In 1978, a seminal computing text called The C Programming Language was published. It popularised a now-famous test program which simply instructs the computer to print a chirpy two-word greeting on the screen: ‘Hello, world!’ Traditionally, it’s often your initiation into programming.
As a test program, it serves several functions: showing the form of a programming language; ensuring that prerequisites are met; and demonstrating the programmer’s understanding. What follows in their journey tends to be a long road of curiosity, iteration, experimentation, success, and failure.
With much the same dryness as source code—that’s a programming joke—and ideally the same occasional bizarre elegance, both this first post and blog aim to share an analogous journey.
My love of computers, learning, and a 2001 medieval point-and-click game led me to a career in cybersecurity. It’s a long story for another day. Suffice to say, I am a deeply curious person and I spend a lot of my time learning about the overflowing list of topics I find interesting.
This blog is a place to share my field notes—explanations, observations, and experiments. I’m currently studying for my next certification, the ISC2 ‘Systems Security Certified Professional’ (SSCP), so the topics are equally as likely to be technical as they are non-technical.
Initially, I intend to publish one post every Monday. Like a test program, this blog serves several functions even if nobody ever reads it:
A mechanism to learn by explanation
An educational archive
A source of accountability
A tool against perfectionism by learning in public
Beyond those intrinsic functions, my greatest hope is to find and cultivate a community. If you like to read, if you are interested in cybersecurity, humane technology, or mindful productivity, or if you enjoy learning new things, please consider subscribing for free.
My name is Kai Tebay and this is my blog: In Fewer Bytes.
Hello, world!