If I hear the term "powerful command line" one more time…

I’m a big fan of the command line – even though, I admit, I’m horrible at it. (I blame the fact that I am a horribly inaccurate typist) The thing that always impresses me about the command line is it’s flexibility- you don’t have to wait until someone puts an interface on something if you can string along some commands to do something.

But is it *really* powerful? I hear the term “powerful command line” this or that all the time. Like, “underneath Linux’s graphical interface is a powerful command line core” or “the program offers a powerful command line interface.”

OK, looking at the definition for “powerful, I guess it does fit one of the definitions – “effectiveness.” But honestly, when I think of power, I think of brute strength. Linux is more subtle. Maybe it’s just that Linux geeks don’t want to be associated (anymore than they already are) with the terms delicate or adaptable. I do think of Linux as delicate. I’m not quite sure why. This may be the dorkiest thing I do, though – anthropomorphise my operating systems.

While I’m on the topic of operating systems:

I come across a lot of articles through my RSS about operating systems. People love Mac, or they hate it. Love Windows, or think it’s of the devil. Love Linux, and can’t imagine any alternative.

The whole argument makes me a little headachy. Operating systems make me a little headachy, too. I have not encountered a single operating system that didn’t make me want to pound my head against a wall at one point or another. The first Mac classic was a wonder, but the simple interface meant my baby sister could wipe clean the hard drive by dragging the little icon to the trash and clicking “ok” 3 or 4 times. Whenever I break the GUI on Linux machine (since I’m always trying to add new video cards, this happens often) I feel like chucking the whole system. Of course, I don’t even need to go into my problems with Windows.

I also love the wonders of all the operating systems – the Mac sets a new standard in looks and quickness. Windows works with just about every device I’ve ever thrown at it (I realize this isn’t inherent to the system itself, but from a user’s perspective, it’s important) and Linux- well, I’m just thrilled when I can do something cool on the Linux box because it increases my street geek cred. ;)

Seriously, though, what’s the fuss? Why can’t we all just agree that all operating systems have problems and excel in their own idiosyncratic ways? the few rare people who have never had a computer crash on them probably have way too much money and are not doing anything fun with their computers anyway.