Even dedicated Linux users should not forget the existence of BSD family of Unix operating systems. For example, Arch users might consider testing NetBSD for a few weeks, Debian users might like FreeBSD and *buntu people could well find themselves comfortable using PC-BSD.
And in case you really don't want to try living on the other side of the fence, you should in any case read the free BSD Magazine. Very often the articles are equally useful for Linux and BSD users -- and the magazine is freely downloadable!
Showing posts with label documentation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label documentation. Show all posts
Linux documentation in wiki format
I am a huge fan of free documentation, even if I like to read printed books as well. In my opinion, the printed book still has the best available user interface that the computer screen and hypertext can only emulate but not surpass.
But on the other hand, Internet and the different forms of social media have several advantages over the printed book. Among the most obvious advantages are the free availability (if you happen to be living in the developed world with cheap broadband connections), and the possibility to update the information easily and often. Furthermore, there are several licenses that allow reusing the free documentation in different forms. Hence it should not come as a surprise that there are many good sources for free Linux documentation on the Internet.
In addition to the Linux Documentation Project, you should take a look at some of the more interesting documentation sites published in wiki format. For example, the Gentoo Linux Wiki includes a useful article about lightweight install of the Gentoo Linux.
Arch Linux is another favorite distribution used by many enthusiasts who want to keep their old hardware in use. Even if you are not ready to install and use Arch, you should take a look at Arch Linux Wiki. The page dedicated to Lightweight Applications is certainly useful for anyone interested in building a system with lightweight software.
And of course, you should not forget Debian Wiki or Crux Wiki, LQWiki and many other good documentation sites using a wiki platform!
But on the other hand, Internet and the different forms of social media have several advantages over the printed book. Among the most obvious advantages are the free availability (if you happen to be living in the developed world with cheap broadband connections), and the possibility to update the information easily and often. Furthermore, there are several licenses that allow reusing the free documentation in different forms. Hence it should not come as a surprise that there are many good sources for free Linux documentation on the Internet.
In addition to the Linux Documentation Project, you should take a look at some of the more interesting documentation sites published in wiki format. For example, the Gentoo Linux Wiki includes a useful article about lightweight install of the Gentoo Linux.
Arch Linux is another favorite distribution used by many enthusiasts who want to keep their old hardware in use. Even if you are not ready to install and use Arch, you should take a look at Arch Linux Wiki. The page dedicated to Lightweight Applications is certainly useful for anyone interested in building a system with lightweight software.
And of course, you should not forget Debian Wiki or Crux Wiki, LQWiki and many other good documentation sites using a wiki platform!
50 Linux Discussion Forums
More than a year ago, I posted three articles listing a few dozen Linux discussion forums. I suppose it is time to republish the list, now in one article. Furthermore, I added a few more discussion forums just in order to have a nice title with exactly 50 discussion forums dedicated to Linux and other free Unix like operating systems.
If your favourite discussion forum is missing from the list, please add it in the comment box!
If your favourite discussion forum is missing from the list, please add it in the comment box!
- Absolute
- Arch
- BSDnexus
- CentOS
- Clonezilla
- Crunchbang
- Crux for PPC
- Daemonforums.org (BSD)
- Damn Small Linux
- Debian
- DeLi
- DesktopBSD
- Dreamlinux
- Elive
- Fedora
- Fluxbuntu
- Foresight
- Frugalware
- GeeXboX
- Gentoo
- gOS
- GParted
- Knoppix
- LinuxConsole
- Linuxquestions.org
- Mandriva
- Mepis
- Midnight BSD
- Mint
- OpenGEU
- OpenSolaris
- openSUSE
- PC-BSD
- PCLinuxOS
- Puppy Linux
- Sabayon
- Sidux
- Slackware
- Slackware (Linuxpackages.net)
- Slax
- Slitaz
- TinyCore
- TinyME
- Ubuntu
- Ultimate Edition
- Vector Linux
- WattOS
- Wolvix
- Yoper
- Zenwalk
Linux Ecology-HOWTO updated
I just noticed that the Linux Ecology HOWTO has been updated in September. If you have never read the HOWTO, you certainly should take a look at it. And don't forget to check the latest updates in the Guides section of the Linux Documentation Project as well.
Linux command line documentation
This time I would like to recommend some great sourcea of information for all my readers who like to use CLI applications on their lightweight Linux installations. As I have pointed out earlier, if you try to use Linux on a very old computer, you have to use some of your own brain power to compensate for the lack of a fast CPU and lots of RAM. Using the command line is one way to achieve this.
The Linux Documentation Project is the central site for all kinds of Linux documentation. In the tldp you'll find Guides, HOW-TO documents, and FAQs. Some of the files might be a bit outdated but even the older files provide the reader with plenty of useful information.
Gareth Anderson has written an useful summary of command line GNU/Linux applications. It is organized thematically, so that you can easily find the most useful tools for e.g. controlling processes and services, manipulating text files or working with the file system.
Michael Stutz's The Linux Cookbook: Tips and Techniques for Everyday Use is another good source of information with similar topics. It is a bit old (written in 2001), but the CLI tools don't change as fast as KDE and GNOME applications!
Machtelt Garrels has written a Bash Guide for Beginners. Bash is the default command shell of the most popular Linux distributions. This guide helps the newbie to write her first scripts.
After reading the Bash Guide for Beginners, you should continue with Mendel Cooper's Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide. It will probably teach you more than you'll ever need to know unless you plan a career as a Linux system administrator.
If you are willing to pay some money for books, you should seriously consider buying at least one or two books about the Linux command line. One good introduction to the command linux is Sander van Vugt's Beginning the Linux Command Line
. In this book, you'll learn about command line basics, piping and redirection, using man to get help, administering the file system, partitions and logical volumes, working with text files, managing the users, groups and permissions and a lot more. This is probably the best book available now for any command line newbie.
The Linux Documentation Project is the central site for all kinds of Linux documentation. In the tldp you'll find Guides, HOW-TO documents, and FAQs. Some of the files might be a bit outdated but even the older files provide the reader with plenty of useful information.
Gareth Anderson has written an useful summary of command line GNU/Linux applications. It is organized thematically, so that you can easily find the most useful tools for e.g. controlling processes and services, manipulating text files or working with the file system.
Michael Stutz's The Linux Cookbook: Tips and Techniques for Everyday Use is another good source of information with similar topics. It is a bit old (written in 2001), but the CLI tools don't change as fast as KDE and GNOME applications!
Machtelt Garrels has written a Bash Guide for Beginners. Bash is the default command shell of the most popular Linux distributions. This guide helps the newbie to write her first scripts.
After reading the Bash Guide for Beginners, you should continue with Mendel Cooper's Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide. It will probably teach you more than you'll ever need to know unless you plan a career as a Linux system administrator.
If you are willing to pay some money for books, you should seriously consider buying at least one or two books about the Linux command line. One good introduction to the command linux is Sander van Vugt's Beginning the Linux Command Line
. In this book, you'll learn about command line basics, piping and redirection, using man to get help, administering the file system, partitions and logical volumes, working with text files, managing the users, groups and permissions and a lot more. This is probably the best book available now for any command line newbie.
Kernel in a Nutshell
Compiling the Kernel is in a way a rite of initiation for advanced Linux users. Compiling the kernel has not been necessary in all these years I've used Linux but I've done it a few times just to see if I can compile and run my own kernel or not.
By the way, I succeeded :-)
If you want to try compiling your own kernel, I suggest you to read Greg Kroah-Hartman's Linux Kernel in a Nutshell. The book is published by O'Reilly but it is also available as a free download from the author's web page. The book covers everything you need to know in order to configure, compile and run your own very special kernel.
Download the kernel source and try your own kernel! You might not get any more performance out of your box but using the own kernel certainly adds to the geek factor of using Linux.
By the way, I succeeded :-)
If you want to try compiling your own kernel, I suggest you to read Greg Kroah-Hartman's Linux Kernel in a Nutshell. The book is published by O'Reilly but it is also available as a free download from the author's web page. The book covers everything you need to know in order to configure, compile and run your own very special kernel.
Download the kernel source and try your own kernel! You might not get any more performance out of your box but using the own kernel certainly adds to the geek factor of using Linux.
Linux From Scratch
Linux From Scratch is a "distribution" I've always wanted to try but never had time to build a system of my own. A couple of years ago, I used Gentoo for a few months as my main desktop. At that time it was a bit too much for my skills and I had difficulties in keeping a usable system together.
Linux From Scratch would be even more hard core solution. But the documentation is excellent and I think I might have enough time some weekend to build my own minimal system from the sources. But it is another thing to have a minimal system and a usable system installed in an old computer I would have for this experiment. A usable desktop would take some more evenings and a couple of weeks reading Beyond Linux from Scratch.
You can read the documentation for building your own system online. There is also a LiveCD available to be used as the host system when building LFS.
Linux From Scratch would be even more hard core solution. But the documentation is excellent and I think I might have enough time some weekend to build my own minimal system from the sources. But it is another thing to have a minimal system and a usable system installed in an old computer I would have for this experiment. A usable desktop would take some more evenings and a couple of weeks reading Beyond Linux from Scratch.
You can read the documentation for building your own system online. There is also a LiveCD available to be used as the host system when building LFS.
More (Mostly) Linux Discussion Forums
And here follow ten more discussion forums for mostly different Linux distributions but also for OpenSolaris and BSDs. As a general rule, I would say that if the forum for a certain distribution is not active, I would not recommend the distribution for a complete newbie.
Newbies should probably choose some of the more mainstream distributions even when installing Linux on an old computer. After some experience with installing and using Linux, it is much easier to solve to possible problems presented by some niche distributions.
Newbies should probably choose some of the more mainstream distributions even when installing Linux on an old computer. After some experience with installing and using Linux, it is much easier to solve to possible problems presented by some niche distributions.
- Sabayon
- TinyME
- Absolute
- Frugalware
- Fluxbuntu
- LinuxConsole
- Ultimate Edition
- OpenSolaris
- OpenGEU
- BSDnexus (all BSDs)
Linux (and BSD) Discussion Forums - Right Forum for Right Distribution
Linux discussion forums exist for practically every distribution. They are a useful source of information both for newbies and more experienced users.
Many newbies don't realize they should probably send their questions to the relevant discussion forum instead of posting only to the Ubuntu Forum's discussions for other distributions. Usually the more knowledgeable users can be found in the right forum.
The following is a pretty random selection of the discussion forums for the most important distributions.
Edit: Because of popular demand, I added the forum for Puppy Linux!
Many newbies don't realize they should probably send their questions to the relevant discussion forum instead of posting only to the Ubuntu Forum's discussions for other distributions. Usually the more knowledgeable users can be found in the right forum.
The following is a pretty random selection of the discussion forums for the most important distributions.
Edit: Because of popular demand, I added the forum for Puppy Linux!
Free Linux Documentation
Today I present you with two more early posts combined in one. Also the following lines are most probably lines unread by 99 % of my readers.
If you want to run a modern system with an old computer you have to compensate some of the missing GHz and megabytes with your own brains. You have to know what you are doing. You have to know what you want your computer to do. Only so you can build a system that is ideal for your needs and your hardware.
This means you have to be ready to learn something about Linux and how it works. It is not rocket science, it is something everyone can do. If you are willing to learn you can realize the full power of Linux.
We are lucky to have a lot of free documentation. There are even many good introductions to Linux. Most of them are published by The Linux Documentation Project. I suggest you first familiarize yourself with the site just to see what kind of documentation there is. Depending on what you already know, select some of the guides where you can learn at least something new. If you are relatively new to Linux, you might start with Gareth Anderson's GNU/Linux Command-Line Tools Summary or Machtelt Garrels' Introduction to Linux - A Hands on Guide
TLDP is not the only free source of information online. The Linux Cookbook has been one of my favourite Linux books since years. Michael Stutz has released the first edition of the book as an HTML edition. Even if it is already several years old, it is very helpful for those willing to work on the command line. In this book, the reader learns about basic command line operations, process management, text processing, customizing the shell prompt, analyzing text, finding text and files and a lot more.
If you want build a custom system and not use some lightweight distribution, you have to study a bit more. One of the sites I have found most useful, is the Gentoo wiki. It has been most helpful also at times when I have used some other distribution. For example, if you want to learn how to customize some lightweight window manager you will probably find all the best tips and tricks there. One good example is the page for tweaking Openbox window manager. Most of the information here can be used with just about any distribution.
Other tips are probably more obvious: If you are using any Debian based distribution, for example Ubuntu, you should study the Debian reference. It has been translated into many languages. Slackware Linux Essentials - The Official Guide To Slackware Linux is similarly useful for those who use a distribution based on Slackware, for example Zenwalk or Vector Linux.
If you read the fine manuals, you will be able to solve most of your problems. If not, you can always ask for help in the Internet forums or IRC channels. But if you have done your homework the others will respect you more and be more helpful than in the case you never bothered to read any documentation. But as you are now reading my blog, you most probably are clever enough to read some official documentation!
If you want to run a modern system with an old computer you have to compensate some of the missing GHz and megabytes with your own brains. You have to know what you are doing. You have to know what you want your computer to do. Only so you can build a system that is ideal for your needs and your hardware.
This means you have to be ready to learn something about Linux and how it works. It is not rocket science, it is something everyone can do. If you are willing to learn you can realize the full power of Linux.
We are lucky to have a lot of free documentation. There are even many good introductions to Linux. Most of them are published by The Linux Documentation Project. I suggest you first familiarize yourself with the site just to see what kind of documentation there is. Depending on what you already know, select some of the guides where you can learn at least something new. If you are relatively new to Linux, you might start with Gareth Anderson's GNU/Linux Command-Line Tools Summary or Machtelt Garrels' Introduction to Linux - A Hands on Guide
TLDP is not the only free source of information online. The Linux Cookbook has been one of my favourite Linux books since years. Michael Stutz has released the first edition of the book as an HTML edition. Even if it is already several years old, it is very helpful for those willing to work on the command line. In this book, the reader learns about basic command line operations, process management, text processing, customizing the shell prompt, analyzing text, finding text and files and a lot more.
If you want build a custom system and not use some lightweight distribution, you have to study a bit more. One of the sites I have found most useful, is the Gentoo wiki. It has been most helpful also at times when I have used some other distribution. For example, if you want to learn how to customize some lightweight window manager you will probably find all the best tips and tricks there. One good example is the page for tweaking Openbox window manager. Most of the information here can be used with just about any distribution.
Other tips are probably more obvious: If you are using any Debian based distribution, for example Ubuntu, you should study the Debian reference. It has been translated into many languages. Slackware Linux Essentials - The Official Guide To Slackware Linux is similarly useful for those who use a distribution based on Slackware, for example Zenwalk or Vector Linux.
If you read the fine manuals, you will be able to solve most of your problems. If not, you can always ask for help in the Internet forums or IRC channels. But if you have done your homework the others will respect you more and be more helpful than in the case you never bothered to read any documentation. But as you are now reading my blog, you most probably are clever enough to read some official documentation!
Documentation for CLI Newbies
This time I would like to recommend a great source of information for all my readers who like to use CLI applications on their lightweight Linux installations. As I have pointed out earlier, if you try to use Linux on a very old computer, you have to use some of your own brain power to compensate for the lack of a fast CPU and lots of RAM.
Gareth Anderson has written an useful summary of command line GNU/Linux applications. It is organized thematically, so that you can easily find the most useful tools for e.g. controlling processes and services, manipulating text files or working with the file system.
Michael Stutz's The Linux Cookbook: Tips and Techniques for Everyday Use is another good source of information with similar topics. It is a bit old (written in 2001), but the CLI tools don't change as fast as KDE and GNOME applications!
Both of the ebooks are highly recommended reading for all Linux newbies who are not afraid of command line!
Gareth Anderson has written an useful summary of command line GNU/Linux applications. It is organized thematically, so that you can easily find the most useful tools for e.g. controlling processes and services, manipulating text files or working with the file system.
Michael Stutz's The Linux Cookbook: Tips and Techniques for Everyday Use is another good source of information with similar topics. It is a bit old (written in 2001), but the CLI tools don't change as fast as KDE and GNOME applications!
Both of the ebooks are highly recommended reading for all Linux newbies who are not afraid of command line!
The Linux Documentation Project
All of us who use Linux should in my opinion regularly browse through the pages of the Linux Documentation Project. TLDP offers a great collection of free documentation in different formats and even in translations in many languages.Every time I check the lists of guides and HOW-TO documents I find something I actually should have read months or even years earlier. Now that I have moved from Athlon to Pentium and have a working suspend to disk with openSUSE I happened to find a Athlon Powersaving HOWTO by Daniel Nofftz. It has been published in 2006. If I only had found this document earlier...
Some of the documentation is already pretty old. But we who want to use linux with an old computer might still find interesting bits of information even in the oldest guides. What about reading 4mb Laptop HOWTO by Bruce Richardson (2000)? Or something newer like The Mock Mainframe Mini-HOWTO by Scot W. Stevenson (updated 2005)?
In addition to HOW-TO documents, TLDP offers longer in-depth guides about different aspects of using Linux. I'm sure everyone finds something interesting in this wonderful collection of documentation. What is your favourite?
The Linux Cookbook
The Linux Cookbook has been one of my favourite Linux books since years. Michael Stutz has released the first edition of the book as an HTML edition. Even if it is already several years old, it is very helpful for those willing to work on the command line.
In this book, the reader learns about basic command line operations, process management, text processing, customizing the shell prompt, analyzing text, finding text and files and a lot more.
In this book, the reader learns about basic command line operations, process management, text processing, customizing the shell prompt, analyzing text, finding text and files and a lot more.
More free documentation for Linux
If you want build a custom system and not use some lightweight distribution, you have to do some more research. One of the sites I have found most useful, is the Gentoo wiki. It has been most helpful also at times when I have used some other distribution. For example, if you want to learn to customize some lightweight window manager, you will probably find all the best tips and tricks there. One good example is the page for tweaking Openbox window manager. Most of the information can be used with just about any distribution.
Other tips are probably more obvious: If you are using any Debian based distribution, for example Ubuntu, you should study the Debian reference. It has been translated into many languages. Slackware Linux Essentials - The Official Guide To Slackware Linux is similarly useful for those who use a distribution based on Slackware, for example Zenwalk or Vector Linux.
If you read the fine manuals, you will be able to solve most of your problems. If not, you can always ask in the Internet forums.
Other tips are probably more obvious: If you are using any Debian based distribution, for example Ubuntu, you should study the Debian reference. It has been translated into many languages. Slackware Linux Essentials - The Official Guide To Slackware Linux is similarly useful for those who use a distribution based on Slackware, for example Zenwalk or Vector Linux.
If you read the fine manuals, you will be able to solve most of your problems. If not, you can always ask in the Internet forums.
Free documentation for free OS
If you want to run a modern system with an old computer, you have to compensate some of the missing GHz and megabytes with your own brains. You have to know what you are doing. You have to know what you want your computer to do. Only so you can build a system that is ideal for your needs and your hardware.
This means you have to be ready to learn something about Linux and how it works. It is not rocket science, it is something everyone can do. If you are willing to learn, you can realize the full power of Linux.
We are lucky to have a lot of free documentation. There are even many good introductions to Linux. Most of them are published by The Linux Documentation Project. I suggest you first familiarize yourself with the site just to see what kind of documentation there is. Depending on what you already know, select some of the guides where you can learn at least something new. If you are relatively new to Linux, you might start with Gareth Andersons GNU/Linux Command-Line Tools Summary or Machtelt Garrels Introduction to Linux - A Hands on Guide.
Just remember: learning is fun and knowledge is power!
This means you have to be ready to learn something about Linux and how it works. It is not rocket science, it is something everyone can do. If you are willing to learn, you can realize the full power of Linux.
We are lucky to have a lot of free documentation. There are even many good introductions to Linux. Most of them are published by The Linux Documentation Project. I suggest you first familiarize yourself with the site just to see what kind of documentation there is. Depending on what you already know, select some of the guides where you can learn at least something new. If you are relatively new to Linux, you might start with Gareth Andersons GNU/Linux Command-Line Tools Summary or Machtelt Garrels Introduction to Linux - A Hands on Guide.
Just remember: learning is fun and knowledge is power!
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