For #4 if the Random instance weren’t “new”, then calling the nextInt() function would definitely have side effects, since the next integer would pull one away from the random stack.

However unlike the first three which will run within a consistent amount of time, #4 will take an unknown amount of time to run, so you can’t just collapse it and eliminate the loop.

For example a very simple race game where a participant moves a random number of steps each turn, we may want to time how long that race takes. We can’t just say that they will reach the end immediately. In fact technically we don’t know that they will ever finish the race… But that’s the halting problem and a whole other issue.

I’ve used dropbear in the past and it always feels a little janky, but it works well.

I would suggest whatever you pick, it should be a similar base to what you run or are most familiar with.

If you run something Debian based, you should recommend something Debian based. Fedora, Arch, etc.

The same is also true for desktop environments, if you use KDE, recommend KDE. If you run something not necessarily beginner friendly, recommend what you’re familiar with.

At some point you’re going to be asked questions, so the more familiar you are, the better for both of you.

Computers were either Windows or Mac, they couldn’t be anything else, that was a fact. Then I saw someone using Linux and had so many questions. How? I was given a Knoppix live CD, went home, and booted my home PC into Knoppix and it changed my perception of computers.

I didn’t change over immediately but eventually Ubuntu was handing out install CDs and YouTube was full of wobbly windows and desktop cubes. It wasn’t useful but it looked cool.

I still needed Windows for gaming, but for day to day it was so much easier to use Linux.

Eventually my gaming was exclusively on the Switch and then was I was looking to play certain PC games the Steam Deck was available, so I bought that.

I think Windows 8 was the last one I used and I’ve never had any desire to go back. Linux is just easier.

But us in the middle who pretend we’re smart

The trick you’ll learn is that everyone is just pretending. The more your learn the more you realize you don’t know.

True, but this book is the best thing Microsoft has made.

After you updated the config did you update-initramfs or update-grub (I forget which flags might be needed off hand).

Since this is happening pre-boot it isn’t reading from /etc.

E. T.

I don’t care that it was rated P. G., they killed my friend and I was just as sad as Elliot. The tubes and the quarantine were absolutely terrifying to me as a child and even seeing clips nowadays gives sends a shiver down my spine. Just sadness and fear.

Before Arch that role belonged to Gentoo.

To add, before the change the Gentoo wiki was a top resource when it came to Linux questions. Even if you didn’t use Gentoo you could find detailed information on how various parts of Linux worked.

One day the Gentoo wiki died. It got temporary mirrors quickly, but it took a long time to get up and working again. This left a huge opening for another wiki, the Arch wiki, to become the new top resource.

I suspect, for a number of reasons, Arch was always going to replace Gentoo as the “True Linux Explorer”, but the wiki outage accelerated it.

You also have to keep track the site and how you spell it. For example is it “Microsoft” or “microsoft”?

And keep track of the current name of the site vs the old name. For example am I signing into Microsoft or Live.com or Xbox?

And keep track of my username. Is it my email? Which email? Which username?

I understand the concept but I think if falls apart fast.

To allow for a live avatar. For example when playing Mario Kart online you can see the reactions of your friends your playing with. When you hit someone with a red shell and they make a mad face, you get to see it.

Microphones have been in gaming for a while, this is just the next step.

Now… Is any of that necessary? No, not really. Is it kinda neat? Maybe for some.

That’s a fair point. I also have a SteamDeck so indie games I previously bought on the Switch 1, I would now buy on the SteamDeck.

If I only had a Switch or Switch 2, there are advantages to buying handheld versus a PC/Xbox/PlayStation.

With the new Xbox handheld thing that likely further cuts into the handheld market and unique feature of the Switch.

Are there lots of non Nintendo games exclusive to the original Switch?

Nintendo consoles are for Nintendo games. Non Nintendo games on Nintendo consoles are a nice bonus, but only when looking at the lifetime of the console and not the launch.

Re Minecraft, the “Vibrant Visuals” update only applies to Bedrock and not Java at the moment.

I assume most SteamDeck Minecraft players are using Java, so you won’t see this particular change at this time.

Although it is coming later.

And Java has had shaders since forever.

Linux has two ways of drawing pictures, the old way (Xorg) and the new way (Wayland).

The old way is like a giant box of crayons with the crayon sharpener built in. The box is all marked up, the sharpener is full of gunk, and a few crayons are melted together. Nobody really wants to touch the old box of crayons, although it does work for the most part, it’s a familiar box.

The new way is like a smaller box of crayons. The clean sharpener isn’t built in but it is available nearby, although some people say it doesn’t work as good. A few crayons are missing, but are available in most cases, they’re just not in the box. Most people are working to improve the new box.

If you’re using Linux, the new box of crayons is generally the better choice. It’s ok to stop using the old box.

Lex Luthor.

Sure, he wants to kill Superman, that’s not the best political stance, but other than that he’ll basically just focus on fixing everything else that slows society down in order to have a society that’s better at killing Superman.

Plus it’s not like he’s successful at killing Superman. So really it’s a win-win.

Curious to know what 8bitdo software exists and doesn’t work on Linux. I own two controllers and only ever used them on my Switch and SteamDeck.

So if it has software, it isn’t needed, and out of the box it just works.

Knoppix. I didn’t see it listed yet so I had to chime in.

I saw it and was confused that computers could run something that wasn’t Windows and wasn’t Mac. Then I was handed a Knoppix LiveCD and suddenly MY computer was Linux. Absolutely blew my mind.

I then explored Mandrake (now Mandrivia?) for a while but it never really stuck.

A few years later Ubuntu was handing out LivdCDs to everyone running Warty Warthog and soon after window managers started to use Beryl (?) which let you have a fancy cube desktop. Absolutely pointless but that’s how it all started.

To be fair the Switch launched with Zelda Breath of the Wild, which is arguably the best Zelda game and possibly the best game on the Switch.

So even with only a single title, the Switch had a strong launch title.

Now for Switch 2 they’re launching with Mario Kart. Now I know Mario Kart is the top selling Switch game, so it sounds like a good launch title, but I’m less confident.

I know Nintendo hasn’t made a new Mario Kart game in 10+ years, just updated the existing Mario Kart 8, and I’m sure it’ll be fun, but I think Mario Kart is too casual of a game, I think it sells systems eventually, but not so much on launch.

History shows it does pay off.

The Wii U had Nintendo Land, which was the 5th top selling game for the console.

The Switch had 1 2 Switch, which was the 40th top selling game for the console. 40th might sound low, but that’s about the same as Zelda Echoes of Wisdom, Pikmin 4 or Paper Mario Origami King.

Now this “game” looks to be terrible so far, but that can always throw it as a pack in after a year or two and suddenly the total sales bump right up. No downside.