Tutoring computer science, you need to be aware of operating systems.  The tutor uses Windows, but also Linux – specifically, Ubuntu.

Linux is, as I understand it, a free, open-source operating system.  I got my Ubuntu off the net for free, burned it onto a CD Rom, and booted it up.  It opened a whole new world.

To me, it’s not (only) the free price that makes Ubuntu attractive.  I also have two Windows 7 computers, plus an old XP one.  I don’t know what the Windows operating system actually costs, because the way I get a new Windows system is that I buy a new computer.  For how much we use our computers, I think Windows is a pretty good deal.

My computers that run Ubuntu Linux are over ten years old.  I don’t think they have the resources to run Windows 7 smoothly; they had a hard time running Vista.  Yet, they run Ubuntu like a top.

In my experience, Ubuntu comes with Perl built right in. It also comes with the gcc c compiler.  Loading another compiler is, in many cases, a one-line command.  So to a programmer, Ubuntu is very convenient.

There are some tasks that still seem easier with Windows.  Some hardware is more difficult to run from a Linux system.  My wife only uses Windows or Mac.

For me, the built-in programming facilities – plus the availability of numerous other ones with a simple command – is very attractive.  For that reason, I really like Ubuntu Linux.

I’ll be discussing more about Linux in coming posts:)

Jack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane, Campbell River, BC.