A few of days ago I updated my Linux distro with the usual sudo apt-get dist-upgrade. I’ve been on a fucking steep learning curve ever since. I’m glad I ran the update but I wish it hadn’t buggered up my operating system by removing my desktop environment.
Trust me, it’s only after you’ve had to use a computer without a graphical desktop that has a nice graphical file manager and a nice graphical web browser that you appreciate how much you depend on them and the developers who build them.
Don’t get me wrong, I know how to navigate the command line to find, backup and edit files but it’s so much easier to command a computer with a mouse than to issue textual instructions.
I can hear you forming the question: “Why didn’t you just re-run the update or re-install the removed components?”
Believe me, if only it had been so easy… Something I learned through all of this: Linux, Command Line and Wi-Fi Adapters do not mix.
For two days, the only Internet access I’ve had through this computer is via my trustee Kubuntu Live Disk.
Getting Linux to use a Wi-Fi adapter without a graphical desktop is damn near impossible. I spent plenty of time surfing the Net, checking manual pages and posting in the Kubuntu forum. I’ve learned a few tricks, I’ve learned new things about Linux, I have something new to write about; and I’m happy about that; but none of this new knowledge helped.