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🐧 From Terminal to Code: The Best Path to Becoming a Programmer with Linux Mastery

Posted on by shonlinux

In an age dominated by sleek GUIs and cloud abstractions, the raw power of Linux still commands deep respect among programmers. If you’re aiming to not just write code but master the environment where code lives and breathes, becoming a Linux guru programmer is the way to go.

Here’s a roadmap that blends programming skills with Linux wizardry — a dual path that opens doors to backend development, DevOps, systems programming, cybersecurity, and more.

🚀 1. Start with the Foundation: Learn Linux Like a Native

✅ Skills to Focus On:

  • Basic shell commands: cd, ls, cp, mv, grep, find, etc.
  • File permissions and process management.
  • Package management (apt, yum, dnf, pacman).
  • Systemd and init systems.
  • Bash scripting.

📘 Resources:

  • LinuxCommand.org
  • “The Linux Command Line” by William Shotts
  • Practice: Use a daily driver Linux distro (Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch)

💻 2. Choose a Programming Language That Loves Linux

While any language runs on Linux, some feel like home.

🏆 Recommended Languages:

  • Python – scripting, automation, data, DevOps.
  • C – systems programming, kernel modules, performance.
  • Bash – scripting and admin automation.
  • Go or Rust – modern systems tools, CLIs, container tools.

Tips:

  • Start with Python for productivity.
  • Move to C or Rust for deeper system understanding.

🔧 3. Learn Git and Use the Terminal Exclusively

Why?

Linux pros rarely rely on GUI Git clients. Version control is bread and butter.

Git in Linux:

  • Use git via command line.
  • Get comfortable resolving merge conflicts.
  • Host code on GitHub or GitLab.

🐍 4. Build CLI Tools and Scripts

The fastest way to learn Linux programming is to solve your own problems.

Ideas:

  • A Bash or Python tool to batch rename files.
  • A script that monitors disk usage and alerts you.
  • A CLI tool in Go to track CPU usage.

🏗️ 5. Dive into Open Source Projects

Why?

You’ll:

  • Learn real-world code.
  • Interact with other Linux-minded devs.
  • Build a portfolio.

Start Here:

  • Fix typos or docs in GitHub repos.
  • Tinker with projects like htop, neofetch, or nmap.

⚙️ 6. Understand the Kernel and the System

Not required, but if you want true “guru” status:

Learn About:

  • Kernel architecture and modules.
  • Syscalls and how user space interacts with kernel space.
  • Filesystems (ext4, Btrfs, ZFS).
  • Memory management.

Resource:

  • “Linux Kernel Development” by Robert Love
  • The Linux Kernel Documentation (/usr/src/linux/Documentation)

📦 7. Learn DevOps and Infrastructure Tools

Tools to Explore:

  • Docker (containers)
  • Systemd units
  • Nginx/Apache
  • SSH, cron, rsync
  • Ansible, Terraform (optional)

These skills turn you into a full-fledged Linux-aware backend engineer or DevOps engineer.

📚 8. Projects to Showcase Your Journey

Here are ideas to show off your skills:

  • Create a dotfiles GitHub repo for your terminal setup.
  • Write a static site generator in Python.
  • Build a mini init system in C.
  • Create a system monitor dashboard using Bash + cron + HTML.

🎯 Final Thoughts

Becoming a programmer with deep Linux knowledge is a high-effort, high-reward path. It gives you total control over your development and deployment environment — a massive edge in an age of abstraction.

Whether you dream of building secure infrastructure, optimizing system performance, or simply understanding what your code does under the hood, mastering Linux along with programming is the way to go.

Embrace the terminal. Read the man pages. Write code that speaks natively to the system. That’s the path of a Linux guru programmer.

The Impact of U.S. Tariffs on Data Centers: Rising Costs, Delayed Growth, and Strategic Shifts

Posted on by shonlinux

As geopolitical tensions and trade policies continue to reshape global markets, the data center industry finds itself squarely in the crosshairs of U.S. tariffs—particularly those targeting China. While tariffs are often discussed in the context of manufacturing or agriculture, their ripple effects extend deeply into the digital infrastructure that powers everything from cloud computing to AI.

The Scope of the Tariffs

In recent years, the U.S. has imposed tariffs on a broad range of Chinese imports, including:

  • Networking equipment
  • Semiconductors
  • Cooling systems
  • Lithium-ion batteries
  • Steel and aluminum components

For data centers, many of these items are foundational. A single facility might require thousands of servers, miles of cabling, high-efficiency cooling units, and backup energy systems—all of which are now more expensive due to added import duties.

Cost Implications

According to industry analysts, the cumulative effect of tariffs can add 5–15% to the total cost of new data center builds. For hyperscale operations with budgets in the hundreds of millions, this means tens of millions in unplanned expenses.

  • Higher CapEx: Increased equipment costs raise the capital expenditure required to bring new facilities online.
  • Delayed ROI: With longer break-even timelines, operators are slower to expand or upgrade existing infrastructure.
  • Increased Costs for Cloud Customers: These overheads are often passed down to businesses and end users.

Supply Chain Disruption

Tariffs also complicate procurement and logistics:

  • Diversifying suppliers away from Chinese manufacturers takes time and may compromise quality or consistency.
  • Inventory hoarding—a tactic used to beat tariff deadlines—distorts supply availability and pricing.
  • Customs delays due to stricter scrutiny create project timeline risks.

Strategic Shifts in Response

Some operators are taking proactive measures:

  • Reshoring and nearshoring: Sourcing from U.S. or regional partners to mitigate risk and qualify for incentives.
  • Vertical integration: Companies like Amazon and Google are designing and manufacturing more of their own hardware to reduce dependency.
  • Geographic rebalancing: New data centers are being sited in countries with lower tariff exposure, such as Mexico or Southeast Asia.

Long-Term Outlook

The digital economy depends on efficient, scalable, and secure data infrastructure. If tariff regimes remain volatile, the industry may:

  • Accelerate modular data center builds, which are easier to standardize and ship in parts.
  • Embrace circular IT practices, like refurbishing hardware instead of importing new components.
  • Lobby for policy exceptions or “digital infrastructure carve-outs” in trade negotiations.

Conclusion

U.S. tariffs may have been designed with industrial competition in mind, but they are now materially affecting the digital backbone of the economy. For data centers, this is more than a short-term inconvenience—it’s a fundamental challenge to growth, efficiency, and global competitiveness. Operators that adapt early, rethink supply chains, and invest in innovation will be best positioned to thrive in this new trade landscape.

Would you like this expanded into a longer feature with quotes from industry leaders or data charts showing cost trends?

Should You Use a Virtual Machine or Docker to Host a Sandbox Website?

Posted on by shonlinux

When it comes to spinning up a sandbox website—for testing, development, or isolated experimentation—you’re often faced with two main options: virtual machines or Docker containers. Both provide isolated environments, but they differ significantly in terms of performance, resource usage, ease of deployment, and security. So, which one should you choose?

Let’s break it down.

1. What Is a Sandbox Website?

A sandbox website is a standalone environment where you can run a site without interfering with your main system or production environments. These are great for:

  • Testing code changes
  • Trying out new plugins or frameworks
  • Educating or onboarding team members
  • Experimenting with risky configurations

2. Virtual Machines: The Traditional Powerhouses

Pros:

  • Complete OS-level isolation: Each VM runs its own full operating system, making it incredibly secure.
  • Strong compatibility: If it runs on a real machine, it runs in a VM.
  • Snapshots: Easy to revert to a clean state.

Cons:

  • Resource-heavy: Each VM duplicates a full OS, consuming CPU, RAM, and disk space.
  • Slower startup time: VMs can take minutes to boot up.
  • Deployment can be clunky: Setting up, configuring, and maintaining VMs takes time.

Best use case: When you need to replicate a full production environment or require strong isolation and security.

3. Docker: Lightweight and Developer-Friendly

Pros:

  • Fast and lightweight: Containers share the host OS kernel, drastically reducing resource usage.
  • Quick deployment: Start, stop, and replicate containers in seconds.
  • Easy to script: Infrastructure-as-code with Dockerfiles and docker-compose.
  • Portable: Run the same container across different environments (dev, staging, prod) with confidence.

Cons:

  • Less isolated: Containers share the host OS kernel, which could pose security risks if misconfigured.
  • OS-specific: Docker containers are best for Linux-based stacks (Windows support exists but isn’t always smooth).
  • Learning curve: Some setup and terminology can confuse newcomers.

Best use case: When speed, efficiency, and portability are critical—especially for web developers and DevOps teams.

4. Which One Should You Use for a Sandbox Website?

Here’s a simple decision tree:

  • ✅ Need full OS-level isolation or want to mimic a production server exactly? → Use a Virtual Machine.
  • ✅ Want a fast, repeatable, and resource-light sandbox to test web stacks? → Use Docker.
  • ✅ Need to spin up multiple sandboxes quickly for CI/CD or tutorials? → Docker wins again.

5. Bonus: Hybrid Approach

In some cases, you can even combine the two: run Docker inside a VM. This gives you a balance between portability and isolation. For example, use Vagrant to spin up a VM, then run Docker containers inside for individual services.

Conclusion

For most modern sandbox website setups, Docker offers the speed, flexibility, and resource-efficiency that make it hard to beat. But if you’re dealing with complex systems, need heavy OS isolation, or prefer GUI-based tools, a VM might still be the right fit.

Ultimately, choose the tool that aligns with your project goals, team skill level, and future scalability needs.

How good is Linux Photo Editing

Posted on by shonlinux

Introduction When it comes to photo editing, most people think of commercial software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. However, Linux has a growing number of powerful photo editing tools that are on par with commercial software. In this blog post, we will explore some of the popular photo editing software available for Linux and how they compare to commercial software.

GIMP – GNU Image Manipulation Program GIMP is one of the most popular open-source photo editing tools available for Linux. It offers a range of features including color correction, selection tools, layer management, and image enhancement tools. GIMP has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, and its plugin architecture allows users to extend its functionality.

While GIMP is not as feature-rich as commercial software like Photoshop, it is a capable photo editor that can handle most photo editing tasks. GIMP also has a large community of users who create and share plugins and scripts that can further extend its functionality.

Darktable Darktable is another popular open-source photo editing software for Linux that is mainly used for RAW photo editing. It offers a range of tools for color correction, tone mapping, and other advanced editing features. Darktable’s interface is designed to mimic a traditional darkroom, and it has a comprehensive set of tools for working with RAW files.

Darktable’s processing engine is optimized for multi-core CPUs and supports OpenCL for GPU acceleration. This makes it a fast and efficient photo editing tool for RAW files. Darktable also has support for tethered shooting, which allows you to control your camera from within the software.

Rawtherapee Rawtherapee is another RAW photo editor that offers a range of features including noise reduction, color correction, and sharpening tools. It also has support for batch processing, allowing you to edit multiple photos at once. Rawtherapee’s interface is user-friendly, and it has a comprehensive set of tools for working with RAW files.

Rawtherapee’s processing engine is also optimized for multi-core CPUs and supports OpenCL for GPU acceleration. This makes it a fast and efficient photo editing tool for RAW files. Rawtherapee also has support for tethered shooting, which allows you to control your camera from within the software.

Krita Krita is a powerful open-source painting and photo editing tool that is used for creating digital art, illustrations, and animations. It offers a range of brushes, layer management tools, and other advanced features that make it a good choice for professional photo editing. Krita’s interface is designed for artists and has a comprehensive set of tools for working with digital images.

Krita also has support for color management, which is essential for accurate color reproduction. It also has a range of plugins and scripts that can further extend its functionality. While Krita is not specifically designed for photo editing, it is a capable photo editing tool that can handle most photo editing tasks.

Conclusion Linux offers a wide range of powerful photo editing tools that are on par with commercial photo editing software available for other operating systems. GIMP, Darktable, Rawtherapee, and Krita are just a few examples of the many photo editing tools available for Linux. The choice of photo editing software on Linux depends on your specific needs and requirements. If you are looking for a capable and free photo editor, then Linux has many options to choose from.

OpenAI ‘s ChatGPT only has data from 2021 and before

Posted on by shonlinux

ChatGPT is a cutting-edge language model developed by OpenAI, trained on an enormous dataset of text data. However, it is important to note that the model’s training data only goes up until the year 2021. While this may seem like a limitation, it is still an incredibly powerful tool for generating human-like responses to a wide variety of prompts.

The fact that ChatGPT’s training data only goes up until 2021 means that the model is not able to incorporate any information from the past two years. This includes major world events, scientific discoveries, and cultural trends that have occurred since then. As a result, it is possible that the model may give outdated or inaccurate information in response to some queries.

However, it is worth noting that the vast majority of the training data that ChatGPT was trained on is still highly relevant and informative. The model was trained on a massive dataset of internet text, including everything from Wikipedia articles to social media posts. This means that it has access to a wealth of knowledge on a vast array of topics.

Even with its data cutoff, ChatGPT is still capable of generating impressively human-like responses to a wide range of prompts. Its ability to understand natural language and generate coherent responses has made it an invaluable tool for everything from customer service chatbots to language learning apps.

In addition, there are still many areas where ChatGPT’s vast knowledge base can be useful despite its data cutoff. For example, it can be a powerful research tool for studying language trends and patterns over the past few decades. It can also be a valuable resource for understanding historical events and cultural phenomena that occurred prior to 2021.

In conclusion, while the fact that ChatGPT’s training data only goes up until 2021 may seem like a limitation, it is still an incredibly powerful language model that is capable of generating impressively human-like responses. Its vast knowledge base makes it an invaluable tool for a wide range of applications, and there are still many areas where its data cutoff is not a significant limitation.

What is LAMP

Posted on by shonlinux

LAMP stands for Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. It’s a popular open-source software stack used for developing and deploying web applications. Each component of the LAMP stack provides a different function, and when used together, they form a powerful platform for building dynamic websites and web applications.

Linux

Linux is an open-source operating system that forms the foundation of the LAMP stack. Linux is highly customizable, flexible, and secure. It’s also highly reliable and is widely used in servers and data centers around the world. Linux is free to use and can be easily installed on a server or desktop computer.

Apache

Apache is a popular open-source web server software that is used to serve web pages over the internet. Apache is highly configurable and can be used to serve static and dynamic web pages. It’s also highly reliable and can handle high traffic volumes. Apache is free to use and can be easily installed on a Linux server.

MySQL

MySQL is an open-source relational database management system that is used to store and retrieve data for web applications. MySQL is highly scalable, flexible, and secure. It’s also highly reliable and can handle high traffic volumes. MySQL is free to use and can be easily installed on a Linux server.

PHP

PHP is a popular open-source programming language that is used to create dynamic web pages and web applications. PHP is highly customizable, flexible, and easy to learn. It’s also highly reliable and can handle high traffic volumes. PHP is free to use and can be easily installed on a Linux server.

The LAMP stack provides a powerful platform for developing and deploying web applications. It’s highly customizable, flexible, and scalable. LAMP servers are also highly reliable and can handle high traffic volumes. The LAMP stack is also open-source, which means that it’s free to use and can be easily installed on a Linux server.

The LAMP stack has been used to develop and deploy some of the most popular websites and web applications in the world. It’s used by companies of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises. The LAMP stack is also highly extensible, which means that it can be easily customized and extended to meet the needs of different types of web applications.

In conclusion, LAMP servers provide a powerful platform for developing and deploying web applications. Each component of the LAMP stack provides a different function, and when used together, they form a highly reliable and scalable platform for building dynamic websites and web applications. If you’re interested in building web applications, consider using the LAMP stack to get started.

What ChatGPT says about best Linux Distribution for a business

Posted on by shonlinux

Sure, here is a blog post on the best Linux version to use for businesses:

When it comes to choosing an operating system for your business, Linux is a popular and powerful option that offers a range of benefits over proprietary operating systems like Windows or macOS. With its robust security features, high customizability, and low cost, Linux is an excellent choice for businesses of all sizes.

However, with so many different Linux distributions available, it can be difficult to know which one is the best fit for your business needs. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the top Linux versions for businesses.

  1. Ubuntu Ubuntu is one of the most popular Linux distributions available, and for good reason. It is user-friendly, easy to install, and comes with a range of pre-installed applications that make it a great choice for businesses looking to get up and running quickly. It also has a large and active community of developers, which means that updates and support are readily available.
  2. CentOS CentOS is another popular Linux distribution that is widely used in business environments. It is known for its stability and reliability, and it is based on the open-source Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) operating system. As a result, it is often used by businesses that require a secure and stable platform for hosting their applications or services.
  3. Debian Debian is a highly customizable Linux distribution that is known for its robust security features and long-term support. It is used by many businesses for its high level of customization, which allows it to be tailored to specific business needs. It is also known for its ease of use and reliability, which makes it a great choice for businesses that need a stable and secure platform for hosting their applications.
  4. Fedora Fedora is a community-supported Linux distribution that is known for its cutting-edge features and frequent updates. It is often used by businesses that require the latest software and technologies, and it is a great choice for developers who need a platform for testing and experimentation. However, due to its frequent updates, it may not be the best choice for businesses that require a stable and secure environment.
  5. SUSE Linux Enterprise SUSE Linux Enterprise is a commercial Linux distribution that is designed specifically for business use. It offers a range of features that are tailored to the needs of businesses, including high availability, scalability, and robust security. It also comes with a range of tools and services that make it easy to deploy and manage across large-scale business environments.

In conclusion, Linux offers a range of benefits for businesses, including robust security features, high customizability, and low cost. While there are many different Linux distributions available, the ones listed above are among the best for business use, depending on your specific needs. Whether you’re looking for a stable and secure platform, a highly customizable environment, or the latest cutting-edge features, there is a Linux distribution that can meet your business needs.

New Toy or Useful AI – ChatGPT

Posted on by shonlinux

ChatGPT is not the end all of AI. It is a step in the right direction but still has some leap and bounds needed to make AI useful in everyday workplace.

Looking at the below pic you can see one issue is bandwidth. Seems ChatGPT can’t keep up with normal demand.

Current us of ChatrGPT seems to be a fun toy that people are using to see what kind of questions can be answered. The disclaimer says it all. Answers are not guaranteed to be accurate and may be misleading. The issue is there are no check and balances. One example is a simple math problem posted on https://www.makeuseof.com/chatgpt-questions-and-answers/

Sound logic for grade school but wrong. Sister age is 20/2 at 20 years old or 10 years old. Next 40Years – 10 years = 30 years old Not 20

Like most social AIs there is also possibilities of groups focusing on entering wrong data just to see if they can. This happened in the past to Microsoft. It created a chat bot AI years ago as a fun project. People interacted with the AI in a manor that had the AI spouting racists and sexual responses as that was what it was led to believe was normal conversation.

I recommend you treat ChatGPT as a toy for now and take any answers you get with a grain of salt.

Can I move my office to Linux

Posted on by shonlinux

Easy answer maybe. A lot of offices can be moved to Linux, or even a hybrid Windows\Linux. The issues come down to cost and growing pains. A transition isn’t free even if using a free version of Linux. You have to consider training cost and setup cost upfront. Like a windows network there will need to be ongoing maintenance. Even with the growth of Linux good admins are still far and few between.

I am willing to give a rough estimate if you are thinking about the move. Just need a list of software and webpages that your office used on a regular basis. Let me know shon@shonlinux.work