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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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What're some of the dumbest things you've done to yourself in Linux? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 7 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I'm working on a some materials for a class wherein I'll be teaching some young, wide-eyed Windows nerds about Linux and we're including a section we're calling "foot guns". Basically it's ways you might shoot yourself in the foot while meddling with your newfound Linux powers.

I've got the usual forgetting the . in lines like this:

$ rm -rf ./bin

As well as a bunch of other fun stories like that one time I mounted my Linux home folder into my Windows machine, forgot I did that, then deleted a parent folder.

You know, the war stories.

Tell me yours. I wanna share your mistakes so that they can learn from them.

Fun (?) side note: somehow, my entire ${HOME}/projects folder has been deleted like... just now, and I have no idea how it happened. I may have a terrible new story to add if I figure it out.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 months ago (2 children)

You attach a secondary computer via serial (COM port) with your primary computer and then you can open a console on that one. You can access the primary computer as if you would be sitting in front of it.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

You probably have to explain what Serial actually is.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I mean serial is just a port that runs in serial. You send something and you receive something afterwards, after you've received you can send again...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Not all people know that, to be fair.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago

True. It's not quite common nowadays unless you work in administration or are an enthusiast.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_port

Because there's going to be kids around here who have never seen this port (other than maybe on a Point Of Sale (POS) system?)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

Lol, I appreciate it, but I'm actually old enough to remember those! I know what a serial port is; I just didn't know what a serial console was or if it was related. Haha.