Learning Linux resources?

bruce205 · 08-27-2004, 03:57 PM

I am interested in locating a good cd or web-based interactive tutorial for learning Linux. By that I mean you are instructed in the basics and have the capability to type commands in a separate window as the lesson progresses. Maybe a little quiz at the end of each separate lesson. Any suggestions? Thanks

Crunch · 08-27-2004, 04:23 PM

My advice would be to use teach yourself really. The best way to learn something by not having to remember it. You'll normally learn something by making a mistake while doing so. Learning from an interactive guide is good, although you're still not going to get real hands on experience until you are in the shell environment, and able to misconfigure or break things. It's always good to have some kind of guide around... we call those the man pages =) (Sorry if I sound like an asshole, it's just people spend time writing those for a reason.) If you ever need any help that's what we're here for, we'll help you out if you have any problems with it. In my opinion, I learned by not using a GUI at all. It was the best way to learn, you can't get distracted by any flashy images or window manager or what have you. Stick with it, and continue to learn, tenacity pays off =)

Hope this makes sense.

Peacedog · 08-27-2004, 04:25 PM

here are a few things google turned up

http://www.nacse.org/demos/coping-wi...unix/book.html

http://www.credochs.org/courses/IT/unix/onlinet.htm

or if you're looking to spend some money

http://www.awprofessional.com/title/0201741954

hope that helps.
good luck.

hawss · 08-27-2004, 04:31 PM

the man pages are great and all but most newbs (like me) don't remotely understand them.

PenguinPwrdBox · 08-27-2004, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Crunch
It's always good to have some kind of guide around... we call those the man pages =) (Sorry if I sound like an asshole, it's just people spend time writing those for a reason.)

I didn't think you sounded like an asshole, if it makes you feel better

What Crunch is trying to say, is that pretty much everything that needs to be thought of, has been thought of when it comes to linux.
The fine folks that create this stuff, realize that you have no friggin idea what the hell you are doing the first time you load a linux box.
So, to accomodate all of the MS brainwashees, they have created extensive docs included with the system. As Crunch said, they are called man pages.

Best advice I can give is this:

apropos: Command that will list possible commands that correlate to the topic you search for. Ex.

Code:

adam@ExMachina:~$ apropos rpm
rpm                  (8)  - RPM Package Manager
rpm2cpio             (8)  - Extract cpio archive from RPM Package Manager (RPM) package
rpmbuild             (8)  - Build RPM Package(s)
rpmcache             (8)  - Cache RPM Package Headers
rpmdeps              (8)  - Generate RPM Package Dependencies
rpmgraph             (8)  - Display RPM Package Dependency Graph
adam@ExMachina:~$

Then, to understand the command,

Code:

adam@ExMachina:~$ man rpm

Get stuck on something, come back, and we're happy to help!!!