| Overview
Linux in a Nutshell covers the core commands available on
common Linux distributions. This isn't a scaled-down quick
reference of common commands, but a complete reference to all user,
programming, administration, and networking commands with complete
lists of options. Contents also include:
LILO and Loadlin (boot) options Shell syntax and variables for the bash,
csh, and tcsh shells Pattern matching Emacs and vi editing commands sed and gawk commands Common configuration tasks for the GNOME and KDE
desktops and the fvwm2 window manager
New material in the third edition includes common configuration
tasks for the GNOME and KDE desktops and the fvwm2 window manager,
the dpkg Debian package manager, an expanded investigation
of the rpm Red Hat package manager and CVS, and many new
commands. Linux in a Nutshell is a must for any Linux user;
it weighs less than a stack of manual pages, but delivers
everything needed for common, day-to-day use. It also covers a wide
range of GNU tools for Unix users who have GNU versions of standard
Unix tools.
Editorial ReviewsProduct DescriptionLinux in a Nutshell covers the core commands for common Linux distributions. This isn't a scaled-down quick reference of common commands, but a complete reference to all user, programming, administration, and networking commands, with complete lists of options. New material in the third edition includes what's commonly required for customizing the GNOME and KDE desktops and the fvwm2 window manager, the dpkg Debian package manager, an expanded investigation of the rpm Red Hat package manager, and many new commands. Contents also include: LILO and Loadlin (boot) optionsShell syntax and variables for the bash, csh, and tcsh shellsPattern matchingEmacs and vi editing commands Linux in a Nutshell is a must for any Linux user; it weighs less than a stack of manual pages, but delivers everything needed for common, day-to-day use. | Amazon.com ReviewInto the already crowded Linux desk-reference market (which threatens to push my monitor off my desktop) comes O'Reilly's third edition of Linux in a Nutshell by Ellen Siever and colleagues. The ever-expanding horizon of Linuxology makes the editorial task of circumscribing it in a nutshell impossible--even from the venerable O'Reilly sources. We ask, "What didn't they cut, and do we really need it next to the coffee cup?" The success of this attempt is spotty, at best. From agetty to znew, this Nutshell book contributes half of its contents to alphabetically arranged synopses of 400 user, programmer, and administrator commands and utilities. The online manual page for "ps"--the process status program--produces over 14 screens of command-line options, environment variables, output formatting statements, utility cross-references, and author credits. The abstracted Nutshell entry contains only three textual pages of command-line options and bare-bones output abbreviations. We learn that "yes" is an obscure little utility that's used ostensibly for driving scripts like ./configure. When misused, "yes" can create a 5-MB file on your hard drive in one CPU second; but the entry contains neither a warning to that effect nor a description of its relationship to big brother "expect"--which is alarming in its absence from both the alphabetical parade of commands and the index altogether. Consequently, the first half of the book is intended for the curious and possibly nonexistent subpopulation of well-trained users who want to remind themselves of command-line flags, but would rather not use the online manual pages as a reference. The meat in this Nutshell is contained sparingly in its second half. Here, it compares favorably with online how-tos for providing technical details of Linux kernel loading and boot parameterization, package management, bash/tcsh/csh shell use, and the underused CVS version-control system. The technical specifics of the popular editors emacs and vi are of marginal use to the experienced administrator whose manual muscle memory is full. The gawk and sed tutorials are somewhat more reference-worthy, and the tome ends with introductions to the barely discussed gnome, JDE, and fvwm2 window managers. The gaping crack in this book is the absence of X11 configuration guidelines, which often takes 80 percent of system configuration time, even for experienced administrators. If you can't spare a better patch of pine, you might consider wedging 75 percent of this desk reference under your monitor, where it might contribute more to the ergonomics of coding than to the content. The remaining 25 percent will slip into your blotter for easy access. --Peter Leopold |
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Reader Reviews From Amazon (Ranked by 'Helpfulness') Average Customer Rating: based on 26 reviews. used condition not as good as stated, 2009-05-30 Reviewer rating: I know I bought used, but couldn't the seller at least have wiped off the cobwebs and leaves stuck to the book be fore it was shipped? It looked like it came from a Hurricane Katrina sell off. The book was in much worse condition than stated. I'll avoid this one in the future. | Excellent reference, better than the man pages, 2003-03-27 Reviewer rating: This book was listed as an optional textbook for a Unix (Linux) class that I took, but I quickly realized that there was nothing optional about it. I had to have it. I use this book often since Linux's man pages can be somewhat cryptic to a new user like me. The author does an excellent job of explaining the commands and options in plain english. Obviously since this is a reference book (basically a Linux dictionary) you will not read it cover to cover. Instead you will find yourself constantly referring back to it, looking up new things you haven't seen before or old things that you can't quite remember. Having this book on your shelf is sort of like having a good Webster's dictionary, it's a must. | Highly Recommended, 2002-12-11 Reviewer rating: ~~ Although not for "Newbies," of my dozen or so Linux books, "Linux In a Nutshell" is the most thourougly concise (is that a contradiction of terms?) of them all. A virtual "Bible" of commands, options, and information.
This book will stay alongside your computer while the others will remain on your bookshelf. ~~ Lloyd W. Cary ~~ | A priceless book!, 2002-06-30 Reviewer rating: It is hard to be enthusiastic sometimes about a book that seems to contain only commands and summaries of various programming tools. This book contains an excellent section on vi (which was easy to start with) and emacs (which really is complicated). The Emacs sections is reason enough for buying the book. It helped me to quickly figure out how to use this program to do basic functions. The other commands are well-organized into sections that make them easy to finds. It is a quality book. | Good for every Linux user, 2002-03-19 Reviewer rating: This book isn't for just experienced users. While the beginner won't find it to be a tutorial, it is a great book to have on the desk when you need to look up a command. For that use it is much easier than trying to find the information in that big tutorial book you just read ;) |
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