[PLUG] Article in Linux Today about M$ kill UNIX at Universities..

[James Pollard]

Quoting Jonathan Sergent (sergent@ETLA.NET):
> /// Jeff DeFouw <defouwj@purdue.edu>:
>  ] Many of the students have a
>  ] tough time just doing their labs and projects without worrying about
>  ] command lines... makes me wonder what they did before.  
> 
> How exactly does one intend to be a successful CS major (and/or successful
> CS graduate) without being able to learn Unix?  There are much more
> complex systems (using the word "system" in general -- not just operating
> systems) out there, and in the real world you generally have to adapt
> to new ones quite frequently.  Operating systems, languages, libraries,
> tools, networks, protocols, etc.
> 
some of the students entering the program have very little experience on
programming and probably all of their computer experience period is on the
windows platform.  expecting them to both learn how to program, learn how to
write java, learn how to use a new operating system, and learn how to use
the development tools/editors on that system all in one semester is not
realistic.  yes, they will want to know this before graduation, but that is
still far in the future (actually they will want to know it by the time they
take the follow-up courses to 180-181).  if they are capable of learning
it that fast or perhaps already know it, than i believe that all their projects
are doable on Linux/UNIX as another poster responded and i think that they
are even graded on UNIX (a roommate was a TA last year, and i believe that he
indicated that this was the case) so they are not forced to use windows.
machines were donated, software was donated that could be used at home (and
yes, most first year students probably run windows at home exclusively),
and that is a good thing.  at the very least, when they go to use UNIX they
will know that they are using a good thing in comparison to what they had
before and that alone is a reason to stay.

> I suspect that the people who can't handle Unix are the ones who end up
> not being able to handle CS in general.
> 
you are probably right.  if only we could all design software only for
programmers and still all get jobs.  eventually some of us will have to
write programs for the crummy platform that is windows, but that is a
separate subject altogether.

> At least they're not teaching C++ as an introductory programming language.
> But I personally have no trouble writing Java using Sun's tools (i.e.
> the plain old JDK, or Java WorkShop in a pinch).
> 
> I think they are teaching on Windows not because it's easier, but
> because Intel gave them machines and Microsoft gave them software.
> Has the quality of instruction dropped as a result of the switch?  Do the
> people running the courses want to be teaching on NT instead of Unix, or
> have they been asked to do so by the administration?
> 
> --jss.

those are good questions to ask, i don't think the people with the answers
are reading this list however.

-Jim