When I was younger, I had the freedom to tinker with our computer and explore its capabilities. I could delete the operating system and even unplug hardware while it was running, learning about hidden files and the consequences of my actions. I didn’t need classes or books to understand how computers worked; I simply experimented and researched online until I found the information I needed. For example, I wanted to play Age of Empires against my brother, so I had to learn about LAN networks, configuring network cards, and firewalls. Similarly, I discovered cloud storage when I wanted to download Photoshop but couldn’t afford it. By experimenting with FTP, I found a way to access Adobe’s software releases. Making websites was another opportunity for me to learn through tinkering. Using software like Frontpage, I could see the code and understand how certain elements were created. This approach, where technology was tinkering neutral, allowed for exploration and learning. However, today’s software is often designed with strict limitations, which hinders the freedom to tinker and explore. While some constraints are necessary for security and privacy reasons, many are unnecessary and restrict the potential for innovation.
https://www.trevoragilbert.com/posts/a-love-letter-to-tinkerable-software/