[K12OSN] Greg reminds us to taste the soup

[Rob Owens]

I actually learned a lot about Linux systems by using GUI tools.  Then,
once I reached a certain point, I switched to CLI.  I still use GUI
tools, particularly when I'm using a function of the system that I've
never used before.

One particular example I can think of is Samba.  The huge configuration
file was overwhelming to me when I was a newbie.  So I used Swat, and I
used the Red Hat Samba config GUI (which as a newbie I found much easier
than Swat -- less options to confuse me!)  Once I had Samba working,
then I took the time to fine tune it at the command line.  And now, as
with most Linux programs that I'm familiar with, I prefer tweaking Samba
at the CLI.

So I guess I'm saying that GUI has its place.  But you're right.
Somebody in the role of technology coordinator should not be refusing to
learn any part of a computer system, particularly one so useful as the
command line interface.

-Rob

-----Original Message-----
From: k12osn-bounces at redhat.com [mailto:k12osn-bounces at redhat.com] On
Behalf Of Huck
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 2:57 PM
To: Support list for open source software in schools.
Subject: Re: [K12OSN] Greg reminds us to taste the soup

I tasted the soup...it was bitter, so I went back to the CLI ;) so far
I've yet to see many GUI tools that do things faster than someone who
knows what they are doing on a CLI...

then again my summarized feelings about GUI's are that they are handicap
devices to proliferate ignorance about HOW things work within an OS...

Mind you, I do enjoy SOME gui tools (i.e. Bulk-Adduser thing in Webmin)
But if it weren't there I would have either learned more about scripting
and rolled my own at the CLI or asked on the list for some script-fu
expert to throw out the 5 or 6 lines neccessary to git-er done ;)

If the technology co-ordinator in the article is not interested in
LEARNING the technology...what's he doing in that roll?

Dan Young wrote:
> http://gregdek.livejournal.com/14554.html
> 

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