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    • Wake Forest, NC, — 2025-09-20
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1

Counting words from online articles

January 7, 2026December 29, 2025
2

Buying a Linux laptop that will last

January 6, 2026January 6, 2026
3

Introduction to the BtrFS Filesystem

January 5, 2026December 25, 2025
4

Quick Tip for umount

January 3, 2026December 31, 2025
5

The Truth About Disk Fragmentation

January 2, 2026December 24, 2025
6

Prognostications for 2026

January 1, 2026December 24, 2025
7

Version Control Is Not Just for Code

December 31, 2025December 24, 2025
8

Counting files and words from the command line

December 30, 2025December 22, 2025
9

Behind the Badge: Community, Process, and Care in Open Source Exams

December 29, 2025December 21, 2025
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jhall

Jim Hall is an open source software developer and advocate. His first contribution to open source was in 1993 with a patch to GNU Emacs, but he is probably best known for his work on FreeDOS, the open source version of the DOS operating system, and for his work on usability in open source software. In addition to writing open source software, Jim also writes about open source software, including Both.org and All Things Open, and about technical writing at Technically We Write.
Fun Linux

Calculate letter frequency in gawk

Write a gawk script to determine the most (and least) common letters in a set of words.

Jim Hall
October 16, 2024October 13, 2024
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FreeDOS Linux Programming

Programming across platforms

Using these C compiler preprocessor directives to detect the operating system can make it easier to support multiple platforms at once.

Jim Hall
October 15, 2024October 13, 2024
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Open Source

4 ways to write your first article

Write an article about your open source experience.

Jim Hall
October 1, 2024August 11, 2024
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Code Fun Programming

Write a guessing game in ncurses

Use the flexibility of ncurses to create a guess-the-number game on Linux.

Jim Hall
September 18, 2024September 10, 2024
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Linux Programming

Terminal size and ncurses

When programs like vi first came along, terminals had a predefined size: usually 80 columns and 24 lines (actually 25 lines, but the last line...

Jim Hall
September 16, 2024September 7, 2024
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Command Line Linux

Searching text files from the command line

The find command is a powerful and flexible tool to locate files under a path.

Jim Hall
September 15, 2024September 10, 2024
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Fun Linux Programming

Random numbers from the Linux kernel

Let the kernel generate random numbers for you using ‘getrandom.’

Jim Hall
September 14, 2024September 5, 2024
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Linux Programming

A gentle introduction to ncurses

You can create your own programs that use a text user interface to control the screen.

Jim Hall
September 11, 2024September 7, 2024
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Fun Programming

Learn C by writing a number guessing game

The “Guess the number” game is a fun way to learn a new programming language.

Jim Hall
September 7, 2024September 5, 2024
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FreeDOS Text Editors

Editing files with FreeDOS Edlin

Edlin is a classic editor from the early DOS days, but it’s still a fun and useful editor.

Jim Hall
September 5, 2024September 4, 2024
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Both.org Getting Started Open Source

Join the community and share an article

Our community wants to read about your experience and how you use your favorite open source application.

Jim Hall
September 1, 2024August 11, 2024
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Command Line Linux

Check spelling at the command line

Check spelling at the command line like old-school Unix with this cool script.

Jim Hall
August 24, 2024August 16, 2024
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Fun Programming

Guess the number in FORTRAN 77

Explore classic programming in FORTRAN 77 with this sample program.

Jim Hall
August 20, 2024August 13, 2024
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LibreOffice

Count magic bunnies in LibreOffice Calc

Use this tutorial to learn about AutoFill in LibreOffice Calc.

Jim Hall
August 19, 2024August 13, 2024
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LibreOffice

LibreOffice Calc functions to make your work easier

Here are the LibreOffice Calc functions that I use all the time to get my work done.

Jim Hall
August 12, 2024August 7, 2024
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History Programming

A look back: FORTRAN 77

Take a step back in time to a time when programs were punched on cards.

Jim Hall
August 10, 2024August 7, 2024
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Posts pagination

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Random Quote

Job control cards that positively cannot be arranged in improper order will be.

— Troutman’s Programming Postulates

End of 10...

  • End of 10…

Links: Humor

  • Linux: A true story

Links: Interesting info

  • Replace Kubernetes with systemd

Links: Linux

  • Fedora
  • KDE for W10 Exiles
  • Linux Mint
  • Ubuntu

Links: Moving to Linux

  • 7 Reasons Fedora Might Be a Better Windows Replacement Than Linux Mint
  • 7 Reasons Why Windows Users Avoid Linux (Which Aren’t True Anymore)
  • Best Linux distros to try before Windows 10 support ends
  • How to switch your Windows 10 PC to Linux Mint – for free
  • I replaced my entire Microsoft Office subscription with free open-source apps
  • Isn’t It Time to Switch to Linux? 12 Reasons to Abandon Windows
  • KDE for W10 Exiles
  • Linux: A true story
  • Why Denmark is dumping Microsoft Office and Windows for LibreOffice and Linux
  • Why I Switched to Linux From Windows

Links: Open Source Software

  • GIMP
  • I replaced my entire Microsoft Office subscription with free open-source apps
  • LibreOffice

“systemd for SysAdmins” Now Available

May 13,2025

My latest book — a #1 New Release on Amazon — “systemd for Linux  SysAdmins” is now available from my publisher, Apress, and on Amazon.

Technically We Write — Our Partner Site

Our partner site, Technically We Write, has published a number of articles from several contributors to Both.org. Check them out.

Technically We Write is a community of technical writers, technical editors, copyeditors, web content writers, and all other roles in technical communication.

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  • End of 10 Events
    • Wake Forest, NC, — 2025-09-20
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    • The real reason we use Linux
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    • Using and Administering Linux – Zero to SysAdmin: 2nd Edition
    • The Linux Philosophy for SysAdmins
    • Linux for Small Business Owners
    • Errata
      • Errata for The Linux Philosophy for SysAdmins
      • Errata for Using and Administering Linux — 1st Edition
      • Errata for Using and Administering Linux — 2nd Edition
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