[Cialug] Learning the 'C' language

[Nathan C. Smith]

I am forever learning may way around linux.  for a newbie it is frustrating
that the graphical tools to make basic changes - network settings add
hardware etc. don't always work as they should, sometimes incomplete.  

I guess that was what I was really lacking - I want to change the network
address - where is that setting kept?
I need to add a hard drive, how do I do that?  how do I set up ppp?

Things that can be a challenge for a newbie in windows even.  A little bit
like trying to read a Spanish book to someone in French when your
understanding of Spanish is shaky and you are just learning French.

-Nate

-----Original Message-----
From: Morris Dovey [mailto:mrdovey at iedu.com] 
Sent: Friday, October 14, 2005 9:10 AM
To: Central Iowa Linux Users Group
Subject: Re: [Cialug] Learning the 'C' language


Stuart Thiessen wrote:

| Just a thought ... has the CIALUG considered offering classes to the
| community? That can be one way to encourage community interest in
| open source ideas by offering programming classes or awareness
| classes or even 'I installed Linux but now what?' classes. Those
| can help move "curious" people into potential programmers or Linux
| advocates because they are helped over the "bumps" that might block
| them from continuing their interest.

Good thoughts, although I'm not sure what an "awareness class" might be.

The 'I installed Linux but now what?' class has interesting possibilities. I
think there are a lot of people who pass on Linux (even as they concede that
it might be a right answer for them) just because they can't imagine how
they'd proceed after installation.

When I was invited to consider teaching C++ courses a few years back, I
declined - but have thought a lot about teaching C since. If the course is
to be really worthwhile, it'll be a demanding exercise for the teacher. The
'what' part is easy, the 'how' part may be somewhat more difficult, and the
'why' part is definitely non-trivial.

Teaching about how to use Linux for common tasks (the things most Windows
users do) strikes me as a _great_ idea!

Morris Dovey
C links at http://www.iedu.com/c/