Good book about Linux?

aardwolf · 2010-02-17 19:11:14

Hi,

I've been using Linux for 5 years or so, always using a graphical desktop.

I know many commands, like ls, sudo, mv, pacman, etc...

I can work with Linux terminal fine when having a graphical browser open that can help me out here and there with what commands exactly to type (copypaste from browser to terminal window actually).

But when I'm in a non graphical Archlinux (or Linux in general), then everything is hard for me. And when something in Archlinux breaks, then I can't fix it. I'm unable on my own to get KDE working after a pacman -Syu if there was something that broke it, for example. I can use irssi and ask help, but that's awkward.

Having to install something without pacman, is always a difficult adventure if the simple "./configure", "make", "make install" doesn't work.

Using the command line tar, zip, and similar commands are hell for me, because they have SO many flags and the simple action of simply uncompressing a file require many far fetched flags.

Also, I see that things like wget and such are very handy and useful, but I don't know them in enough detail.

Also, I can develop the most complex applications you can dream of in C and C++, but I can't write a shell script.

So I hope the above describes somewhat my knowledge level of Linux. There is some knowledge, but not enough.

Given that knowledge level, what could be a good book for me to read and/or to have next to me when working with Linux in a terminal-only environment?

Thanks!

Cyrusm · 2010-02-17 19:27:28

http://lmgtfy.com/

also, just start using the command line for everything you can.
you can do almost anything from the command-line, so if you need to complete a task
find a way to do it from the command line. read the man pages. do some research.

DON'T copypasta!!!! the internet might be wrong and could cause something stupid and unexpected to happen.
and then you won't know what to do about it.

understand what you are entering! LOOK IT UP FIRST!

Also, I can develop the most complex applications you can dream of in C and C++

then you should definitely not have any problem writing a shell script! there are a billion tutorials out there.

Last edited by Cyrusm (2010-02-17 19:29:47)

burnside · 2010-02-17 19:53:03

Running Linux from Oreilly publishing.

http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596007607/

I haven't read a recent version but the 3rd edition got me through a lot of headaches when I started using Linux.

anrxc · 2010-02-17 20:05:43

Given that knowledge level, what could be a good book for me to read and/or to have next to me when working with Linux in a terminal-only environment?

Rute User's Tutorial http://rute.rlworkman.net/

dhave · 2010-02-17 20:32:51

I really like Linux in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference from O'Reilly. 900+ pages of pure bliss.

It's here at Amazon.fr:

http://www.amazon.fr/Linux-Nutshell-Ell … 625&sr=8-1

and here at Amazon.co.uk:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Linux-Nutshell- … 674&sr=8-1

As the title says, it's a reference guide, not a tutorial or instructional guide per se. But for someone who's already been running Linux for a good while, you'd probably find it very useful to have at hand, as I do.

Don't order The Linux Kernel in a Nutshell by mistake, as I did, unless that's your specific area of interest. The covers look very much alike on booksellers' websites, and the less expensive price of the kernel book made me go for it. Fortunately, Amazon has an excellent return policy. (Pardon the free advertising, mods.)

Last edited by dhave (2010-02-17 20:41:00)

jdarnold · 2010-02-17 22:55:28

My favorite Linux book is the Linux Administration Handbook, 2nd ed. by Nemeth, Snyder & Hein.

jaydoc · 2010-02-19 06:41:03

@aardwolf

this free book is what i'm reading ATM. it is free, and though based a little on gentoo linux, its a great fit for your needs, as you seem to be having the same needs as i do, based on what you said above.

http://gd.tuwien.ac.at/linuxcommand.org/tlcl.php

Arch Linux

#1 2010-02-17 19:11:14

Good book about Linux?

#2 2010-02-17 19:27:28

Re: Good book about Linux?

#3 2010-02-17 19:53:03

Re: Good book about Linux?

#4 2010-02-17 20:05:43

Re: Good book about Linux?

#5 2010-02-17 20:32:51

Re: Good book about Linux?

#6 2010-02-17 22:55:28

Re: Good book about Linux?

#7 2010-02-19 06:41:03

Re: Good book about Linux?

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