What is Linux to you?

[Duane Attaway]

On Wed, 30 Oct 2002, Brad Crotchett wrote:

> So don't leave us hanging...let's hear about the big windows rollout at
> the plant!

storytime...

Imagine 3 megawatts worth of wire and cable producing machines, using
500hp motors drawing copper rod into tightly coordinated high speed
plastic extrusion lines, through 450F steam at 450psi, cabled together
with high speed carbon graphite bows the size of helicopter blades,
armored by a 150kW induction welder, for use in oil fields, race tracks,
etc... Some of these machines were known as the largest in the world of
their kind and all controlled by relays or Programmable Logic Controllers
(powered by the almighty Z80 processor!)  The problems of the day were
lose connections, bearings needing replacement, motor windings breaking
down, and operators needing help on the line.  I was the senior electronic
technician.  It was a very rewarding job for all of us.  I loved going
into work every day.  It was the greatest passion.

One night we discovered some new toys.  They were fancy computers that
replaced some of these PLCs.  Some reels of cable weighed too much for the
forklift's 30,000 rated capacity.  From that day on, I would see the
forklifts going toward the back of the plant toward the salvage lines and
overflowing dumpsters, not the QA and shipping departments.

It wasn't the random lockups, it was also the required production reports
at the end of each shift.  When each operator at the end of each shift
would click on the "submit" button, a blue screen would appear, and the
production lines, the length of a football field, would stop.  The
forklifts would start.  Each twelve hours, the process would repeat.  It
must have been deemed successful, because all the lines were "upgraded."

Job satisfaction went right down the drain with profits.

RMS had this great story about printers.  He told me this story.  I could
relate to that.  He signed my tshirt and is a hero to me.  I might be
crazier than RMS, but I have a story like his.  Except my printer didn't
catch on fire.  I saw plastic extruders rated for 500,000 pounds of
dynamic thrust explode dozens of times, because windows NT decided to
halt.  Nothing like PVC heated beyond 800F in a large stainless steel
barrel shaped like a cannon.  I was standing next to one when it went off.  
I was in the middle of a large cloud of chlorine and lead gas.  Nylon was
worse.  It send a technician on another shift to the hospital.  They were
unable to remove it from his arms.

Will I use windows again?  No.  Will I work in another manufacturing plant 
again?  In a heartbeat, but only if its with technology we can control.  I 
trust machines and their controllers with my life.  It boggles my mind why 
people would impliment things that just do'nt work.

I work as a mechanic now, keeping a fleet of electric forklifts and
anhydrous ammonia refrigeration running.  They don't do windows.  And I
can do my job.  I hope microsoft doesn't push windows on mechanics.  I
will flip burgers before I have to watch 10,000 pounds of speeding iron
forklifts crash from random directions.

Linux is currently just a fun hobby for me.  I built my first computer
from a kit in 1981.  Remember the Sinclair?  Its wonderful how technology
has progressed since then.  My computer today has more than 1 kilobyte of 
memory and has more possibilities.