Debian für Dummies

[Telemachus]

This is starting to veer, but I will add my list of favorite Linux books: the Linux phrasebook (must have for new folks, I think) and then later on O'Reilly's Linux in a Nutshell. For my money, Linux in a Nutshell gives more bang for your buck than the Running Linux. The bulk of the book is essential information on every Linux terminal command (pages 32-532, to give you an idea of how many commands they cover). Then you get mini-tutorials on boot loaders, package management, shells, regular expressions, emacs, vi/vim, sed, gawk and then source code management systems. I have a bunch of books around, but those are the two I go back to most often.

[BioTube]

We could always rename everything just to make the book useless. But the DOS for Dummies book taught me a lot(I think - I was like 7 or 8 then). We should probably withhold judgment until we see just how bad this book is. But leaping into the pool's the best way to learn to swim(though it helps if you which way's the deep end).

[perlhacker14]

This is starting to veer, but I will add my list of favorite Linux books: the Linux phrasebook (must have for new folks, I think) and then later on O'Reilly's Linux in a Nutshell. For my money, Linux in a Nutshell gives more bang for your buck than the Running Linux. The bulk of the book is essential information on every Linux terminal command (pages 32-532, to give you an idea of how many commands they cover). Then you get mini-tutorials on boot loaders, package management, shells, regular expressions, emacs, vi/vim, sed, gawk and then source code management systems. I have a bunch of books around, but those are the two I go back to most often.

500 pages of terminal info? Plus mini tutorials on all that? Sounds like a great book... Too bad it costs 45$.... O'reilly books are usually pretty good - Their books on Perl are the best there is.
On Linux Phrasebook: I did not like that one... it does not tell you much information or background - just limited scope on doing a few things...

[jml]

All raise good points. I also like Running Linux and to a lesser degree Linux in a Nutshell (at 925 pages, that's a pretty big nut!) and Linux PhraseBook. I think the last two titles are a bit too technical for a new user. They become very good resources once you are experienced enough to know what you don't know. I agree, lets hope that the Debian for Dummies book is a good one and that it does well enough to be translated into other languages.

Joe

[Depressure]

There are 2 general Linux books that I think everyone should have: Running Linux and The Linux Phrasebook.

If you use Debian, "The Debian System" is also important.

are these three books up to date??still usable?

[jml]

Depressure, because these three books not tied to any particular Linux distro, but to Linux in general, they have a very good shelf life. (pun intended, sorry.) The files structure, command structure and individual apps do not change that much over time.

According to Amazon.com, Running Linux was published in Dec. 2005. Linux in a nutshell was published in Dec. 2006. And The Linux Phrase Book was published in Jun. 2006.

I have all three of these books and I am happy with all of them.

Joe

[e1even1]

does anyone know of a debian or linux topic that isn't covered for free already on the net?

some people like to buy linux books and that's OK by me. but it just seems like such a waste of hard earned cash nowadays. google works and it's free.

[perlhacker14]

does anyone know of a debian or linux topic that isn't covered for free already on the net?

some people like to buy linux books and that's OK by me. but it just seems like such a waste of hard earned cash nowadays. google works and it's free.

I agree to an extent, but when you do not have internet access due to a device or driver issue.... and no other computers are available.... books are always handy as a last resort. maybe i will save up and buy linux in a nutshell... seems quite useful to have around.

[Telemachus]

My problem is that I'm either old-fashioned or just old: I find that I can't read anything longer than about a page or two on a screen. I much prefer to read something I can hold in my hands. I love books; I don't mind paying for them. It's probably my only real luxury - I buy lots and lots of books.

[perlhacker14]

My problem is that I'm either old-fashioned or just old: I find that I can't read anything longer than about a page or two on a screen. I much prefer to read something I can hold in my hands. I love books; I don't mind paying for them. It's probably my only real luxury - I buy lots and lots of books.

Ya, but you are an English teacher. And staring at a screen and reading does give some people an headache after a while.
I just go to the library every saturday morning and check out like three SF and tech books which Iread in my spare time and before I sleep.

[e1even1]

for the new user who doesn't want to be a dummy, the debian repository Documentation Section lists 866 packages including ...

rutebook - Rute User's Tutorial and Exposition is a book written by Paul
Sheer and published by Prentice Hall. It covers the use of GNU/Linux
for a novice to intermediate user. System administration is covered
as well. Included are both HTML and PDF versions of this document.

apt-doc - Documentation for APT

bash-doc - Documentation and examples for the The GNU Bourne Again SHell

debian-history - A Short History of the Debian Project

debian-reference-common - Debian system administration guide, common examples

doc-linux-html - Linux HOWTOs and FAQs in HTML format

grub-doc - Documentation for GRand Unified Bootloader

installation-guide-xxxx - architecture specific Debian installation guides

newbiedoc - Documentation by and for newbies. This is a snapshot of the documentation currently being developed
by The Newbiedoc Project. See http://newbiedoc.sourceforge.net for
the most recent version, or if you want to join the team.
Current release includes:
- Introduction to 'apt-get'
- DocBook guides and documentation for writing doc for Newbiedoc
- Using 'grep'
- Installing and configuring hardware
- Finding help on a Debian system
- Text editors: JOE and vi
- Compiling kernels the Debian way
- Managing processes
- Using runlevels
- Configuring exim
The documentation will be installed in /usr/share/doc/newbiedoc,
and newbiedoc(1) is a script that starts a browser on the
newbiedoc collection.

samba-doc-pdf - Samba documentation (PDF format)

vim-doc - Vi IMproved - HTML documentation

[llivv]

'

[craigevil]

The Debian System and Knoppix Hacks are the only 2 linux books I have ever bought. I have found a ton of free pdf docs on the net and there is years worth of reading just in the Debian repos.

Code: Select all

file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/linuxcommand.org
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/tdg5-0.0.18
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Text_Pics
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Thinking in Python
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/ Advanced Linux Programming.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/abs-guide.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Apache Quick Reference Card.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/apt-howto.en.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Bash Quick Reference.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Bash-Beginners-Guide.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Beginning.Java.Programming.for.Dummies.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Building a Java applet.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/C Reference Card (ANSI).pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/C++ Programming HOW-TO.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Cheat Sheet Subversion.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/CVS Quick Reference Card.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/debian-faq.en.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/debiantips
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/dselect-beginner.en.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/emacs-refcard-a4.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/etch_install_guide.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Firefox.For.Dummies.chm
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/gcc.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Google Hacks.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/JAVA Programming Guide - Quick Reference.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Java Programming On Linux.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/JAVA Quick Reference.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/kubuntuguide.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Learning Debian GNU Linux.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Linux - Complete Command Reference.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/LINUX Admin Quick Reference.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Linux Bible 2006 Edition.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Linux Security Quick Reference Guide.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Linux-Dictionary.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/linux_quickref.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/lnag.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/masteringvi.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/mod_perl Quick Reference Card.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/new_linux_course_modules.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/OReilly.Ubuntu.Hacks.Tips.and.Tools.for.Exploring.Using.and..chm
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Perl Cookbook.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Perl In A Nutshell.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Programming Perl - Second Edition.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Programming Perl 5.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Python 2.4 Quick Reference Card.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/quick-reference.en.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/QuickRefCard-A4.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/refcard-en-a4.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/reference.en.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/rute.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/sag-0.7.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/securing-Debian.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/slackbook-2.0.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/tex-refcard-a4.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/The Linux Cookbook  .pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/The One Page Linux Manual.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Thinking in Java, 2nd edition, Revision 11.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Thinking in Python.zip
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Understanding_The_Linux Kernel_3rd.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/UNIX commands reference card.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/vi Quick Reference.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/Vi Reference Card.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/vi-tutorial-a4.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/VIM Quick Reference Card.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/vimbook-OPL.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/VisiBone Web Designer's HTML Card.pdf
file:///home/craig/Documents/Linux/XEmacs Reference Card.pdf

Are all references I have found on the internet.

Linux is truly an internet OS anything you might need to learn is readily available on the internet.