I started on Windows NT using C++ with MFC. On my first day my manager said "Can you program?" and I said "No" so he said "Here's a book, learn to program. Our demo application does not work and we need you to fix it".
This kickstarted my career although it also meant that I never learned to use DOS or batch commands etc.
I did one job in a linux house where I had to use it and became quite adept at getting done what I wanted to get done but a new CEO took over who wanted everyone to have 10 year linux backgrounds so he showed me the door *shrug*.
- Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
- Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!
Reply to: This should be in technical but...
Collapse
You are not logged in or you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:
- You are not logged in. If you are already registered, fill in the form below to log in, or follow the "Sign Up" link to register a new account.
- You may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
- If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.
Logging in...
Previously on "This should be in technical but..."
Collapse
-
Originally posted by zeitghostMmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Hazeltine 2000 vdu, 80 col x 27 lines.
The 27 line thing made it a bit awkward to replace since everything newer appeared to have a maximum of 24 lines.
You could modify that 24 lines default, but then you found other stuff that didn't honour it.
And got everything scrolling on one line.
Or the whole screen jumping up a line at a time.
Oh what fun.
Leave a comment:
-
I never got into black background, even though I learned back on DOS... mainly because I can rarely be bothered spending my time customising what colours are used.
One of the main coding sites I used to be on a lot had a black background theme, when they finally upgraded to a proper forum software they changed the theme to a more normal theme - similar to CUK - and the fallout was incredible. Multiple threads a day of people saying they "literally can't use the site" and "am leaving because it hurts my eyes".
Leave a comment:
-
I use green on black whatever terminal I use, with ansi colours too of course.
I find it easier on the eyes but I remember several movies from way back that whenever they showed a computer monitor it was always green on black, remember 'mother' in the original Alien movie?
Leave a comment:
-
I had a couple of VT220 terminals myself but couldn't be arsed shipping them here to the mainland when I moved - the one on the right here:
My favourite was a DEC VT520, which supported scrolling beyond the standard 24 lines and had copy and paste which came in handy for its multiple session support. Probably the best keyboard I have ever used too.
Since then I have used Terminal sessions inside a window manager. My default on this box is 6 Terminal sessions when I log in. I use black on white because that seems more consistent across the monitors I have here than white on black.
The last time I used a real terminal was in a server room the size of a footie field. They had a few sitting on "crash carts" which you could wheel to the server of your choice, plug in, and off you went. Not just as consoles for headless servers, but for plugging into disk controllers.Last edited by Sysman; 20 January 2013, 19:54.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by Contreras View PostAbsolutely loath the DOS prompt (or whatever it's called these days).
Absolutely love Bash. Well worth learning to use it effectively imho.
First software to be installed on a new Windows machine is Cygwin usually.
As for colours, definitely white on black, with coloured prompt and 'ls' highlighting enabled.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by VectraMan View PostHas anyone else tried Xerox's new "graphical" user interface? It's available on other platforms now too, and is quite a revelation once you get used to it. You use this pointing device, called a "mouse" to move a little arrow around the screen and "click" on buttons or options to make things happen, meaning no need to learn 150 different obscure command line options. A lot of people are hopeful this will finally move computers on from being a toy for a small number of sandle wearing, mother-living geeks to a useful tool for ordinary people to use in every day tasks.
Leave a comment:
-
Has anyone else tried Xerox's new "graphical" user interface? It's available on other platforms now too, and is quite a revelation once you get used to it. You use this pointing device, called a "mouse" to move a little arrow around the screen and "click" on buttons or options to make things happen, meaning no need to learn 150 different obscure command line options. A lot of people are hopeful this will finally move computers on from being a toy for a small number of sandle wearing, mother-living geeks to a useful tool for ordinary people to use in every day tasks.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by Cliphead View PostI do my job 100% in a command line interface. So it's unix / linux but...
Anybody else still use the old green text on black background terminal to get the job done?
Can't be arsed with a poll.
Leave a comment:
-
This should be in technical but...
ZOC for terminal emulation and korn shell
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by Cliphead View PostI do my job 100% in a command line interface. So it's unix / linux but...
Anybody else still use the old green text on black background terminal to get the job done?
And vim, oh yes.
Leave a comment:
- Home
- News & Features
- First Timers
- IR35 / S660 / BN66
- Employee Benefit Trusts
- Agency Workers Regulations
- MSC Legislation
- Limited Companies
- Dividends
- Umbrella Company
- VAT / Flat Rate VAT
- Job News & Guides
- Money News & Guides
- Guide to Contracts
- Successful Contracting
- Contracting Overseas
- Contractor Calculators
- MVL
- Contractor Expenses
Advertisers
Contractor Services
CUK News
- Streamline Your Retirement with iSIPP: A Solution for Contractor Pensions Sep 1 09:13
- Making the most of pension lump sums: overview for contractors Sep 1 08:36
- Umbrella company tribunal cases are opening up; are your wages subject to unlawful deductions, too? Aug 31 08:38
- Contractors, relabelling 'labour' as 'services' to appear 'fully contracted out' won't dupe IR35 inspectors Aug 31 08:30
- How often does HMRC check tax returns? Aug 30 08:27
- Work-life balance as an IT contractor: 5 top tips from a tech recruiter Aug 30 08:20
- Autumn Statement 2023 tipped to prioritise mental health, in a boost for UK workplaces Aug 29 08:33
- Final reminder for contractors to respond to the umbrella consultation (closing today) Aug 29 08:09
- Top 5 most in demand cyber security contract roles Aug 25 08:38
- Changes to the right to request flexible working are incoming, but how will contractors be affected? Aug 24 08:25
Leave a comment: