Arch Linux

JustSomeGeek

Member

From: Scotland

Registered: 2018-08-13

Posts: 68

Books?

Sure it's been asked before, but any recommended books for learning (Arch) Linux in detail?

The Wiki and Web are great generally, but it's too easy to get sidetracked, or have to follow links for more info or explanations. I'm looking for something more linear I can work through. Needs to be recent though and cover things like UEFI, Systemd etc.

Any suggestions?

judd1

Member

Registered: 2015-09-04

Posts: 260

Re: Books?

It may be over understood, but for Arch the best book, for me, is the wiki

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ugjka

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From: Latvia

Registered: 2014-04-01

Posts: 1,865

Website

Re: Books?

Doubt there are books that cover rolling release distros because everything keeps changing.

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https://ugjka.net
"It is easier to fool people, than to convince them that they've been fooled" ~ Dr. Andrea Love

JustSomeGeek

Member

From: Scotland

Registered: 2018-08-13

Posts: 68

Re: Books?

It may be over understood, but for Arch the best book, for me, is the wiki

It is good, for looking things up. But like I said, I need something linear to work through. It's easier for me to learn that way.

stloma

Member

Registered: 2018-11-04

Posts: 4

Re: Books?

I'm kind of the same way - I ended up getting the Unix and Linux Administration Handbook to work through in a linear fashion, while supplementing it with the wiki for Arch specific implementations.

Maybe something like that would work for you.

JustSomeGeek

Member

From: Scotland

Registered: 2018-08-13

Posts: 68

Re: Books?

I'm kind of the same way - I ended up getting the Unix and Linux Administration Handbook to work through in a linear fashion, while supplementing it with the wiki for Arch specific implementations.

Maybe something like that would work for you.

Something like that maybe. But having looked at it, there's way too much I don't need to know, at this stage. I need something with much less cloud, and more local machine orientated. Probably loads out there, but I don't know what Linux books are more suitable for Arch. The Centos/RHEL ones I have for the server aren't very helpful lol

a821

Member

Registered: 2012-10-31

Posts: 381

Re: Books?

https://www.google.com/search?q=linux+b … mendations

JustSomeGeek

Member

From: Scotland

Registered: 2018-08-13

Posts: 68

Re: Books?

https://www.google.com/search?q=linux+b … mendations

Thanks. Some nice nuggets in there. But I really want something that will take me through from power on to login. Don't think there's any other way i'll grasp it all other wise. Too much stuff to learn for a 48 year old.

bluetechgirl

Member

Registered: 2019-01-14

Posts: 18

Re: Books?

Aside from the wiki or general Linux system admin books there isn't much since arch is rolling release and constantly changing. One thing you could possibly try if you have the time and patience is the LFS book and just do a basic setup in a VM or on a spare computer. Doing an LFS install will teach you more about how the internal Linux system works than anything else.

semicolon

Member

Registered: 2019-01-27

Posts: 2

Re: Books?

https://www.google.com/search?q=linux+b … mendations

Thanks. Some nice nuggets in there. But I really want something that will take me through from power on to login. Don't think there's any other way i'll grasp it all other wise. Too much stuff to learn for a 48 year old.

Maybe this is what you are looking for: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Arch_boot_process
This is a great book to get an understanding of working of your system: https://nostarch.com/howlinuxworks2
Finally, it all comes down to getting your hands dirty and trying things out.

All the best, mate!

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"What I cannot create, I do not understand"
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rfab

Member

From: Switzerland

Registered: 2022-05-22

Posts: 3

Re: Books?

I know I'm three years late, but perhaps my post is useful for other users instead of the OP?

I have worked through this book and, as a non-IT specialist, have had very satisfying success indeed:

https://themouseless.dev/

Best regards

Rolf

Alad

Wiki Admin/IRC Op

From: Bagelstan

Registered: 2014-05-04

Posts: 2,418

Website

Re: Books?

Paying 20€ for a book that's mostly (*) covered by ArchWiki and which otherwise details the author's personal configuration does not sound convincing...

At least it's better than the usual things you find on the internet: man pages are mentioned from the start, and there's a clearn warning to avoid partial upgrades.

(*) The exception seems to be 2 chapters on writing your own "installer" using dialog.

Last edited by Alad (2022-06-26 19:52:00)

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Mods are just community members who have the occasionally necessary option to move threads around and edit posts. -- Trilby

JustSomeGeek

Member

From: Scotland

Registered: 2018-08-13

Posts: 68

Re: Books?

I know I'm three years late, but perhaps my post is useful for other users instead of the OP?

I have worked through this book and, as a non-IT specialist, have had very satisfying success indeed:

https://themouseless.dev/

Best regards

Rolf

Never too late IMHO, and it's always good to get recommendations, especially when it's something interesting to put me out of my comfort zone. Some good topics in there, that i'd skim over, or avoid normally, but reading about i3 would probably give me the kick I need to try it.

Alad

Wiki Admin/IRC Op

From: Bagelstan

Registered: 2014-05-04

Posts: 2,418

Website

Re: Books?

but reading about i3 would probably give me the kick I need to try it.

https://i3wm.org/docs/userguide.html#_using_i3

One of the better user guides out there. And it's constantly updated.

Last edited by Alad (2022-06-27 15:17:58)

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Mods are just community members who have the occasionally necessary option to move threads around and edit posts. -- Trilby

JustSomeGeek

Member

From: Scotland

Registered: 2018-08-13

Posts: 68

Re: Books?

Paying 20€ for a book that's mostly (*) covered by ArchWiki and which otherwise details the author's personal configuration does not sound convincing...

At least it's better than the usual things you find on the internet: man pages are mentioned from the start, and there's a clearn warning to avoid partial upgrades.

(*) The exception seems to be 2 chapters on writing your own "installer" using dialog.

I guess it depends on whether you want specific information to get something done, or want to read about how other people get stuff done. Personally, I like to read about other's experiences with anything Linux, and why they've chosen the things they have. The Wiki is a goldmine of info, if all you want are pure facts, but it doesn't really have the personal touch that makes for an enjoyable read offline.