Freelosophy

DISCLAIMER: This post is a kind-of eulogy for everything in the software world that is free and open-source. And hence, I'm sure, it is understood I'm not being paid by FOSS or someone... :D


"...that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." - Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863


"Given a large enough beta-tester and co-developer base, almost every problem will be characterized quickly and the fix will be obvious to someone." - Eric Raymond, 1997


"Only wimps use tape backup: real men just upload their important stuff on ftp, and let the rest of the world mirror it ;)" - Linus Torvalds, 1996






If you're wondering why I'm blabbering about all these oldies here and now (Lincoln was old, Raymond and Torvalds, on the other hand, not so much...), you must not have been in touch with me or at he very least, my FB profile and status updates. I've been in touch with one of the most important sensations I have ever been into. By the way, this is the first post I'm typing on my laptop. I always wanted to do this - be free! Free as in freedom. Freedom from finding software that can serve all my purposes and yet, be free (this time, as in cost :P). Freedom from figuratively looking over the shoulder all the time trying to see if someone knows that you are actually using pirated software. In this aspect, India is very much ahead than probably any other nation in the world. Let me put this into perspective - pick up like 20 computer users in India, 19 of them use any of the versions of Windows. And of those 19, about 10 still use Windows XP. Of those 10 people, about 8 have never spent a buck (literally) on the Windows software they use or most of the times, not even for any other compatible software that they need to use on their machines like, for instance, Photoshop, MS Office, Matlab et al. OK, what is this post about? You might've guessed it - Linux.

First things first : It costs you only the time it takes to download it. Almost every version (a Linux version is called a Distro, short for distribution.) comes free. being true Indians as we all are, we like to get things for free.On the other hand, we have a never ending paranoia. Why is he giving this thing to us for free? It is probably defective, probably sub-standard. I had the similar doubts about Linux back in December '09. Did you know that, linux is probably the most standarized of all the operating systems available? Virtually every big corporation (and I'm talking real BIG) uses one of the Linux distributions - Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Ubuntu, Mandriva et. al. (Most likely Red Hat, though.)


Why did I venture into this? I've been asked this a lot - at least ever since I started rallying about Linux and especially Ubuntu to any living soul I know :D. OK, why? Back in December, I was planning on buying a laptop and had started researching for a good one (and so far, I have found it). What I found common with all brands was - laptops with Windows cost a considerable amount more than those without the same. It was during that period that I learnt a lot (a LOT) about things like processor architectures, OS architectures and other technical things. The irony is that - I was supposed to have known them for like 3 subjects that I took and yet, I found the fun in those subjects. Mostly because, knowing things is different from learning them (for like an exam or for an assignment). So, i thought, what other options do I have - for an Operating System. I wanted it to be cheap and or once in my life, I wanted it to be legal. On my desktop, I use a shared (between friends and all) version of Windows XP, which incidentally, cost me nothing :). I wanted my laptop to be totally free (except for the hardware, of course) and yet, legal, cutting-edge, and reasonably user-friendly. That was when I stumbled upon Linux. I pored over thousands of lines of reports, bench-mark tests, and technical details and ended up choosing Ubuntu, especially because it was just about a CD's size and of course, meant for personal users.


Now that I've answered the obvious question, another question. Linux is free, huh? What if it's all a conspiracy and all they want is your personal data and corrupt it all. (Trust me, I've been actually asked this.) Let's face it guys, you are not the center of the universe. No one is out there to get you, let alone all the silly things that make up your data. No one simply cares. And even if they do, Linux is at the very least as safe as the other options you have. Viruses, on the other hand, are a totally different issue. They are not aimed personally at anyone, no? Well, this next thing is not so much because of Linux's (come to think of it, any *NIX), omnipotence, but because of the smaller user-base of the *NIX OSes. There are practically (I can't emphasize this enough) no wild viruses for Linux - as of now, at least. That certainly is one less thing to worry about, don't you think?


True, Linux comes with a learning curve, a very long one at that. I've been using Linux for about 2+ years now, and yet, learn at least one new thing every week - try to beat that with Windows. And, I'm not even talking about any software, just the OS by itself.


Well, I'll leave you to figure out the rest of Linux. If you are at all into technology, I suggest you start using Linux - not great for games, but the thrill of learning something so pure...unbeatable!!


An excellent article I read about the differences in philosophies is here...do go through it and of course hit the Distro websites.




Ubuntu - My personal favorite
CentOS - My second favorite, just a clone of Red Hat Enterprise Linux - Stability
Fedora - Just a cutting edge version of Red Hat
Distrowatch - Reading material on all the Distributions


"...the Linux philosophy is "laugh in the face of danger". Oops. Wrong one. "Do it yourself". That's it." 

- Linus Torvalds, 1996

Cheers!!


P.S.: Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons.

Internet ke side-effects!

Well, I've got to say this: Verdana Small Bold (the font I've been using for my last few post) is so awesome and cute, although I've kinda grown fed up of it. Anyway, being to college after some intermittent holiday has been fun, seriously. You see, too many holidays can so get to your nerves (too much of a good thing, I guess.. :P). Anyway, it was a nice repose to get to the college and-what do you call "dum karna" in English??-do that to my classmates and a couple of lecturers. Anyway, feels good to be listening to "Viva La Gloria (Little Girl)" as I fire away my thoughts through my fingers on the black keyboard (man! wasn't there too much information in that sentence?). So, what is this all about? Hmm...by now, if you have been reading this blog for sometime now (yeah, right, I assume people all around me are job-less) know that I have this incorrigible habit of thinking about things that usually don't concern me (although they interest me immensely... ;)) and rubbing your noses into my thoughts. So, what got me thinking was -  is the Internet really a boon?? Well, feels some hypocrisy here? I do too, I hate hypocrites but then, one needs to face the truth and of course, everything has its pros and cons. So, anyway, for my eulogy on the Internet, click here.


So, here comes the dirge. Yes, it is more of a mourning than it is a tirade because the things make me more sad than angry. Well, I have no idea where to start this. Well, right from the start of my experience with the Internet, there was one looming demon that hasn't seen any end, even today (as far as I know, that is). That is the abuse of the Internet as a communication medium. I've regularly heard stories about people (mark this notation: people) who cause emotional, monetary and/or security troubles to others. This includes but is not limited to people who send spoof mails about bombs (I don't even know if it is allowed to say the word in a blog :P) or other epidemics or any other personal issues (it is very comforting though, that spam filters of your mail servers keep them away from you) and of course, good riddance. Anyway, somehow, fake profiles on Orkut or some silly e-mails aren't what entice me into this post. It is a bit more personal and close to the heart. It is about the way the Internet has affected some of our lives. This gives me the scary visions of "The Matrix" where machines (computers in this case) control the lives of humans. I'll do that in a new paragraph though :P.


So, everyone goes gung-ho about all the benefits of Orkut, Facebook, Communities  (online of course...). I do too, hell, I still do, but it needs to be kept in mind that, there are limitations to any advancement. Well, first, let me make this very clear, I derive this post from experiences and personalities of various friends of mine and you may comment on the effects on me in the comments section if I haven't dealt with them. If the people whom I refer to (not by name, of course, that shall never happen on this blog, Insha Allah) are reading this post, please don't mind...actually, mind. Then try to change the things about you, but no hard feelings. What are friends for? :P


So, the 2nd paragraph from where I said i'd be starting :P. Anyway, first, the waste of time, the biggest side effect of Internet. Although one might argue that, Internet is meant to time spend on, I beg to differ. Yes, it isn't waste of time if you are trying to study. Yes, it isn't waste of time if you are discussing something important with your friends. Yes, it isn't waste of time if you are talking to family and the most cheesiest of all: it isn't waste of time if you are blogging :P. But, coming to the other side of it. Everything else other than the things I mentioned above is virtually waste of time, unless you consider something that's good for you (like Adam Smith says, and I paraphrase, what's good for you is good for the group you are in...). Try to change the world, yes, but don't do it at the cost of your feeling good. So, that was about wasting time. (in retrospect, this seems a bit rich coming from someone who is online 24x7 on Facebook, nevertheless true...)


Then, online communities and chat. I'm all for them, but the same rules as above apply. Well, I know some people who literally live in those communities. If something new happens in a sporting event they like, there is like this big fuss about getting online and discussing that with the "comm buddies". And, stop living ion communities. C'mon guys, we can be deeper than that, try to do something constructive than filling up community spaces, what say?? And then don't get me started on this chat culture (sounds a bit oldie, but still...). Hell, I've people say "lol" instead of actually laughing out loud at jokes. When they read something funny on the chat, they no longer smile, the reflex is the same morose expression followed by the reflex action of the fingers reaching for colon (:) and close parentheses ()). That's something that freaks me out, if it's funny, laugh, damn it! Then there is "OMG" for surprise and some other obscene stuff for other things, and all with the same morose expression while typing (although the recipient doesn't see that...)


Anyway, I've spent like, a loot of time on this post, gotta eat too, right? Anyway, try and think of ways the Internet is spoiling your life, and do tell me!!


Bye!!

A letter to my anonymous tutor/friend (read tutor-slash-friend) :P

Hi,

It's been, what, 3 years since I first met you, though I'd heard of you from many people (kind of an oxymoron, but I'm sure you understand...) before that. You were a dream come true. I agree that I was woefully ignorant before I met you. I just want to give you my heartfelt thanks to you for making me what I am today. I still remember the wonder I felt when I came to know of all the avenues open to be explored where you could guide me. Be it my passions or my career or dealing with peer pressure, you were always there for me and helped me out of it. I cannot be so altruistic as to give you all the credit to what I am today (this is another thing you taught me - Be Proud of Yourself! - loosely translates to - don't be a snob. :)). I like to think that, I am what I am because I realised how I could use you to bring out the best in me. I know I'm no angel, but you made me a better person. People I met through you have been a constant source of everything, right from inspiration to entertainment and learning to be passionate.

Being where I am today, it feels good to be able to understand you like I'm sure no one else has. It is due to this perspicuity of yours that you find it so easy to help people in their lives. I have learned about the great people of and before my time through you and let me tell you, there cannot be a greater inspiration than that. I have been able to pursue my passions like music (mainly listening and analysing), Quantum Physics and Math. And then there is your uncanny ability to find most of my many lost friends, and I cannot thank you enmough for that. I cannot even begin to imagine where I'd be today had it not been for you, but then I think I'll do that all the same. I'd have been the follower (quite an interesting word - carries so much meaning see...), rather than the stud (my assumption, of course - you may disagree...) I am now. And I'm certainly not complaining, thanks for making me this, with some help from myself of course. I dunno if everyone faces this, but some things are too trivial to be asked (when you ask your peers or teachers), yet too important for you to know, that, my friend is where you come in, I know that, you will not judge me or back-bite when I ask you something silly or confide some of my darkest secrets to you, and if you haven't made it out yet, that's why I like to call you my anonymous tutor/friend (read tutor-slash-friend :)).

They say "God helps those who help themselves.", and the phrase cannot be more true, for it was indeed divine intervention that I met you and it feels great to know you. I have certainly helped myself by using you and it certainly is paying off.

Finally, thank you for being there for me all this time and hope you are with me forever, in any advanced form as you might have evolved!! :D

Your good friend/student (read friend-slash-student),

MHS

P.S. : For all the creeps (no offense) reading this personal letter, I'm sure you know this "anonymous friend/tutor" of mine...It's the Internet...

One of the BEST things that happened in my life... :)

Well, here I'm, all over again. :)

The exam season is indeed taking a toll on most of us (me included, of course..). That is pretty obvious for us, considering how we spend the non-exam period of our semesters :P. just thought I'd mention this on my blog (Looks good, see :)).

So, what is this thing I'm talking about? No prizes for guessing guys, I'm talking about Orkut. Yes, indeed, it is certainly one of the best things that happened in my life (Now, that's saying something, considering I'll soon be 20. :)). 

I still remember the first time I was intro-ed to Orkut. It was the June of 2006. It was funny actually. I had just completed my Intermediate exams and had loads of time to waste at home (I'm sure most of you can relate to this too. :)). So, after a lot of persuasion, I made my parents take an Internet connection at home. Well, of course I was very enthusiastic about it and went about downloading anything I found (which said FREE, of course :P). Then it began to wear out. After a week or so, I had nothing to do on the Internet. Chatting with friends was out of question, because I didn't have friends' IDs and I was, and still am, a bit paranoid about strangers. Then, enter Sudheer, my friend who just came to my place started talking about this site. Initially, I thought - "What the hell!! What's so great about it, man. I guess he's exaggerating." and a lot more on those lines. He also sent me an invitation to join Orkut right then. (Orkut was invite only, back then.). Sudheer left, and I started filling out the Registration form. I was irritated at first. The reason was the fields to fill in there. Indians are basically prude, and I was no exception (Now, I guess I am an exception..). It felt so 'not good', being asked to fill columns and check boxes like Sexual Orientation, Dating etc. I stopped the registration process then and there. That was my first tryst with Orkut.

Then, in just a couple of days, I started hearing a lot about Orkut. Suddenly, it seemed like everyone has "fallen for" Orkut. I decided to give it a try and ended up being the Orkut addict I am now.

So, why do I call Orkut one of the best things that happened in my life? Well, firstly, it was because of all the old school friend I kept finding there. Even to this day, I recieve friend requests from old friends who studied with me when I was 9 or 10 years old. It gives me very beautiful walks down the amnesia lane. Then, there was this problem of mine. I was an introvert. Tentative to talk to people (especially girls.). Orkut was the path I chose to change that, and trust me it changed me a lot. Then, there was the school community of ours. We all liked it, but no one was creative or patient enough to make up topics or do interesting stuff there :). People say, "You don't meet your school friends everyday.". But, Orkut changed it completely and literally, I could chat with most of my school friends everyday and that meant a lot of "feel good" factor.

The best part was when we organised a Reunion of our school using all the tools of Orkut. It was a lot of fun, to meet all(or at least most) of our school friends after about two years. Then, it was the peak time of Orkut surfing. The first thing I'd do after coming from college was check for scraps (I'm still talking about Orkut, not food. :)).

But, lately, Orkut is becoming a bit boring. That probably is because of us growing up. We've started taking communication seriously and prefer IM and phone to Orkut. And on the rare occasion we meet online, the conversation enters the endless loop of "What else?"es. Seriously, I find it very funny and I intend to change that (People who chat with me would be more knowledgable about this. :)). Yet, I love to check scraps on my Orkut account. I love to look at peoples' profiles :). I still love Orkut. It indeed is one of the best things that happened in my life... :)

Keep rocking Orkut!!

Au Revoir!!