THE_LOG_FILES#SHOW LOG

IN TODAYS EMAIL:

• Latest News 👾 Microsoft Releases 6502 BASIC — Open Source Time Capsule from 1976

• Advice & Tips 📜 Certifications vs. Experience: Which Matters More in IT?

• Resource of the Week My Amazon Store

• Latest Episode 📶 Cisco Revives Wireless: New Cert Track Coming 2026

INDUSTRY TRENDS & NEWS:

👾 Microsoft Releases 6502 BASIC — Open Source Time Capsule from 1976

💻 The Ping

Ever wanted to peek under the hood of the software that powered your childhood Commodore 64? Microsoft just open-sourced their original 6502 BASIC interpreter — the code that taught a generation to type 10 PRINT "HELLO" and fall in love with coding. 

📑 The Log

Here’s what’s going on with this historic release:

• Microsoft’s 6502 BASIC — Version 1.1 is now officially open-source under the MIT license.

• Written by Bill Gates and Ric Weiland in 1976, this was the foundational BASIC for early home computers like the Apple II, Commodore PET, VIC-20, and C64.

• The release includes all ~6,955 lines of assembly code, including Commodore fixes from 1978 — and a hidden Easter egg from Gates.

• Preservationists have already verified that the code still compiles into byte-exact ROMs — perfect for FPGA recreations and retro-coding experiments.

🗂️ Check the Log File

This isn’t just nostalgia — it’s a programming time capsule. Whether you’re a hobbyist, a coder curious about computing roots, or just building a retro project, this release is a piece of our collective digital heritage — and it’s yours to explore.

⌨️ The Command Line

Run this command:

Visit GitHub, search for “Microsoft 6502 BASIC 1.1” and clone the repo. Try assembling it and booting it in an emulator (or FPGA!) to explore how BASIC programmers learned to program back in the day.

ADVICE AND TIPS:

📜 Certifications vs. Experience: Which Matters More in IT?

💻 The Ping

When I first broke into IT, it was my CCNA certification that got me noticed. But over time, it was experience that built my career. So what’s really more valuable — certifications or experience? Let’s settle one of IT’s oldest debates.

📑 The Log

The debate between certifications and experience comes up constantly in IT. Here’s how they stack up:

• Certifications matter most when you’re breaking in, switching careers, or proving you know a specific technology (think CCNA, CCNP, AWS).

• Experience carries weight in senior roles, consulting, and leadership, where employers care more about a track record of solving problems.

• Certs open doors by making you stand out from the crowd and showing commitment.

• Experience sustains growth because real-world problem-solving can’t be memorized from a book.

• The truth? You need both. Certifications spark opportunity, but experience fuels the long-term career journey.

🗂️ Check the Log File

Certifications are tickets to opportunity. Experience is proof you can deliver. The real winners? IT pros who stack both.

⌨️ The Command Line

Run this command:

• If you’re early in your career → Pick one certification to pursue this quarter.

• If you’re seasoned → Write down one major project you’ve led and share it on LinkedIn.

🔗 The Uplink: (Resource of the Week)

🛒 My Amazon Store

Books + gear to level up in tech:

👉 amazon.com/shop/debtfreeinitwmike

RECENT EPISODE:

📶 Cisco Revives Wireless: New Cert Track Coming 2026

💻 The Ping

Wireless might feel like a lost art form — nobody says “I want to be a wireless engineer.” But every campus, hospital, and stadium depends on Wi-Fi. And now Cisco is reviving wireless with a brand-new certification track launching March 2026.

📑 The Log

Here’s what’s changing in the wireless space:

• CCNA is the foundation → It still kicks off the wireless journey.

• New certification path → Wireless Foundations → CCNP Wireless → CCIE Wireless.

• ENCOR updates → Expect adjustments to the core Enterprise exams to align with wireless advancements.

• Salary outlook → Wireless engineers average $97K–$130K, depending on role and location.

• Underrated specialty → Wireless often gets overlooked, but demand is rising across campuses, hospitals, and large venues.

🗂️ Check the Log File

Every business runs on Wi-Fi — and when wireless breaks, people notice. Cisco’s renewed focus means wireless is about to become a career growth lane for IT pros willing to specialize.

⌨️ The Command Line

Run this command: If you already have your CCNA, map out the new Wireless Foundations certification as part of your 2026 study plan.