LinuxQuestions.org Book
 

Note: Also posted here.

I'm proud to announce that a LinuxQuestions.org Book is potentially in the works. While a lot of the details (mainly the TOC) still need to be worked out, I think this is a very exciting possibility. I'd like to handle this book much the way I handle LQ itself - by getting member feedback and giving you what you want. So, what I would like to know is:

- what do you want to see in a Linux book?
- what topics would you like to see covered?
- what don't you like about the Linux books you have read?
- what *do* you like about the Linux books you have read?

To give you an idea of the format the book will follow, it will (as you may have guessed), go along the same lines as the site. It will try to offer clear newbie friendly solutions to actual problems, using real-world examples and experience. It will cover from the newbie to the mid-level user I would say. I have created a mailing list for the purpose of discussing the LQ book. Any feedback or comments are appreciated. Thanks.

--jeremy

jeremy; wow, great endeavor, could or would you give lqo members preview of contents so that we may provide better input towards your goal.
acknowledge it is alot of hard work but when finished it will be appriciated by all of us (users). Thank You !

book idea
 

great idea.

The first Linux book I bought was The Linux Bible (the GNU Testament)
Yggdrasil Computing, 1996.

Because of that book and the included CDROM with Slackware 2.0.somethink I think, I got hooked. This book covered everything, and was about 2k pages thick.

If a new/updated version of that book could be made, I would jump on it.

Linux may be a free O.S., but I have spent more $ on Linux books than anything.

Good Luck

I would like to also see a history of Linuxquestions.org, I know there are some threads with some lq history but I think it would be an interesting section in the book.

Thanks for the feedback. If you are interested in helping, I encourage you to join the mailing list and post your feedback there also (just to have it all in one place). Having an "About LQ" section as an appendix or something is an idea I like, BTW.

http://lists.linuxquestions.org/mail...o/lq-book-list

--jeremy

Just joined the mailing list for this exciting project.
As I assume you mean in-print book and not download-and-print book, there is the question of how much should be basic issues and how much should be current issues. Configure, make, make install should be basic enough, but then - installing NVIDIA drivers? This is definately one of the most discussed topics, but could work quite differently in a year or two. The same for dual-booting issues. And hardware issues are best covered by linking to LQ for a place to address and discuss the issue.
The result should be one of those books that you keep on the shelf, because - some of the material may be dated, but basics are well covered.
As for relevance, I would say -
- basic CLI commands. This has been done before, but this is one of the main points where a Linux system really comes through, IMO.
- Explaining CLI output. Many of the LQ discussions have been about interpreting (error) messages when trying to install and/or compile something. I consider this very important because it has rarely been covered in other books.
- Dual-booting and preparing for this, including partitioning. Bound to be a bit distro-specific, but I guess that is all right, too. Dual-booting is an excellent way to tick off the needs that Linux can handle, and eventually, the checklist is complete. Exit the major competitor from the system.
- Short distro introduction. One should, of course, be careful with labelling beginners' or advanced distros, but a basic run-through of heavy, light and Live distros would be good - especially if a link to the review pages on LQ would be included. Allows for flexibility.
- Modem/ethernet issues. Can't count the number of times I've come across a headline along the lines of Can't connect to the Internet. A lot of constructive (and other) advice on this at LQ already.
- Basic adjustments in Lilo and Grub. This is a very important issue. Basic configuration issues with mounting, too.
- Compiling the kernel.

Those are the things I would personally like to see. Other things have been discussed often enough, such as Samba, printing and screens... but I have never had issues, so I don't know too much about that.

ive never read any linux books, so i would probably get this once it comes out. you should make the first chapter available as a pdf though so that people can get a preview.

i think a one-page book that just says "linuxquestions.org" is good enough, but thats just me.

also, have you considered making it a wiki-type thing just copying-pasting q&a from lq forums?

good luck with the book.

Just to clarify, this will indeed be a traditional "print" book.

--jeremy

I think some of the most knowledgeable of the LQ forum goers should contribute some of their best advice and posts, possibly even be called on to write some guides. A nice guide to the major Linux distributions would be great too, the highs and lows of each, that sort of thing.

No! I don't want a CLI Reference, you should know all the basic commands already.

I think the book should be about cool things you can do with Linux, along with many a troubleshooting common problems, as both these things, I believe describe LQ. Make it unique, not another CLI Reference, guide to dual booting, or anything else OSourceDiplomat said. We don't need another newbies reference.

It should be well balanced. Readable by newbies and advanced users. I know this is a hard and difficult job to do.
We really do not need another "newbie guide to Linux", but we also do not need another "Linux for Experts".
What I do miss ( especially on the german market ) are good books which cover mostly advanced stuff, like "Linux stage 2" or something like that.
Hope you know what I mean. A book, covering the things you need to learn when you already know how to install several dstributions and you know how to work with Linux but still are no Expert.
And ( most important in my mind ) it should NOT be a book like "Linux is great - Windows sucks".
It should cover solutions for real "every day"-problems.
There are really too many books in which you can read how to install this or that but do not cover any solutions for possibly accuring problems


Another question:
Are translations planned for this book ?
LQ is known well around the world I guess, so it might be interesting to distribute the book in several languages, not only for the english speaking market.
( if I can help with translations in any way, I will )

Raphael M,
to my understanding, the number of translations a book gets is Dependant on how it sells.

--jeremy

are you going to include a CD?
 

I like the idea of a book.

Maybe include a CD with knoppix or some other small distro on, plus say, maybe your personal (or put the vote in the forums) OSS linux utilities you can't live without.

What do you think?

Heck, if you included DVDs of all the newest distro's, I paid US $100 for it.
(But, DVD media is still expensive, and most people are still stuck with CD-Rom drives anyway.)

And a chapter devoted to Linux success stories...

Good luck! Let us know when it's published. I'm still a newby (to the forums here at LQ) but I'd be willing to help in any way possible.

(Maybe, also offered autographed copies for sale?)

Ok, that's about it for ideas I have.

Kyle

Perhaps one should simply go all the way LQ and make the book a troubleshooting reference book?
It is true, as Kneeless says, I sketched a beginner's book. Still, I don't agree with him that call/network modem issues, grub/lilo issues and kernel compiling is irrelevant.
I like the concept of a "Stage 2" principle that Raphael M refers to. And I agree that the MS-bashing should be kept to a minimum.

Re: are you going to include a CD?
 

Why not create an LQ Live CD?

Perhaps base it on something like knoppix but LQify it a little. You can guess what the browser homepage would be.

It could also include a "current at time of press" version of the Wiki but add a header that says "click here for the current version".