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   kinoko ? (kinoko@raru.re)'s status on Monday, 11-Sep-2023 21:12:48 JST kinoko ?

   My mum wants to learn programming as a hobby, but she’s very computer illiterate and while I think Automating The Boring Stuff With Python could be a great book for her, I’d like her to learn what files are in her OS, what does OS even mean, what is a browser and how it works, what are programs and what is a terminal interface, how to search for things properly on the internet, how to distinguish fake news and info from legitimate, how email works, etc without too many technical details. She doesn’t know what any of this means and I’m afraid that it’s going to be a stumbling block. I know that libraries probably offer something like this but she definitely wouldn’t attend a course, so it needs to be a book or an online course.

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     翠星石 (suiseiseki@freesoftwareextremist.com)'s status on Monday, 11-Sep-2023 21:12:45 JST 翠星石

     in reply to
     @kinoko You need to install GNU or give her a computer with GNU and also install all of GNUs fine software, like GNU emacs.
     
     Trisquel GNU/Linux-libre is a nice easy to use OS, but it doesn't prevent you from firing up GNU bash and carrying out advanced actions and programming.
     
     You probably want to show her how to use GNU bash and bash scripting and then she'll be able to easily learn the rest if she chooses too.
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     kinoko ? (kinoko@raru.re)'s status on Monday, 11-Sep-2023 21:12:46 JST kinoko ?

     in reply to

     She’s a scientist but she’s somehow managed to only use Word, Excel and SPSS, her work email of 20 years, doesn’t use the phone for anything but calling or messaging and doesn’t know how to close apps and things in her phone. I’m sure the programming aspect would be fine, but she really has to learn how various things work in her computer as well. Of course, I would also teach her, but it would be great if there’s something to get her started.

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     翠星石 (suiseiseki@freesoftwareextremist.com)'s status on Monday, 11-Sep-2023 21:26:54 JST 翠星石

     in reply to
     @kinoko I'm not sure what you mean by "using Linux", as it has no visible interfaces - only the SYSCALL, /dev/, /proc, /sys interfaces and a few others.
     
     Linux is like the transmission of a car - a good transmission is necessary to deliver power to the driveshaft, but when it comes to the driving of the car, the steering wheel, pedals and seat etc are a lot more relevant.
     
     I took a gander at the Linux source and soon discovered that it doesn't boot if it can't find an init - it prefers to panic() instead, you need to at least combine it with systemd to make systemd/Linux.
     
     
     Trisquel is much easier to use than windows, but you do need to understand that it's not windows and GNU was written to give the users freedom and achieved despite the endlessly ongoing sabotage against it, both in software and in naming.
     
     The main reason why so many people lack basic computing skills despite using computers every day is because they tell themselves that they can't program, so don't even try using GNU bash (which isn't even programming), thus making that a self-fulfilling prophecy.
     
     rms has noted that many secretaries have learned to program from GNU emacs, as although they assumed they couldn't be programmers, they followed guides for scripting editing tasks in Emacs lisp and soon became programmers without even realizing it.
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     kinoko ? (kinoko@raru.re)'s status on Monday, 11-Sep-2023 21:26:55 JST kinoko ?

     in reply to

     My grandpa programmed and downloaded movies and books via torrents even when he was 86 so I don’t think it’s an age thing, it’s kind of like she never thought it’s worthwhile to understand so she focused on other things. However, I can tell that it’s going to be really overwhelming for her to start programming without knowing what it means to e.g write to a text file via a script, or how to search for things properly, even how to use the internet securely. If there’s something like “computers/your OS for dummies” and someone has experience with it, I’d be grateful.

     Sexy Moon likes this.