Sometimes, a somewhat obscure Linux distribution might be just what you're looking for. Is either CachyOS or Nobara the one?
The printf command offers well-defined behavior following the POSIX standard, which means it works the same way across shells ...
Sudo lets you run any terminal command as another user — hence "substitute user" — but the default and most common use for it ...
Background running apps could be the cause for the high CPU usage and system unresponsiveness. Learn how to control hidden background apps in Linux.