Hey, /g/. Listen, I am mostly a shitposter on /b/ and /pol/, so I apologize in advice for being total shit. I am here because I need advice. Full disclosure: I am a high school senior and I hope to go into computer engineering in college. Now, I am not a total noob, I am a gamer and thus know the basics of computing (I built my own machine), but I want to learn the deep stuff. I took my older computer and booted up Steam OS in it, a distro Valve made for gaming (I was going to go for Fedora, but my old machine was a Steam Machine, and I was getting some graphics glitches, so I stuck with SteamOS for reliability.) Okay, that is the background. Point is, I am going to college in a year, and I want to practice both being able to control Linux properly (from the Terminal only, of course) and becoming more adept at programming in general. I have no idea what to do, however. I have read some books and stuff, yeah, but I have had no actual experience. Can any of you suggest any goal or something I can try to accomplish to become better at either of these things? Oh, and, it might be worth mentioning, I usually practice with C# because I used that in Unity and am thus more familiar with it. Treat me like a noob anyway though. Any advice?
>>51602119
>I am mostly a shitposter on /b/ and /pol/
>I am a high school senior
This is poetry.
>>51602119
If you are moving to Linux and want to learn another language, the quickest path for you would probably be Java or C++ since you are already programming in C#.
>>51603578
We all know its what those boards are for.
Start off with Linux mint, learn bash and python then move onto C. Learn assembly if you want to know lower level concepts.
>>51602119
Let me give a advice I wish someone game me before I started my CS course: If you don't like math stay away! CS/CE != programming/hardware tinkering. This shit is to make researchers, if you just want to be a programmer or make games it will be overkill. Anyway, just my opinion, but I think I wasted 2 years of my life for nothing.
>>51602119
computer engineering isn't what you think it is. i think you'd be better off in comp sci, unless you specifically and completely understand what computer engineering is.
computer engineering is like, an engineering based curriculum (ie a lot of circuit and hardware classes. a fucking LOT of math) where you'll have two or three programming courses to the ten or so engineering courses
if you're interested in programming, do CS. save yourself the pain.
as for programming, learn python->c->c++. maybe some web dev. web dev is really fun
>>51603852
calc 2 isnt that bad lmao
install gentoo
>>51602119
Learn python, then whatever seems interesting. Once you tinker with enough languages, you will realise they are just tools. Don't use a hammer when faced with a screw.
As for linux, install a friendly distro (like mint), then switch to something more bare bones (gentoo/arch) when you start feeling comfortable in the terminal.
>>51602119
Make flappy bird clone. Instead of the bird make it a flying tv. Porn gif plays on tv. Avoid the giant dildos.
>>51603852
I love math, so it won't be a problem.
>>51603978
I want to learn the hardware. This will piss off a lot of people, but programming is something you can teach yourself, thanks to documentation and freely available tools. I cannot make myself an engineer. I want to master both, become a pro, but I cannot teach myself engineering like I can teach myself programming.
>>51604218
This will probably make everyone hate me, but why Python of all the languages? Is it just easier to start me off, or is it more useful than I give it credit for?
>>51602119
>a Highschool senior
How old are you?
Hello OP. Similar boat; high school senior with remedial computing concepts.
Thanks for this thread, it's certain to help me too.
>>51602119
>I know the basics of computing (I built my own machine), but I want to learn the deep stuff.
It's expected at this point that anyone who is "into computers" knows how to has put a computer together. The process has been streamlined so it's less a badge of honor and just more of a detail. If you bring it up, talk about how quickly you were able to solve issues you ran into when building your machine. Flashing BIOS, bad PSU, etc.
>I was going to go for Fedora, but my old machine was a Steam Machine, and I was getting some graphics glitches, so I stuck with SteamOS.
Makes sense, but if you want to learn this is a bad idea. Solve the problems you find, don't avoid them. Learn it while you're young.
>I want to practice both being able to control Linux properly from the Terminal
Do it. Look up an OS and download the CLI version.
>Can any of you suggest any goal or something I can try to accomplish to become better at either of these things?
1) /g/ is more about keyboards and weeb desktop themes, not informative, helpful shit.
2) Install VirtualBox. Install a Linux server on it with a CLI interface. Install an SFTP server onto the server. Install SSH. Install VPN onto the server. Access SFTP from a remote location, Starbucks or whatever, and pull data from it through SSH, over VPN to your remote location. This will cover a lot of the basics you'll need to research in order to get it running. Routing protocols, security, server install/troubleshooting, etc.
3) If you're interested more in CompSec type stuff, look into DefCon talks. There's a ton of them on Youtube and you can download the complete archive off their website. You won't know wtf they're talking about half the time but when you start picking up certain terms and phrases, read up on what they mean and figure out why it's important. Go back and watch it again and see what you can parse out of it. See if you still care.
>>51605058
>I was going to go for Fedora, but my old machine was a Steam Machine, and I was getting some graphics glitches, so I stuck with SteamOS
>Makes sense, but if you want to learn this is a bad idea. Solve the problems you find, don't avoid them. Learn it while you're young.
I did. The problem is that the Steam Machine had a custom built GPU, and it was not used to working with an OS other than Windows or Steam OS. I was going to try to get the drivers to make it work and then install Fedora over it, but I instead just used the opportunity to learn how to bring new features in. At this point, I brought enough stuff in that I honestly do not have the heart to undo my work. I will get the basics down and then switch to another distro.
>>51602119
cont'd
>>51605058
>I usually practice with C# because I used that in Unity and am thus more familiar with it.
It sounds like some of the questions you were asking about originally were for Server Administration stuff, but this is more about programming. Both fields need similar skills and have a lot of overlap, but if you feel like you are more interested in one than the other, you should figure out which that is and why.
It's okay not to know now; I had no clue which I enjoyed the most, even after I got a job in one. Just think about what you want and why you want it. Try and avoid the cheesy bullshit of "I like creating stuff, so programming!!! :D" then not giving it a second thought until after you have a degree in it. WHY do you like creating stuff? What stuff have you made and how many hours a week to you devote to it? Do you find yourself staying up late at night thinking about it?
If it's less programming and more Server or Security stuff, ask yourself why you like that. Is it just the idea of being in control, or is there a specific reason why you like it? What certifications do you plan on getting? I recommend: A+, Net+, Sec+, CCNA, ITILv3, CEHv7(or later), CCNP, etc. The server side of the house also includes a number of related fields too. Routing, Firewalls, Server Maint & Support, Incident response teams, etc.
My personal favorite is Pen Testing. I enjoy it because I get to apply logic to organizations that can't be bothered to apply logic themselves. Companies don't give a shit. Their lack of effort makes it easy for me to poke holes in their half-hearted security measures, which were never taken seriously. I get to break into their shit, break their shit, tell them how easy it was to do, then get paid to do it. I get to apply the knowledge that I get from reading shit online. Basically, I am smart enough to be an asshole to people I want to be an asshole to and get paid to be one.
>>51605149
Ah, I wasn't aware of that. Makes sense. If you'd like to have a physically different device to practice on, you could probably snag something off of cragislist pretty cheap.
Please leave
>>51602119
>I hope to go into computer engineering
>Linux properly (from the Terminal only, of course)
>programming in general.
go to comp sci is programming
Icomp eng is all circuits with some programming
electronics eng is circuits
techs do repair and assist.
>>51605425
>>I get to break into their shit, break their shit, tell them how easy it was to do, then get paid to do it. I get to apply the knowledge that I get from reading shit online. Basically, I am smart enough to be an asshole to people I want to be an asshole to and get paid to be one.
aaaannndddd this is why I wanna be a pen tester. and all those sexual innuendos I'm to awkward to use.
>>51604470
>I love math, so it won't be a problem.
good for you
> want to learn the hardware....
ok then CE is the right feild.. look into dual majoring EE
>This will probably make everyone hate me...
no most hate him for suggesting it.
its easy to jump into and can be used almost anywere for any thing. it can even be compiled in to if you need more speed
