Our University provides access to a Linux server for any student (not just those in data science etc) or staff member and that computer has Postgres available for anyone who want to use it. The server is also accessible remotely (80% of our student base is remote/on-line). You also get a shell account and can install any software which can be installed and run from that account. At another University I do some work for, they have moved to a virtual environment, where students are able to spin up a virtual computer on demand and have full access to install whatever software they like (though there are some constraints on what can be setup to 'persist' across instances. You could install PG, but I'm not sure if it would be restored next time you spin up hyour virtual server).
>From personal experience, I can say that when I was a student, a $60 book was very difficult to justify/afford and I greatly valued on-line resources at that time. I made extensive use of the library, but obtaining specific books was not as easy as asking for them - the library has limited space and can only maintain collections on a demand basis, so you were unlikely to get a book just based on request. A further aspect about on-line resources not yet mentioned is the accessibility aspect. As a blind programmer, I know the huge benefits of electronic resources compered to dead trees! Tim On Fri, 20 Jul 2018 at 11:03, Melvin Davidson <melvin6...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > On Thu, Jul 19, 2018 at 8:54 PM, Adrian Klaver <adrian.kla...@aklaver.com> > wrote: > >> On 07/19/2018 05:43 PM, Melvin Davidson wrote: >> >>> >>> >>> >> >>> >>> > Then again people might use shared, university or library computers >>> Would you please be so kind as to inform us which university or library >>> allows users to install software on a _shared_ computer. >>> >> >> Pretty sure Ken was referring to looking up documentation, not running >> Postgres. >> >> >>> BTW, since you mention library, that is an excellent way to have the >>> books ordered and shared.>FOR FREE<. AFAIK, all that is required is for >>> someone to request the library purchase the book, to be used for shared >>> learning. >>> >>> >>> -- >>> *Melvin Davidson** >>> Maj. Database & Exploration Specialist** >>> Universe Exploration Command – UXC*** >>> Employment by invitation only! >>> >> >> >> -- >> Adrian Klaver >> adrian.kla...@aklaver.com >> > > > Pretty sure Ken was referring to looking up documentation, not running > Postgres. > That does not correlate. To have the need to look up documentation implies > that the user has a computer running PostgreSQL. > As universities DO NOT ALLOW software to be installed on shared computers, > and this is the case especially in a library, it implies > the user has their own computer. As libraries allow users/citizens to > request books be purchased >at no cost to the user/citizen, the > argument that someone cannot afford a book is now a moot point. > > -- > *Melvin Davidson* > *Maj. Database & Exploration Specialist* > *Universe Exploration Command – UXC* > Employment by invitation only! > -- regards, Tim -- Tim Cross
