Your First Brain is Your Very Operating System
Unconsciously, because of Windows error, cold diving into the Linux ecosystem, it taught me further about systems thinking, deep into philosophy, just with the question “F Windows, so how do I create a sustainable & unbreakable system for my personal need, the long term (decades/forever ahead)?”
Before, I spent time building my Windows desktop and Android system to be as pleasant and personal as possible, with countless macros, workflows, shell configs, and automations. I documented all of that in my notes and databases.
When the system breaks, yes, I can replicate them, but the time spent rebuilding the system is huge frictions, only pain and burnout.
I just don’t want to use a computer and suddenly badaboom all dead and have to start from scratch again.
I believe a personal system should improve over time as you grow. In my journey, Obsidian approach is closest to that philosophy. I can change the environment, but the data and its system in there will still behave the same, as long as your files are safe.
And at a deeper level into operating system, nix/store are the only declarative systems that really answer that question. You can improve your system over decades as part of your very personal life journey, the complexity of the system will follow your way of thinking. Just cultivate clarity instead of hopping into different shiny and vague things, you spend your time to build and sharpen what is already part of yourself.
No, it’s not about minimalism or maximalism, that’s people preference. It’s about living and growing up, cultivating peace of mind, me simply don’t want to end up worse than current state, didn’t I?
Diving into Linux taught me an important thing: You have autonomy over yourself. If you surrender your life and growth to what you don’t know and have no control over it, basically it’s being a puppet.
I have a bittersweet relationship with Windows. I made it the main driver over a decade, for work, getting job done, and building the fundamentals of my computer habits and workflow. Furthermore, I’ve always wanted to replicate my system to be replicated on Linux. And now, it really can, and be the best time to switch.
I try not to be extremist to shill Linux, you can still be pragmatic using Windows/MacOS. I’m encouraging you to use what suits best for your work and specific use case. But I’m not encouraging you to put your very personal life into those blobs. I’m not anti-corporate or anything like that. I’m just anti self-destruct.
This early September, I spent my days building my new computer paradigm understanding and strengthening my system philosophies. No regrets. But I don’t want to get sucked into endless rabbit holes, wasting my time optimizing and configuring.
Now, my system works as intended and be stronger than before. I can just virtualize Windows for apps that I need with near-native performance, or boot into it in seconds. Now it’s different: I use Windows just for the sake of the tools, not the system.
I’m not believing in any apps and software as for that second brain stuff. I just like zooming out, viewing individuals through the orchestration of models, habits, lifestyle, and purpose as a system that shape them.
Just to make sure when we’re using tech, use it as a tool and entity for extending, improving, and securing the very operating system: the first brain.