Re: Re: (Univ that only teaches unix/linux)

If all you want is training for entry-level coding jobs, then don't go
to a University.  Go to a 2 year Community College.  That is the role
that those schools fill.  A university education is supposed to provide
you with a broad knowledge base.  The 2 year school will give you some
background in operating systems and architecture, but will focus on
training for the job market.

On Mon, 2003-09-15 at 14:24, Jay Smith wrote:
> Sawan,
> 
> While I agree in principle about the goodness of unix/linux, etc., I am 
> concerned that young people coming out of school need to get JOBS and 
> *part* of the University's role to give them the training and credentials 
> they need to enter the world of work.
> 
> The ugly truth is that there are a lot of shops out there that run *only* 
> MS products.
> 
> While the student might get a better education if they only learn 
> linux/unix, they might not be as well equipped for the work force if they 
> don't know MS stuff too (regardless of the quality or worthwhileness of the 
> MS products).
> 
> Students and there parents are well advised to consider all angles of this 
> and address such questions with the CS department heads.
> 
> Jay
> 
> 
> Sawan Vithlani wrote:
> >>Sadly, the lessons of this text are seldom taught in Universities. On a
> >>recent tour of colleges with my son to select a computer science school, 
> >>had a conversation with the Dean of Undergraduate CS studies at a
> >>prestigious school. The Dean told us that the school focused on Linux,
> >>Solaris and Java. I asked what my son might learn about new technologies
> >>like C# and .NET during his four years at the school. "Nothing, if we can
> >>help it!" was the answer.
> > 
> > 
> > Sorry, dont mean to troll or anything, but I would say this is a topic of 
> > deep argument and flamewars among people who really understand UNIX and 
> > people who are relative newcomers. If you are an experienced UNIX user 
> > then I apologise for all this.
> > 
> > For example, some of the utilities/programs have to be maintained as they 
> > are to maintain compatibilities/portability between similar systems 
> > (Solaris/Linux as an example). Again, if you use this stuff day to day, 
> > you will understand the quirky behaviour and appreciate why it was 
> > introduced.
> > 
> > As for the CS Dean, sorry but he is absolutely right. First of all C# 
> > and .NET have nothing to do with Linux/UNIX, their design/implementation, 
> > or annoyances. C# and .NET are not "new technologies" they are merely 
> > a device invented by a corporation to further their monopolistic policies and 
> > ambitions. .NET is a direct respone to JAVA, which was eating up their 
> > market like anything. .NET allows them to have a greater stranglehold 
> > over the devloper.  
> > 
> > Also look at it this way: if you consider Linux/JAVA to be more low level 
> > stuff, learning it will enable your child to easily grasp higher 
> > technologies. It is much more harder to go from .NET to .CAPUCCINO if all 
> > you know is high level .NET style stuff. Knowledge of low level stuff 
> > enables easier transitions. Things like Linux allow your kid to poke into 
> > the very heart of the system and mess around and thus, learn something. 
> > .NET and related stuff will only allow her to make "higher level " 
> > software (web pages, apps, etc) which, frankly, any one can do in these 
> > days of point and click developer tools.  
> > 
> > Another thing: if you are a fee paying parent, be grateful that the Uni 
> > is using excellent and free software to teach you child. If they use 
> > proprietory stuff, who do you think is going to finally foot the license 
> > bills? Who do you think is going to repay the same bills after a 3-5 year 
> > cycle as the Uni is now into a "forced to upgrade to newer version" mode?
> > 
> > Sawan
-- 
    Lawrence MacIntyre     865.574.8696     [email protected]
               Oak Ridge National Laboratory
High Performance Information Infrastructure Technology Group

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