Thwompthwomp

I thought that the assembler is a specific program that translates mnemonics into the corresponding machine code. Perhaps in early computing this was done by hand so a person was the assembler (and worked in assembler), but now that is handled by software (and supports various macros). So programming in assembly would generate a stream of text that must be assembled by an assembler. (Although I have heard people refer to programming in assembler as well, just not often.)

I pointed out how that happens already though. Firefox uses middle-click to direct a widgety thing to move the viewport. Other documents use middle click and drag to move the document. The same hand motion will move in two entirely opposite directions. I know some people get really (like REALLY) hung up on this though, and understand that. I just view it as another abstraction I get to move through.

(Also, for me its two entirely different physical movements of grabbing the scrollbar vs scrolling with two fingers, so I don't even notice. In one, I use middle and ring to move a document around. Another, I'm moving the mouse with a single finger, and then pressing down directly or using my thumb to click and then moving the finger.)

It just depends on your abstraction you’re mentally using. If you think of a sliding moving visual window on a document, then you like the scroll bar mental model. If you think of moving the content itself, then you like the phone scroll model. I have no idea which one “natural” or “inverted” is and don’t really care what the default is.

For touchpads, give me the phone style scroll. For a mouse wheel, give me scroll bar scroll.

It does feel weird that middle click and then move the mouse (I think Firefox does that kind?) will move the view such that down motion movies content up. But instead click and drag (okukar browse function) upward motion moves content up. Again, just depends on your abstraction in that moment.

I can't comment on specifics. I'm back in linux after several years away in mac land. The snap experience is awful, and confusing. I have not had the same experience with flatpaks. They seem to act more like regular apps that you update. The issue with snap is that firefox will say the snap needs to update, and that the update is pending warning my I only have days (or hours) to use it, but no way to actually do the upgrade. Then it will say its upgrading, but nothing happens. I just keep using firefox, and every once in a while it may say something like the update failed (I honestly can't remember, since I just ignore any notification with the word 'snap' in it since they're all meaningless). Eventually, when I quit firefox, it might update and quit pestering me. But how knows? Maybe it won't upgrade, and then I'll open it again and it won't be upgraded.

Flatpaks, I can just update in the package GUI (Discover for me, since KDE) alongside other updates, and we roll on.

Distro-wise, I dunno :/ I like ubuntu cause its more standardized in terms of software availability

most things will support an ubuntu package. However, I'm really considering just jumping into debian and going with the rolling releases.

Why oh why did they get Arkansas right??

Ooh now do emacs/vim!

Out of the box, maybe, but kde is super customizable to be how you want it. I think gnome can do that too, but it feels much more opinionated and all I ready about is install scripts that break. (I haven’t tried gnome in years though)

I just read left hand of darkness this summer (and dispossessed and the first Earthsea!). Going in, I had heard so much about the gender aspects and I guess was expecting something more pointed, but was really surprised how it’s just not really a focus, but just naturally comes up in the world building. The book was incredible, and the Gethen societies felt so real and tangible. I really enjoyed this one and is the reason I picked up the other le guin books.

My edition also had a foreword by le guin about sci-fi and authoring lies and truth. That was also well worth reading too!

I’ve been enjoying a bit of aperol in my iced coffee this summer. I think the orange flavor really shines through with coffee. (An iced coffee negroni/americano is not bad either). I can see how this drink would be good!

I don’t really have a problem with the main post you linked to. Are we a strictly pro-NATO server or something? I think I’m missing exactly what the issue is 🤷‍♂️

Not the op, but syntactly they are ver similar. And so for minor things like looping over a matrix or making a plot or some calculations, It’ll be the same. Your intro numerical course will not really know the difference. It’s when you get to the packages that there’s massive divergence. Matlab really sells packages that have all sorts of libraries and gui things built in to do some advanced calculations or pre-Canned tool. They also change the package syntax from time to time. For things like signal processing or filter design, the tools reign and most scripts depend on them. Octave has a totally difference package ecosystem and syntax for loading packages.

So for basic things, you can go between the two fairly easily. For anything advanced or for 90% of scripts you download from papers, octave will not work.

I’ve been on an Ursula le guin kick. Finished Left Side of Darkness, started Earthsea series (just book one) and am finishing up Dispossessed (since it’s due back to inter library loan soon). But sure what’s next. I have the expanse books on hand, but the semesters about to start and things get busy.