First off i'd like to say hello and introduce myself. My name is Lance and i'm a beginner with Linux. I've actually messed around with it several times but never gave it full steam and once again i'm saying i will.

So, I don't want to waste any time. I want to learn it the right way with the least downfalls as possible.

My question is:
What is the best way to learn to operate this Linux distribution?

I pick Slackware b/c i like how simple it is and i feel i'll learn more that way. The only thing i'm thinking to learn Linux is to just go through the Slackware book, page by page. I just want to see everyone elses opinion.

Thank you for your time,
Lance

Hopefully this will give the perfect way and become a sticky for everyone who doesn't know where to start.

http://www.icon.co.za/~psheer/book/index.html.gz

http://slackbook.yoshiwara.org.uk/

http://www.onlamp.com/linux/cmd/


Should start you off.

I suggest getting a book called "Running Linux" by the O'Reily Group. Be sure to get the latest edition (4th).

How much exactly does this book do? I hear A LOT of people suggesting it.

I've only got the second edition which I picked up used (kinda broke) and it's way out of date but it's still great. A lot of books or sites are "You're a moron from Windows - this is a CPU and this is a monitor." Well, duh. And I'm a moron from DOS, really. And some others are full of the most arcane switches to the most arcane utilities that you either end up lost or would do just as well flailing around at random yourself. Running Linux gives you the basics in a very clear style with lots of tips and tricks thrown in. It's just written by someone who really knows Linux and tells you a lot of what you *need* to know in a smart and sometimes amusing way without swamping you with stuff you *don't* need right away. Add me to those who recommend it. It's not going to turn you into an instant guru, exactly, but it will get you "running Linux".

Another helpful tool for learning Linux is this site. You can usually expect an answer to any question you have and the n00b browbeating is kept to a minimum. So far.

A lot of learning Linux is going to be a lot of trial and error. If you start getting really crazy with the cheese whiz it will involve re-installing several times (when I started compiling my own kernel I wound up doing this a lot).

I won't say that Slack is the absolute end to your needs, but it is a good distro for real learning. I've used Linux since 1995, not consistently, but enough to actually understand basic commands and configuration.

Before I installed Slack, the distro I used most consistently was Mandrake... I went through three version changes at least, 8.1, 9.0 and 9.1.

When I switched to Slackware, I can't believe how dumb I was as a Linux user of at least 7 years! That was the time when I actually realized that I should have understood more about Linux in those years spent using Mandrake.

Slack makes you learn more things faster. I'd recommend it to anyone who has a genuine interest to learn more about Linux... and not just merely using an OS because you need to run some apps.

One thing i try to do is see how i learned Windows. But i can't find out. I've allways used windows! It's what my family's first computer had a LOOONG time ago, it was an Acer. I can't believe i remember that. Anyways, i think i learned it just from using it a lot.

Besides that though, would reading Running Linux and using the Slackware "book" be the best route?

Rute is very good too. It's not hard to find, many links here, or google for "rute".

Running Linux is the best book ive seen personally. about 40 dollars

If you can get your slack box 100% up and running, and find yourself being able to do everything just as easily on it as on your windows box, you'll know you've gotten the hang of it all

Really, it's just about reading this site, figuring out what you want to work on next (closing ports, stopping services, learning vi, whatnot) and pursuing it

To me so far the best two peices to look at seem to be "Running Linux" and Slackwares book at their site.

Which one should i step through chapter by chapter?

I don't know, i was hoping i'd get a definite answer here.

Thanks,
Lance

why not try it yourself? that's the only way to find out anyway....

My thought process is changing now. Okay heres my position. I can install Slackware fine and even work X and kde or gnome or blackbox or whatever i want to use. I don't know much about configuring anything or d/ling new apps, etc. Pretty much basic maintenance and use. I figured the best way to learn is to LEARN everything about Linux. The basics. Each little peice. I'm starting to think the best way for me to learn this is either Gentoo or LFS. What do you guys think?

Lance

LFS is for people who want to learn the very miniscule details,not the basics.

Gentoo is good for automated build system,like APT, it wont teach you anything that Slackware won't. In fact, it will teach you LESS, because its so "easy".


For the basics, read the RUTE guide:http://www.icon.co.za/~psheer/book/index.html.gz

and read all the links from the LinuxQuestions.org list.

Don't expect to just be able to read a book and be an expert, all these little "tricks" you learn over time.

One sugestion I can give is try to make Linux your main operating system. Because every time you try to do a "basic" thing and realize you don't know how, you can learn how from lq.org, or a book. But if you just boot into it once and a while, you'll never learn anything.

Yes, agree all of above, u ll need time to pass the basic learning curve. Learning by doing is good, but if u've read a proper book for newbie, u ll understand thing better n faster.

Learning by doing for absolute newbie is just like a blind is crossing the crowded foot walking zone.

I bet u ll need a real book like "running linux" rather than only the one from slack. Some thin books are commented to be good from those long time linux drummer. Wut good for them is not necessary good for newbies.

Normally town libraries keep some copies of such books also..