Editing 196: Command Line Fu

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==Explanation==
 
==Explanation==
The {{w|Linux}} command line allows users to make their computer do nearly anything. In this comic, [[Cueball]] recounts how he used a command line hack to solve a problem with his monitors turning off during a movie, something that an attempt to change settings (possibly via a standard GUI configuration dialogue) has failed to resolve adequately. The scripted get-around appears to have worked, as far as it has been used.
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The {{w|Linux}} command line allows a user to make their computer do nearly anything. The only hitch is that the interface is entirely text-based, and reading through user manuals to find the commands that you need can take a very long time.
  
However, in an attempt to apply his dedication toward best programming practices to the solution, Cueball also became absorbed in fully documenting the mini-project. This could have been either alongside the project, keeping pace with the structured plan (e.g. the {{w|Waterfall model}}'s conception, initiation, analysis, design, construction, testing, deployment, and maintenance phases), or as a 'necessary' final step to summarise the realized solution.
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In this comic, [[Cueball]] recounts how he used a command line hack to solve a problem with his monitors turning off during a movie. However, in the time that he spends trying to solve the issue, the woman he had brought home had already left, and his need for a movie to watch was gone.
  
In either case, the sheer simplicity of the solution (for someone as technically minded as Cueball) suggests that the documentation writing has become the bulk of the effort. In the time that he spends trying to complete the issue to his satisfaction, the woman he had brought home had already left and the current opportunity to enjoy the movie (and company) was gone. Although at least it is likely that the ''next'' opportunity to {{w|Netflix and chill|enjoy a movie in company}}, with the same companion or another, will now run flawlessly. Or at least ''probably'' without this particular problem, if there is no problem with its implementation.
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The title text is the supposed moral to this story: if your user interface takes as long to operate as a command line, you may very well be denying your users the chance to get laid.
  
The title text applies this story's narrative in reverse. Whereas for Cueball to have a successful evening, he should have hastened the design process to the bare minimum required to provide a workable solution, it forces any designer of an interface (which would include the unsuccessful 'inbuilt' configuration wizard) to ensure that it at least does what it purports to do. If that had been done thoroughly enough, originally, someone like Cueball (and his date) would not have had this reason to be prevented from fully enjoying the evening as originally anticipated.
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Software that [http://google.com/search?q=mouse+wiggle jiggles the mouse] actually exists, as well as [http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=608212 instructions for linux scripting] (although installing the necessary libraries might take a while).
 
 
Software that [http://google.com/search?q=mouse+wiggle jiggles the mouse] exists, as well as [http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=608212 instructions for Linux scripting] (although installing the necessary libraries might take longer).
 
  
 
==Transcript==
 
==Transcript==
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[[Category:Time management]]
 
[[Category:Time management]]
 
[[Category:Romance]]
 
[[Category:Romance]]
[[Category:Sex]]
 

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