a year for people who appreciate the
quality of his work.  He also teaches occasional classes at Home Depot.

I asked him what the most common fault was in students who come to his classes.
"They don't know how to hammer" was the reply.  Now really, how hard is it to use
a hammer?  That's the rub.  It has an obvious place for your hand and an obvious
surface for striking the nail or other object.  Many people see the obvious and
assume they've got the hammer all figured out.  Only they have no real clue on how
to properly use the tool.

A hammer enables easy misuse.  An OS typically doesn't.  Linux does so less than
Windows.  This is a bad thing?


--
   Michael Rasmussen, Portland, Ore, USA
  Be Appropriate && Follow Your Curiosity
        http://www.patch.com/words/





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