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Learning a New OS... and Fast!?

Posted by Cliff on from the accelerated-learning dept.

Inexile2002 asks: "I've been asked to assist a consultant on a project using VMS and basically have four days to figure out enough that I'm actually of some use. (We're not doing development, just security reviews, so I'm not totally screwed.) Originally I was going to ask for advice on how to start teaching myself VMS from scratch including best books and support websites when I realized that there is a more generic issue here. What are people's thoughts on learning a new OS and learning it fast? Have people found optimal ways to pick things up quickly, get a familiarity with commands and underlying logic? How about learning the basics when you can't actually install and play with the OS in question?"

8 of 76 comments (clear)

  1. As with any project... by zulux · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...that you need to do in a short amount of time: the best advice I could give is to stay the hell away from Slashdot.

    --

    Moneyed corporations, non-working 'poor' and criminal prisoners are turning productive citizens into tax-slaves.

  2. What a relief by drfrank · · Score: 3, Funny

    Security reviews? Is that all? It's not like that requires any in-depth knowledge of the operating environment. You're off the hook!

  3. Find out what VMS uses for grep and... by orthogonal · · Score: 2, Funny

    Find out what VMS uses for grep and then type the equivalent of this at the command line:

    grep "Here's where the buffer under-run starts" *.c

    --
    Opinions on the Twiddler2 hand-held keyboard?
  4. Do it The Matrix way ... by rlowe69 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just call up Tank and ask him to download it into your brain. Presto-chango! .. oh wait, you aren't in the Matrix. .... or ARE you?

    --
    ----- rL
  5. easy. by pizza_milkshake · · Score: 2, Funny

    rtfm and no sleep.

  6. mistitled? by spike666 · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Learning a New OS... and Fast!?"
    shouldnt that be Learning an Old OS... ?

  7. is this a joke? by bob@dB.org · · Score: 2, Funny

    someone that doesn't know squat about vms, and has 4 days to learn says:

    "We're not doing development, just security reviews, so I'm not totally screwed."

    i have no idea how to even respond to that. if taking this job was your idea, i'd suggest to get into som other line of work (like sweeping streets). if someone you work for put you on this project, i suggest you explain to them why this is a bad idea. this may require the help of a large hammer.

    --
    Acts@core.mailboks.com Acrux@core.mailboks.com Adam@core.mailboks.com Adar@core.mailboks.com Ada@core.mailboks.com
  8. Re:check the Rosetta Stone by NoMoreNicksLeft · · Score: 2, Funny

    Strangely, they also didn't have Windows, AmigaOS, or Apple ProDOS on the Unix Rosetta Stone. It must really suck or something, eh?