axxackall's Journal: Linux Power Tools Quickstart

... from a course "Power Linux User Quickstart" :)

Postfix is not a tool - it's a server software. Gnome is not a tool either - it's a windowing/desktop environment.

Tools is what you use to fix something or to build something.

Here is my list of Linux Power Tools:

• bash - in Linux you really need it to choose other CLI tools;
• find - you need it to find what to fix;
• awk, sed - you need to filter what you found;
• emacs - you need it to edit config files in order to fix them;
• cvs - you need it to keep track of a history of your changes;
• lynx - that's how you find new software with fix patches;
• wget - that's the way you download new software;
• Perl, Tcl, Python - many scripts, you want to fix, are written on these languages;
• gcc, make, configure - you may or may not program on C, but you have to build lots of packages from their source;
• C - actually programming on C is always good to know;
• PostgreSQL, MySQL - it's not just a database server - it can serve your data;
• webmin, linuxconf, apt, rmp, Portage - some tools are prescripted already, chose what's better for yur system;
• iptables - protect yourself;
• Postfix, Apache, Squid, Zope, Samba, LDAP, Gnome, KDE, X11, CUPS - only now you are ready to learn not fixing tools, but what should be fixed;

Overkill?

[MarkusQ]

• emacs - you need it to edit config files in order to fix them;

Isn't this a bit like saying you "need" a nail gun to push in thumb tacks? Or may like saying you "need" an aircraft carrier to go trout fishing?

-- MarkusQ

Right tool for right hands

[axxackall]

I saw many people who learned emacs after using emacs for awhile (some - for many years). None of them returned back to using vi after spending few hours with emacs.

I know people who tried vi after using emacs - all of them have reurned to emacs and told they will never use vi again.

All people who complain about emacs have never actually tried to learn it. I reviewed many flamewars in maillists, slashdot and usenet and I never heard and rational explanation from vi-guys why emacs is worse then vi. Oppos

Re:Right tool for right hands

[MarkusQ]

Looks like I forgot to add a emoticon.

I'm not against emacs...far from it. But you have to admit (and I see in your response, you make basically this point) that saying you need it in your tool kit "because you can use it to edit configuration files" sort of understates it's utility. Just a wee bit.

Should I have said "Claiming you should learn emacs because you can use it to edit configuration files is like saying you should get a computer because you can use it to ballance your checkbook?" Same point