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Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2003 18:57:17 -0500
From: Jon LaBadie <jcyg AT jgcomp DOT com>
To: cygwin AT cygwin DOT com
Subject: Re: idea for a new project, libntcmd
Message-ID: <20030124235717.GA9656@butch.jgcomp.com>
References: <028e01c2c3f0$d148c610$78d96f83 AT pomello> <000901c2c3fd$ae0ff9e0$0201a8c0 AT ISIS> <20030124232417 DOT GB9371 AT redhat DOT com>
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On Fri, Jan 24, 2003 at 06:24:17PM -0500, Christopher Faylor wrote:
> On Fri, Jan 24, 2003 at 03:09:43PM -0800, Rafael Kitover wrote:
> >>Really?  Or would it simply delay them learning the knowledge to
> >>function in an environment that does not make specific allowances for
> >>them?
> >
> >Well, the goal would be for new cygwin users, who often have little
> >knowledge of UNIX, to have more space to get comfortable in learning
> >the environment.
> 
> I would challenge the assertion that new cygwin users often have little
> knowledge of UNIX.  Vocal people on this mailing list do make this
> assertion from time to time but there is no hard data to support that
> claim.
> 
> In absence of hard data, I am (perhaps naively) sticking with the
> assumption that the core goal for the project of providing UNIX
> emulation for Windows for people who want UNIX tools, is still valid.
> 
> I guess it's remotely possible that someone would want UNIX tools
> because they're interested in UNIX but don't know anything about it.  If
> that is the case, then (as I think has already been mentioned) offering
> them Windows commands or, especially, paths doesn't sound like it would
> be doing them any favors.

I teach unix intro/shell intro classes.  In nearly everyone the subject
comes up "{how can I/I wish I could} work on this at home".  Cygwin is
always one of my answers.

I agree it would do them a disservice to provide cmd equivalents and
would only add to their confusion.

Although in class, I show capabilities like 'alias dir=ls' to new
unix users, I recommend against it in the next breath.  It is better
to learn/immerse yourself in the language or system you are using.

-- 
Jon H. LaBadie                  jcyg AT jgcomp DOT com
 JG Computing
 4455 Province Line Road        (609) 252-0159
 Princeton, NJ  08540-4322      (609) 683-7220 (fax)

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