I have become fascinated with roaming around this wonderful site. In my wanderings, it has become apparent that I may need some -ahem- documentation to aid my efforts in learning UNIX so as I can control my Linux OS from the console. I mean, I think I'll need the whole nine yards. I have rudimentary experience in Java, but that's about it. I barely know what a bash is, much less how to use it. I don't understand all of this writing new four line files constantly...I'm a windo$e baby trying to break away. Really, I don't think I understand much of anything... Does anybody know of a good intro to Linux/UNIX book that can teach the basics of how to manipulate a Linux OS from the command line? I think i need it in like 4-year-old speak . Although I am a little intimidated, I shall overcome (with a little help ), and I promise I'll shut up now for a while.

G011um, a rather scared and slightly disheartened fellow at the moment

Learning Linux is a good start.

There are people who might say "nyeeh that's redhat specific!" but it's the distribution others are compared to, and is the most popular on this forum. The book is not actually designed to be specific to redhat either, it's just that that's the distribution provided with the book.

Mandrake and Suse are also excellent distributions though - some of the free stuff bundled in with these is also better value than redhat.

Yes, Linux is basically free but if you're smart you'll use that saving and spend just as much on books, but be a better person for it.

Bert

You can also try "UNIX for dummies" and "Linux for dummies" I think a more easy start is difficult, it brought me back to the good old times of DOS 3 and commodore 64's where everything was from the console and where you knew what you were doing.

Also to add, once you get a hang of it.. I am reading Unix Shells by Example about the well known unix shells including bash.. its excellent so far. Very detailed and good source on each of the major shells used in Unix.

-trickykid