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Rather than this OS or that OS - I really wished someone at school had taught me: * how DNS works * the process model with stdin,stdout,env vars + cmd args *

Rather than this OS or that OS - I really wished someone at school had taught me: * how DNS works * the process model with stdin,stdout,env vars + cmd args * streams - text or otherwise * protocols like HTTP but what they actually did on the wire Every OS uses the above list and so even for a young child - you can teach by example. Surely using nice fluffy diagrams it would be worth trying this to find out that only 'old' people can understand such things?

professorTuring 13y ago
Teaching those topics at school is crazy. This is just "random stuff" for kids, completely nonsense. We should teach "how" computers work (very basic principles) and maybe "how" communications work (very basic principles). And definitely we don't need to teach kids about HTTP... Maybe, and only maybe, we could teach them how a programming language can help them with their "math homeworks" and things like that...
- binocarlos 13y ago
  Yes good point - teaching the basic principles is sort of what I was thinking - HTTP bad example.
  - arethuza 13y ago
    Actually, I think teaching about HTTP isn't a bad example. At it's base it is pretty simple to understand, there are good tools to work with it, it's hugely important and it leads on nicely to things like DNS and security.
    - professorTuring 13y ago
      There are thousands of applications that abstract normal people from the "HTTP". Knowing stuff is a great thing, but forcing people to learn stuff is something totally different. Show kids how to build a webpage with HTTP and CSS and they will run for their lives. Maybe you can teach them how to configure any content manager making an effort in explain them how having a webpage can affect their lives and how can they prevent them (security, privacy...). It is school guys, teach kids useful tools for their lives, don't bore them with hypes (I am purposely obviating the "brain" development thing).
      - arethuza 13y ago
        Teaching kids the specifics of some content management system seems as daft to me as focusing on MS Office.
        professorTuring 13y ago
        So right, but you have to use "something" as example, I don't mind which one you prefer as long as it comes with a "how this affect my life" explanation.
k-mcgrady 13y ago
Teaching those in school would be a waste of time. I work full time in the tech industry and don't fully understand all of those topics because they are irrelevant to me. People are never going to need to understand them for daily use.
- fit2rule 13y ago
  Until you've learned something, you'll never know how you might use it productively. I use all of those topics daily because they make me more productive. I'm sorry you haven't learned just how productive you can be by understanding these things - but this is no reason to deny the knowledge to future generations, just because you're ignorant...
- beachstartup 13y ago
  i'm glad people like you exist because providing expertise on really basic shit like dns and http for a low, low monthy cost! is making me and all my cofounders quite wealthy. can you tell me a few other fundamental internet technologies you think are irrelevant to your internet job? we need some ideas for expansion in 2014. thanks.
- binocarlos 13y ago
  This is exactly where I was for 10 years - until I learnt how they actually work (age 30+). Since clicking with these basic things - I have enjoyed my job much much more. However - at what age they should be introduced not sure - 10, 15, 31?
- yen223 13y ago
  A lot of folks here will disagree with you, but I totally get where you're coming from. Schools, especially at lower levels, should focus on practical skills, rather than theoretical ones. Future accountants and mechanics aren't going to benefit much from understanding how DNS works, but they can benefit from knowing how to install an OS, or even doing high-level automation.
- stelonix 13y ago
  I hope you're making use of all the not-wasteful-for-your-area topics you learned in school: covalent bonds, subordinate clauses, electromagnetic induction, anatomy of reptiles... There's plenty more people using HTTP than there are biologists in the world, you still get fed up all those subjects that don't suit your area. Why single out the ones that are mostly likely to be useful to anyone?

professorTuring 13y ago

Teaching those topics at school is crazy. This is just "random stuff" for kids, completely nonsense. We should teach "how" computers work (very basic principles) and maybe "how" communications work (very basic principles). And definitely we don't need to teach kids about HTTP... Maybe, and only maybe, we could teach them how a programming language can help them with their "math homeworks" and things like that...

binocarlos 13y ago
Yes good point - teaching the basic principles is sort of what I was thinking - HTTP bad example.
- arethuza 13y ago
  Actually, I think teaching about HTTP isn't a bad example. At it's base it is pretty simple to understand, there are good tools to work with it, it's hugely important and it leads on nicely to things like DNS and security.
  - professorTuring 13y ago
    There are thousands of applications that abstract normal people from the "HTTP". Knowing stuff is a great thing, but forcing people to learn stuff is something totally different. Show kids how to build a webpage with HTTP and CSS and they will run for their lives. Maybe you can teach them how to configure any content manager making an effort in explain them how having a webpage can affect their lives and how can they prevent them (security, privacy...). It is school guys, teach kids useful tools for their lives, don't bore them with hypes (I am purposely obviating the "brain" development thing).
    - arethuza 13y ago
      Teaching kids the specifics of some content management system seems as daft to me as focusing on MS Office.
      - professorTuring 13y ago
        So right, but you have to use "something" as example, I don't mind which one you prefer as long as it comes with a "how this affect my life" explanation.

k-mcgrady 13y ago

Teaching those in school would be a waste of time. I work full time in the tech industry and don't fully understand all of those topics because they are irrelevant to me. People are never going to need to understand them for daily use.

fit2rule 13y ago
Until you've learned something, you'll never know how you might use it productively. I use all of those topics daily because they make me more productive. I'm sorry you haven't learned just how productive you can be by understanding these things - but this is no reason to deny the knowledge to future generations, just because you're ignorant...
beachstartup 13y ago
i'm glad people like you exist because providing expertise on really basic shit like dns and http for a low, low monthy cost! is making me and all my cofounders quite wealthy. can you tell me a few other fundamental internet technologies you think are irrelevant to your internet job? we need some ideas for expansion in 2014. thanks.
binocarlos 13y ago
This is exactly where I was for 10 years - until I learnt how they actually work (age 30+). Since clicking with these basic things - I have enjoyed my job much much more. However - at what age they should be introduced not sure - 10, 15, 31?
yen223 13y ago
A lot of folks here will disagree with you, but I totally get where you're coming from. Schools, especially at lower levels, should focus on practical skills, rather than theoretical ones. Future accountants and mechanics aren't going to benefit much from understanding how DNS works, but they can benefit from knowing how to install an OS, or even doing high-level automation.
stelonix 13y ago
I hope you're making use of all the not-wasteful-for-your-area topics you learned in school: covalent bonds, subordinate clauses, electromagnetic induction, anatomy of reptiles... There's plenty more people using HTTP than there are biologists in the world, you still get fed up all those subjects that don't suit your area. Why single out the ones that are mostly likely to be useful to anyone?