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Software I’m thankful for (2021)

crawshaw.io

411–420 of 530 posts

Re: Software I’m thankful for (2021)

#413
post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use Linux as my main OS for some years now, but use Mac and Windows, mostly because I need to test my software on them, but I have to say: I totally agree. Windows is the only practical desktop OS for most people. Mac is not an OS you can use unless you buy the entire package, and then you have to live with many of its limitations. It absolutely sucks at multitasking (not that most average users care about this one…

> Linux is absolute freedom, but that comes with the cost of having to do much more than install, plug and play. You need to be a computer geek, or you need someone else to fix things for you. Hard disagree. Linux works extremely well for the person that only does basic computing. My mother, for instance, used Linux for years. Folks that need to do things like recompile a kernel in 2022 are way in the tail end of the…

A few years ago I installed CentOS (because it was supposed to be one of the most stable distros at the time) and my mom was happy using LibreOffice to make her documents. I taught her how to update the system and everything was well until one day she told me she could not update the system because the update program was gone. I thought the shortcut was misplaced or something, but actually CentOS had a bug where the graphical update utility uninstalled itself with one of the updates. I wonder how computer illiterate people are supposed to fix something like this without assistance :)

Re: Software I’m thankful for (2021)

#414
post #325

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Snapshots and device pools are my favorites. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZFS#Features I use snapshots for personal backups, but on BTFS, and it's amazingly simple. 2 LOC: Rsync home to drive and make snapshot.

is BTFS production ready? as in, is it stable these days?

I am using it for years and ceased to run into problems about 3 years ago. Production ready as in building a business on it. I would not. Storing your personal important stuff (and have backups in place): yes. Unimportant personal stuff: also very much yes.

Re: Software I’m thankful for (2021)

#415

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>All Microsoft products are free of charge if you know where to look for them. God no. I draw a hard line at pirating executable code. I forget where I read it but a not insignificant percentage of pirated software contains malware, and I don't know about you, but having my bank or brokerage account compromised would cost exponential orders of magnitude more than any software licence. Hell, I'm concerned enough about…

>I forget where I read it but a not insignificant percentage of pirated software contains malware, That just means you don't know where to look. >having my bank or brokerage account compromised would cost exponential orders of magnitude more than any software licence. I agree. For anything that's important, especially if it's mission-critical or commercial in nature, go the legit way. Handing Microsoft some cash mean…

You're missing his point.

Downloading any illegal software can compromise your email and bank accounts and basically ruin your life. It only takes one.

Re: Software I’m thankful for (2021)

#416
Lots of mine (like git and vim) have already been mentioned, so here's some different ones

The Elm compiler, for giving me a welcoming on-ramp into functional programming. It's not the best nor my favourite, but its by far the most beginner friendly and is worth all developers learning for how it changes the way you think.

ed, whichever implementation you chose. And that's precisely what I'm thankful for. It showed me (via Michael W Lucas's book) that a software program can be fully specified, that you can have the entire spec in your head, and that you can just pick up any compliant implementation. So very refreshing.

Re: Software I’m thankful for (2021)

#417

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Vim's great. So great that I essentially use Vim on Emacs.

If vim is great why most popular question about vim is "How do I exit Vim?" - https://stackoverflow.com/questions/11828270/how-do-i-exit-v...

Because Vim is a power tool that must be learned. You cannot "just use it". Would you say the UX of an airplane is bad because you have so many knobs and buttons and have to learn how to use them before flying?

Re: Software I’m thankful for (2021)

#419
post #366

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do get that the fact you can't Cmd-Tab between windows of an app as well as apps is annoying.

There's always Cmd-` (backtick) to cycle through an app's windows. Easy with the key being just above the tab key.

Yes, but on Windows the same shortcut (Alt-Tab I think?) does both and I'm pretty convinced that is better - especially with full screen apps (windows) on the Mac.

Re: Software I’m thankful for (2021)

#420

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I forget where I read it but a not insignificant percentage of pirated software contains malware, That just means you don't know where to look. >having my bank or brokerage account compromised would cost exponential orders of magnitude more than any software licence. I agree. For anything that's important, especially if it's mission-critical or commercial in nature, go the legit way. Handing Microsoft some cash mean…

You're missing his point. Downloading any illegal software can compromise your email and bank accounts and basically ruin your life. It only takes one.

Illegal software in and of themselves are not dangerous.

What is dangerous is software sourced from dubious origins, regardless legality.

What is life-ruining is using illegal software in situations where you absolutely do not want to be on the hook for liability.

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