The computers that we use every single day are a marvel of modern engineering. Thanks to the contributions of thousands of computer scientists, most of us now own machines that are many times more powerful than the ones that were used to send human beings to the moon. And these machines are capable of a wide range of different tasks, especially when the user is aware of the many, various tools that come backed into most modern operation systems. For anyone looking to better their knowledge of computer systems and how they work, this can be the perfect stepping stone.
The Terminal
In both Windows and Linux operating systems, the command line interface, also called the terminal, is arguably one of the most versatile tools available to the power user. The entire system is based off of code written in programs similar to the terminal, which is more commonly as known as Powershell for Windows users. Learning some of the more common terminal commands can make a lot easier, especially when running into obscure problems that other, conventional methods can’t seem to solve. For operating systems like Windows, there are already a multitude of GUI applications and tools that can be used to solve many of the issues that a user might face, but they’re not nearly as powerful as the CLI. For Linux users, the CLI is always worth knowing – even it it’s a few basic commands. This can also provide additional controls, allowing the user to perform tasks while they find a place to spin the reels of their favourite games.
Logging
Logging is another way of keeping track of any important events that take place on the computer. For Windows users, the Event Manager program is usually enough to display any major events that have happened in the last few days. This can include any critical errors that need attending to, as well as warnings about potential issues. For Linux users, logging can be a bit more complicated, and will sometimes need the user to first set it up properly because any logs can be made.
Performance/Tasks Monitor
Most modern operating systems come with a way of monitoring the performance of the system. This is a useful tool to learn well, as it can provide the user with additional information in case the computer is not working to its full potential. Performance monitors come in all shapes and sizes, with some being GUI tools that can offer real time coverage of which resources the computer is using, as well as which tasks are currently running. For Linux users, their specific DE might not come with a GUI performance monitor, in which case they would need to make use of the CLI in order to find out which resources are being used. This can be done by using the ‘top’ command in the terminal, which will provide a simple layout of resource usage. Install the htop command will allow the user to keep track of the performance in real time with an interactive monitor.