I was lucky to have been born in the early 90s. I was also lucky that my parents had some disposable income. Even luckier that things like the Raspberry Pi Foundation existed while I was alive and young.

I shouldn’t take these things for granted. I lived through the rise of the personal computer, the introduction of internet to the masses, and then high speed internet, then high speed mobile internet, and the smartphone as well. I’d say that I’m way beyond basic computer literacy, but that’s because I lived through those times, and following my curiosity led me on this path. But those times are now gone, and not everyone has the same proclivities for nerd stuff as I do.

Which is why I’m worried. Recently there was a meme that I think illustrates the why. And, of course: not all millennials wear IT-capes, and know how to fix a printer. And there are still loads of people, especially older, that hold a vast pool of knowledge in these subjects. But I think it’s undeniable that not only is this older generation going away (and unfortunately so does most of their lived experience), but as well that there is an abandoning of the ideals behind personal computing. And that’s what I mean by the title; the art of knowing of how to mess with a personal computer is going away.

This is an instance of a pattern that we’ve already seen before. I guess this is what the scribing monks felt once the moving press came about. The paradigm changed, and our way became obsolete, fell into disuse, and finally a footnote. But I can only feel tempted to think that this time is different. I know this is presumptuous on my end, but hear me out: computers aren’t going away. This “general purpose” interface that was built through the years is going to stay, in a somewhat changed form sure, but here nonetheless. So it would be better to have a good idea on how the sausage is made.

Nota bene, I’m not proposing anything here, mostly because I’m not sure I truly understand the problem, and thus cannot really offer any solutions in good faith. But with so much conversations being had around digital sovereignty and what that entails, it’s quite clear to me that it’s a danger to go on and not do anything about it.

Is it that I’m too used of this way of doing things that I just can’t see it going away?

Because it’s somewhat ironic, as I feel that we are at a point where it has never been easier to realize this dream. And this is when it’s going to get lost. I mean this: the bar for building and providing something with a computer, while preserving a personal aspect to these creations has never been lower, and yet we see everyone moving away from it. Even the millennials.