Using Fedora
 

Now I understand why very few people make the switch from windows to Linux. There is so little documentation on how to do things for newbies....
First I tried Red Hat which ended up being incompatible with hardware on my system.
So next I installed Fedora. what a breeze... No issues during the install process other than sound card....
Now that I have fedora on my system and want to add programs to it I am completely lost since there are no good instructions with the downloads telling how to go about installing them whether they are tar or rpm..
have to do makefile or ./configure or some other strange voodoo which is incomprehensible to a babe in the water to install software....Guess the linux community doesn't know how to make self installing programs...
So surf the net trying to find some documentation that would help a complete newbie and nothing... it is so frustrating...
Does anyone have links to any good how to's or instructions for newbies to actually be able to install programs... It would be much appreciated..

These will get you started down the right path...

http://www.google.com/linux

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...icle&artid=277

http://tille.soti.org/training/tldp/

http://www.icon.co.za/~psheer/book/

http://linux-newbie.sunsite.dk/

http://www.hk8.org/old_web/

http://www.tldp.org/

The reason the documentation is esoteric, or in some
cases almost non-existant, is because Linux is a kernel,
and different companies package software to go with
it which makes a distribution. You should jump and yell
and scream at RedHat, for that's a commercial distro -
which means they have a version you can pay for and
get support. If you'll go to their website and search,
you'll find some documentation. I saw a link posted in
a thread just this week...

Linux is a community driven OS hacked by programmers
in their spare time.

Still beats the snot out of Windoze, IMO, even when it
is hard to find some good documentation.

Hey, posted in two of your threads now and forgot...

Welcome to LQ!

Many Thanks
 

Those definitely will help.. I have only been using Fedora for about 3 nights now.. It appears to much better than windoze but harder to get started with... I didn't even have this much problems when I started using Mac's in 1996.. Like I said it installed beautifully but after the initial setup and installation trying to go from there is a pain without knowing anything about the OS.

Thanks again.. :)

IMO you're not going to learn much about the OS running
a distribution like Fedora. It's geared to attract Windoze
run-a-ways by doing stuff for you with those nasty GUIs.
When they fail, you're usually stuck having to find out how
the thing really works.

Slackware, on the other hand, isn't put together that way.
A quote from the Slack website:
This isn't intended as flame bait. There's no opinion, just facts...

If you intend to stay with Linux long-term, you'll either learn
what's happening behind all those GUIs and how to hack em,
or migrate to a purer Linux distro like Slack or Debian.

No matter what you choose, welcome to the community.

You may want to install yum
download.fedora.redhat.com/pub/fedora/linux/core/2/i386/os/Fedora/RPMS/yum-2.0.7-1.1.noarch.rpm

It will help you search for and install software.

Here is an article on how to use it
http://www.linuxgazette.com/node/view/8835

A book on rpm
http://www.rpm.org/max-rpm/

How to install from source
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...threadid=45094

Ask all recent Linux converts if they know what shell script, awk, sed or even vi are.. I'll gurantee you that at least 80% will answer that they don't know what all those are :) Most probably they don't even know what kernel they're running on :) And I agreed 100% with your statements above ... :D

Well,there're things such as enterprise and ingenuity and I guess that every newbie to Linux must posess it in some degree.Not trying to imply that most new entrants to the linux fold are airheads,but it certainly makes sense that you try and browse around to see if you can get solutions to your problem.Just look around,there are umpteen number of enthusiasts in groups and in fora such as this,who can help newcomers.So just getting frustrated and blaming the OS for their mental hadicap is uncalled for.

I disagree ...and here's why:

I personally know a few (non-IT) people who have given up after using an "easy" distro, simply because it's too difficult. They wouldn't even be able to install Slackware, never mind learn how to use it!

I almost gave up on FC2...simply because it took so long to get the "basics" working (MP3, DVD, Movie codecs etc.). Considering how lucky I was with my hardware compatability, I can see how many will give up. Especially if the first thing to set up is the modem - unless you have access to another machine to get on the web for help & instruction, then a total newbie will never even get off the ground !!

Since installing Fedora I have struggled with a LOT of things - and have learned a lot in the process. In fact I'm setting up my fathers machine with FC2 as well.

As a software developer I approached it as a challenge...but I understand why many non-IT people won't / can't make the switch.

;)

I would say to use Fedora first to get your feet wet. After a few months and you feel comfortable try messin around with other distros. I have been throught them all. Several flavors of debian, gentoo, slackware (and a few variants). Now i have returned to mandrake of it's ease of use. I got tired of configuring things manually. But it's up to you. Don't limit yourself and your knowledge to one specific distro. And read as much as you can. Don't be afraid to break stuff.

I feel that even Fedora Core is an easy-for-layman distro but well....an operating system is all about making life easier for humans....:)

Ya, I accept that the GUIs in Fedora are a little unstable...and sometimes you need to drop down to the konsole to get things going.... but a Windows User who just came to Linux would feel a little comfortable with all the GUI...

Anyway, I personally feel, even when I m now quite familiar with Linux, I dont wanna get into using other distros... coz with the added "unstable" GUI.... Fedora also has the basic "Stable" text mode functionality...there is no reason one should stop using it...basically now I m a Fedora addict. :D

regards
unpredictable

well i actually love using terminal and such
It kinda a kick back from when windows didnt have a gui and didn't suck

Ravager
Welcome to Linux . The best thing about linux is the very thing that you are complaining about. My personal experiance with both Windows and Linux is as Follows.
With Windows You install What they Want
With Linux You install what You Want
With Windows Multiple Virus Problems Which cause You to use run resource hungary anti virus programs
With Linux no virus infection to date despite not using anti virus software
With reference to your point of help for newbies try here http://linux-newbie.sunsite.dk/ . This site should get you started .

Fedora is not my personal choice to learn Linux . That would be Mandrake.

But in ,my personal opinion it is easier to lern on rpm based install than tar.

You have made one of the best choices regarding linux when you posted on this forum.

Best of luck
Regards Sharke

Great reply sharkee...I completely agree with you...

Well I got a PDF document from IBM which can be help to newbies....

download it from here....
http://students.iiit.ac.in/~anurag_rana/linux/IBM.pdf

ahhh well regarding Fedora Core... I like it...

sorry I didnt try any other distros than RH7.2 RH8.0 RH9 FC1 FC2 and SUSE...so dunno much bout Mandrake and Debian.....maybe they are good too..!!!

In short, I guess LINUX is great, and most distros are equally stable and safe.. :)

regards
unpredictable

Let's forget our pet distros, any of them beat Micro$loth's
proprietary, monopolistic junk OSs hands down!!!