Topic for my Linux-usin' friends out there...

[mapsedge]

I'm trying to feel my way around Fedora 9.  Generally speaking, I don't care what operating system I have as long as I can depend on it and make my way around to do what I need to do.  That's why I like - and still hold on to - Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

I recognize, though, that those OSes' days are numbered and the future (at least as long Steve Ballmer and resource-hogs like Vista hold sway) is in free and open source OSes.

I can do most of what I need to do in Fedora as it comes out of the box, and it has an "add/remove software" tool that gives me access to just about every software imaginable so I can get what I need but don't have.  For the average user, it's a perfectly viable alternative: I could switch my kids' and wife's computers to Linux, and they'd never know the difference once they learned where the "Internet" button is.

I'm not an average user, though.  The essential difference for me between Windows and Linux is that in Windows I can assign myself and have what amounts to "root" priviledge: to install software or make system changes, I already have enough authority to do so.  In Linux, so far as I can determine, I must provide a password every time.

You could argue, so what?  What's wrong with typing a little password?, and you'd be right.  Nothing wrong with that, but my mind-set isn't there. 

Likewise, the making of system changes (like mapping drives, mounting volumes) being accomplished by editing config files?  Nope, sorry, missing that too.

I will admit that Windows has me spoiled, with a level of access and accessibility of function that in some cases may not be wise, but nevertheless keeps me moving forward and productive.  As I possess some reasonable technical expertise, I'm not likely to fuck up my computer beyond my ability to fix it, and I've grown accustomed to having the freedom to make that choice.  Sort of like smoking, but no one's ever sniffed my clothing and said, "Did you just go outside and use Linux?"

I understand some of where Linux has come from and, watching it evolve through it's various incarnations, where it's wanting to go.  "root" access and config files are its history, and thus a part of its present.

When I switched career focus from desktop to web-based applications, I had to change my mind set.  "State", for instance, was no longer available to me, so I had to learn to maintain application settings and values in other ways.  I'm pretty good at it now.

The point is, my problem isn't in the OS, but in my head.  I get it.

I guess what I'm after is a better understanding: some help changing my mind-set.* 



*  A website with a list like "If you did it this way in Windows, do it this way in Linux..." that goes beyond switching to OpenOffice and Firefox** wouldn't hurt either.
** Which I have already done on all my Windows machines in any case.

Comments

[jehosefatz.livejournal.com]

Well, from a SysAdmin mindset, assigning a user (even a SysAdmin surrogate user) full root access is bad form and bad security. You can do that in *nix, too, but I wouldn't suggest it anymore in *nix than I would in Windows.

For permissions management, I log in as myself (even on my home machines) and use "sudo" to manage getting a higher permissions level. If it's something I do all the time, I alias it or script it and source my script library in my .profile so it's always there in my shell when I log in. I save root for things that really require root and then I usually boot into single user mode to do it.

I think we've had the "black box" philosophical discussion. If not, we can have that offline when I'm in town next week and save bandwidth here.

In Linux distros, a lot of the ease of use comes from the window manager/environment you're using and there are apps to ease the pain of config management. If there's not, typically one is encouraged to write one and release it into the wild. Unless they're bundled, you have to look for them though -- *nix is a land peopled by individualists.

I would also suggest getting a copy of "Essential System Administration" (the armadillo book -- O'Reilly). I've had a copy on my work-related bookshelf since 1992. In fact, just because I was curious, I looked it up and the superuser/root access scenario is discussed on pages 5-8.

I'll see if I can drum up some resources for you re: easing the Windows withdrawal.

- Jeho

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

easing the Windows withdrawal.

That's a really good way to say it.

Thanks for the support.

[thebruce.livejournal.com]

I go both ways. There is but one thing I can do in Windows that I can't in *nix: Visio.

Fedora comes with "Dia", but it won't read or write Visio files.

Manipulating profiles and sudo is definitely the answer to the "root" problem.

Good luck :)

[jehosefatz.livejournal.com]

It's true about Visio, although there was a project in the wayback called "vsdviewer" which was headed towards *nix based Visio compatibility. I don't think it ever got stable, though.

I cheat and use Wine or VPN into a M$ Windoze box for Visio, depending on where I'm at.

- Jeho