Today is Ada Lovelace Day, a 19th-century woman widely regarded as the first computer programmer. Ada wrote various notes describing what we now would recognize as computer programs, envisioning these running on Charles Babbage’s “Analytical Engine” (an early take on what we would call a computer today). To celebrate the contributions that Ada provided to early computing we are taking the time today to recognize three women creating awesome stuff with Linux (and System76 computers).

We sent three questions to our friends Helena, Na’Tosha, and our very own Emma (from here at System76). Below you will find our questions and their fantastic answers!



Helena Bales

Algorithm Developer at the UGA Small Satellite Research Lab

How did you get started with Linux?

I found out about Linux and installed it the same day. It was my freshman year of college, and I had my very first laptop. I was sitting in the common area of my dorm when a bunch of the guys from my CS classes who lived in the building came back from the Oregon State University Linux User’s Group. Every year, LUG holds an InstallFest, where they help people get set up with Linux. I asked one of the guys what they were doing with their computers, and he explained what Linux is and how to use it. About five minutes into the conversation, I asked him to help me install Ubuntu as my primary and only operating system. I haven’t looked back.

What are you creating/doing on Linux?



I still use Linux as my primary operating system, although I do have a rarely-used Windows machine, so I use Linux for everything from studying and listening to music to developing algorithms for use in small satellites. I am currently involved with several space-based projects. With the University of Georgia’s Small Satellite Research Lab, I am part of a team of undergraduate students who are building two small satellites that will be launched from the International Space Station in around two years. I use my Linux machine as my primary development environment to adapt algorithms for use in our satellites. Our satellites are looking at earth to collect data about water color and topography. This is data that is already being collected, both from other satellites and from drones, so my primary task is to optimize existing algorithms for our use. My other space-based project is a payload for a sounding rocket through the RockSat-X program. This project is my Senior Design class, required for graduation from my program, where we get to pick a project to work on for a year. For the rest of this year, I am working with other undergraduate students at OSU in various majors to design, build, and integrate a payload for a sounding rocket.

What are you favorite/most used apps?



I am a huge fan of tmux with vim for development. I always prefer using my keyboard instead of my mouse, so I like that tmux allows for windowing of terminals while still only using the keyboard. Similarly, I like vim because it was my first real text editor, and because of its heavy reliance on keyboard shortcuts. I have been using i3 as my window manager, also for the use of the keyboard, as well as because it is effective at optimizing screen real-estate.

Na’Tosha Bard

Technical Director for R&D at Unity Technologies



How did you get started with Linux?



When I was young, I was always interested in science and technology. I was pretty late in getting Internet in my own home growing up, but once I did in the late 90’s I found some Linux/Unix communities that got me interested. I spent a lot of time on IRC channels and other chatrooms learning and getting help from other people and eventually becoming one to teach and help others. The first version of Linux I can remember for sure installing was Debian Bo; I’m sure I experimented with others but it was a while ago now. I went through a RedHat phase in the early 2000’s, and I went through a phase of being obsessed with source-based distributions (Gentoo, Sorcerer) and a brief stint with Slackware. I went back to Debian around 2003 (I got tired of the compiling-everything-from-source thing, and I haven’t found a package management system I like as much as apt). When Ubuntu became prominent, I was a bit skeptical but also intrigued; by this point, I had moved much more into a mindset of just wanting everything to work and not really wanting to tinker with my installation. I switched to Ubuntu somewhere around 2005 or so, and I have been using it ever since.



What are you creating/doing on Linux?

I currently work for Unity Technologies, where we develop the Unity game engine and as part of that, I work on various projects, some of the most interesting ones being the Linux/SteamOS support for the Unity runtime and the Linux port of the Unity Editor. I’ve also spent years working in the area of building internal tools for Unity’s R&D organization, and develop these from Linux (mostly Python web applications that are forks of open-source projects). I’ve worked on a pretty wide range of software projects in the past as well, both at Unity and in other organizations. Other than doing software development, I use my machine like anyone uses a computer: I play games, watch movies, listen to music, check mail and social media, etc.



What are your favorite/most used apps?



Well, if I’m being honest, probably my #1 most used application is Chrome. Other than that, I’d have to say CLion IDE (the first C++ IDE for Linux that’s made me feel even partially sane), PyCharm IDE, and Steam.

Emma Marshall

Consumer Account Manager at System76

How did you get started with Linux?



I got started with Linux when I discovered System76. There was a link on the Website that linked to the Ubuntu Community page and it sucked me in instantly. The more I read about Ubuntu, the more I wanted to be a part of the project and join System76. I started using Ubuntu at home with a dual boot setup, but after starting work at System76, I found myself not needing to boot into Windows at home anymore since I was able to accomplish so much more in Ubuntu.



What are you creating/doing on Linux?



I use Linux at home and work. I currently spend the majority of my work day trying to convert people to Ubuntu. Although I sometimes use graphic apps like Gimp, InkScape, and Libre Office to make help documents for new users, most of what I do every day is just talking with customers about Ubuntu and is done through a web browser. In tech support, I help other people get their Linux machines back to working like normal. That takes research, testing, and collaboration with the rest of our support team. I’m joining a podcast this week which involves using a handful of Linux applications that I’ve never used before, so that will be an adventure! At home, I use Linux to create videos, photos and graphic projects for my family. To sum it up, I guess you could say that I use Linux to spread Linux!



What are your favorite/most used apps?



My favorite/most frequently-used apps in Linux are Firefox, OpenShot, Gimp, VLC and Diodon. I could list 10-20 other favorites, but this week, those are the ones I’ve been using the most.

