What is a well organized Linux book for beginners?

19 years ago

I want a book that explains all the basics and will demonstrate step by step on how to download and install applications off the internet. Freespire is excellent as far as shielding new users from the DOS-like commands, but it seems to not go beyond the GUI and mouse clicking would leave one stunted.

For an example of "step by step" instructions for "beginners" check this out:

http://www.luv.asn.au/overheads/compile.html#source

Compiling a simple C program.

What you need

Debian packages: gcc, cpp, binutils, libc-dev. C++ programs also require: g++, and libstdc++

RedHat packages: egcs, cpp, binutils, glibc-devel. C++ programs also require: egcs-c++, libstdc++.

gcc and egcs

gcc is the standard Linux compiler, 2.7.2 is the latest stable version.

egcs is a breakaway development of gcc. This has since been renamed to gcc.

From /usr/doc/gcc/README.Debian.gz in gcc-2.95.2-0pre2:

As of gcc-2.95, optimisation at level 2 (-O2) and higher includes an optimisation which breaks C code that does not adhere to the C standard. Such code occurs in the Linux kernel, and probably other places.

There are a couple of 272 packages for Debian potato (unstable) to get around this - gcc272, gcc++272.

The program

/* hello.c */

#include
int main(int argc, char *argv[])

(
if (argc > 1)

printf("Greetings %s.\n", argv[1]);

else

printf("Please tell me your name.\n");

return 0;

)

Compile using:

> gcc -Wall -o hello hello.c

Run with:

> ./hello Linus

Greetings Linus.

gcc options

-o

output file name, (a.out if omitted)

-Wall

display warnings for many possible errors

hello.c

file to be compiled, can specify multiple .c files

The info pages (info gcc) has much more information about gcc. These are in the gcc-doc package.

The Path

Typical Linux path:

$HOME/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/sbin:/bin: /usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/X11R6/bin:/usr/games

$HOME/bin

user's personal bin directory

/usr/local/bin

programs installed by the local sysadmin

/bin

programs required during startup

/usr/bin

most executables

/usr/X11R6/bin

X11 programs

/usr/games

Games

sbin

programs which are normally only run by the superuser (root)

. (dot, current directory)

should be last item in path, or preferably not at all.

If you don't have "." in your path then you will need to run programs by using ./name

Scripts

* first line is #!/path/interpreter

* chmod +x script-name

> cat > tryme #!/bin/sh

echo "This is a test script."

EOF

> chmod +x tryme

> ./tryme

This is a test script.

If that is a "Beginners Guide" just call me stupid!

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Comments (4)

spunbondwarrior
19 years ago
You are looking to learn using CLI? LOL, you are gonna have a good time, uh huh!!!

You know of/how apt-get, Synaptic, or KPackage or RPM? Package managers they are, Synaptic is my personal choice, RPM is just not my cup o tea....

Free/Linspire I have loaded and run/used just to trial it/them and they both use/access "click 'n run" but I never had occasion to use that feature.

I liked using Free/Linspire, almost as user friendly and almost as easy and correctly recognized hardware and install as Sim[plyMepis6,

Then again, If you really want to learn all about Linux, get yourself a copy of Gentoo.

Or, if you really want to learn the basics to the details, and get the book with all the files and everything else, get a copy of "Linux From Scratch". That oughtta keep you busy for a while!
here ya go: http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/

Here is a link that might be useful: Linux beginners techno manual
premio53
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks. I'll look into the suggestions. I had the idea that "compiling" is the same as "installing." I asked a man at work who runs Linux about how to install a downloaded application and he said he compiles his own. The way he kept using the word compile, it sounded like he was just installing them manually. One things for sure, going from Windows to Linux is like learning a completely new language. Regards.
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mxyplx
19 years ago
Learning Linux - best to be middle aged - like 16.
premio53
Original Author
19 years ago
"Learning Linux - best to be middle aged - like 16."

Well my friend, that may be true. Even though I may never "learn" Linux, it really doesn't matter (I never was an "expert" at Windows either) since I can now run it just like Windows and have the satisfaction that that the operating system now belongs to me. It is also nice to not be required to have a super computer to keep up with the Joneses (check out requirements for Vista) to be able to do the tasks that need to be done. I'll be satisfied just to learn some basic commands and leave the heavy stuff to the teenagers.

Here is an interesting quote from Open-source Guru Eric Raymond who recently joined the Freespire team:
http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS2603651519.html

"...if the Linux desktop is ever to grab a large share of the desktop market it must do it soon or it will never happen."

"Desktop Linux must advance now," said Raymond. "If desktop Linux is to advance to a broader audience, it must work with iPods and other MP3 players, play DVD movies, view Windows Media and Quick Time content on the web, and so on. I wish users didn't require these proprietary formats, but it's naive and unrealistic to expect the masses to forgo these requirements in the near future. Linux must make some compromises to attract mainstream users."

Raymond believes desktop Linux is entering into a critical period, noting that historically, users have shifted operating systems during periods of fundamental changes in hardware platforms. He believes the PC vendors' embrace of 64-bit computing will provide desktop Linux a unique window of opportunity, which if missed, may not come along again for many years.

What is a well organized Linux book for beginners?

Comments (4)

spunbondwarrior

premio53
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mxyplx

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What is a well organized Linux book for beginners?

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spunbondwarrior

premio53Original Author

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mxyplx

premio53Original Author

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