Updated 8/12/2019

An autobiographical account of using computers

Here's how I was introduced to computers—

We use specific programs to do specific things. MS word is for writing papers. MS paint is for having fun making digital drawings. Photoshop is for more serious digital paintings (and editing photos). Games r fun.

More or less, I continued to think this way even after I took my first introduction to programming class (Java in High School). I was introduced to programming using Integrated Development Environments (IDEs); large applications that aim to bring all tools necessary for writing programs together.

At a certain point, however, I began to take note of the fact that I could use different programs to edit the same sorts of files. I think I started to have these thoughts about graphics software. I realized I could use various editing softwares to do some task like resizing an image. Wow, cool!

As I thought of new things I wanted to do with computers, I became more interested in software generally (specifically free software, as in free beer because I didn't have a way to pay for stuff online). I gradually learned more about programming generally, Linux, and other related things.

All of this has been a lot of fun. It has also caused some trouble for me, working with other people and their computers. Could I help someone do XYZ in Microsoft Word? No, because I was too busy fiddling with LaTeX or Markdown. I guess I could help them Google it? More recently, by investing lots of time into learning GNU emacs, I've neglected to learn many useful things in Microsoft's Visual Studio Code, the de facto standard for web development (my day job) these days.

All of this rambling leads us to our main topic of discussion—different approaches to computing and their relative pros and cons.

Approaches to Computing

There are a lot of people like me who have messed around with a lot of programs to do a lot of things and are not so super-good at using any of them. We have fun with computers, get our work done, and are excited to play around with new technologies (or rediscover) old ones. Our abilities scale with effort, enthusiasm, and time. We "waste" a lot of time on the computer in the sense that if we just stuck with a few things, we could have gotten by with a lot less scattered know-how and hours spent fiddling with configuration files.

This leads us to another type of computer user...

The One Program Wonder

Certain pieces of software out there are very powerful. If you can use certain programs well, you can easily turn your visions in reality (and find high paying work).

Some people learn a small number of programs extremely well and don't care about the rest. Consider a digital artist/designer that makes use of Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. This person has awesome visual powers. With a Macbook pro and a big idea, they can move mountains.

This person might not know how to write a bash script, set up a printer, or install an operating system. They may call tech support for help. Are they n00b? Or, consider the hardcore gamer that concentrates on one game and plays it very well. They may not know how to do anything else on a computer, but in their domain they are an unstoppable force.

Just make it werk

Then, there are people that believe that by playing (video) games you already lose.

Some people spend as little time with computers as possible. Often, this works out just fine. These are users who can get away with replacing a laptop or a desktop computer with a tablet. For these users, the tablet does everything they would want a computer to do, plus it is generally cheaper, it is more portable, and perhaps more durable.

Using mobile devices and tablets, there is often only one way really to do things. There is a single way to do things like change settings, enter/exit the application, etc. Often this involves clicking, touching buttons, etc. For nerds, this may be terrible. They may literally lose sleep over trying to do something in a way UI/UX designers don't care about.

"Just make it werk" users may just give up with their technology and go socialize, work out, paint pictures, or do something else with their time while nerds try to pretend Macbooks are Linux machines.

Self-reflection on my after-hours computing habits

After hours, I boot up Linux (see my Arch Linux install guide), launch emacs (see my config file, and proceed to write code, prose, and everything in between. Would it be better to (1) stay in Windows, (2) use a word processor to write prose, and (3) use an IDE to write code?

For quickly getting stuff done, I think that choosing these conventional solutions would typically be better.

When I consider an activity like writing a letter, I get excited about booting up Linux, formatting things nicely in LaTeX and playing around with emacs commands. But TBH, it would be easier to just start typing in MS Word or Libre office. I can adjust fonts and stuff to make things look pretty good.

I think about the "One Program Wonder". I think about the "Just make it werk" user. These people are doing just fine. And I'm taking three times as along as I need to to finish some task. But you just wait! The next time I have to do something similar, I'll be faster!

...unless I'm messing around with some new software/configuration again.