Linux in a Nutshell

by O'Reilly

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Label:O'Reilly
Pages:944
Binding:Paperback
Publication Date:2003-06
Published By:O'Reilly
ASIN:0596004826
Category:Book

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Editorial Reviews and Product Descriptions

Product Description

Linux in a Nutshell, now in its fourth edition, has won awards in the Linux community as the most indispensable book about Linux. It is an essential desktop reference for the commands that users of Linux utilize every day, with the depth of information and the practical, succinct "In a Nutshell" format that made the previous editions so popular.

Comprehensive but concise, Linux in a Nutshell covers all substantial user, programming, administration, and networking commands for the most common Linux distributions. It's several quick references rolled into one: sed, gawk, RCS, CVS, vi, Emacs, bash, tcsh, regular expressions, package management, bootloaders, and desktop environments are all covered in this clear, to-the-point volume, along with core command-line utilities.

The fourth edition continues to track the major changes in bootloaders, the GNOME and KDE desktops, and general Unix commands. Several commands related to CDs and music reflect the evolution of multimedia on Linux. Coverage has been added for GRUB, which has become the default bootloader on several Linux distributions, and for vim, the popular and feature-loaded extension to vi. The addition of several new options to the iptables firewall command and new commands related to DNSSEC and ssh show the book's value as a security tool. With this book, you no longer have to grope through long manpages and info documents for the information you need; you'll find it here in clear language and an easy-to-read format.

Contents include:

  • Programming, system administration, networking, and user commands with complete lists of options
  • GRUB, LILO, and Loadlin bootloaders
  • Shell syntax and variables for the bash, csh, and tcsh shells
  • Pattern matching
  • Emacs, vi, and vim editing commands
  • sed and gawk commands
  • The GNOME and KDE desktops and the fvwm2 window manager
  • Red Hat and Debian package managers

Customer Reviews

Man-pages++ - Reviewed on 2008-05-16
* * *

This book consists of one large section that is mostly distilled man pages, along with more specialized chapters later on. Emacs, vi, bash, sed and gawk are all covered in detail. This book is my main reference for bash, vi, sed and gawk, as I am an Emacs and Z Shell user. Despite the material in the "Commands" chapter being redundant with the online documentation of any GNU/Linux system, I like having a printed book to view. This is usually the first thing I go for when I'm using `find'.

I recommend getting a used copy or a previous edition, because the sections of real value in this book will still be valuable, even if they are three or four years old.
Still a very helpful, very valuable reference - Reviewed on 2008-03-22
* * * * *

Getting a bit long in tooth, but Linux hasn't changed that much since this was published in 2005. Much of it is a reprint of what you'll find in the MAN pages, with better tyography and formatting. Not particularly helpful for the rank beginner, unless used as a secondary source.

As a handy reference to Linux - truly Linux in a nutshell - it still has no equal in terms of comprehensiveness and ease of use.

Jerry
Essential Linux Reference - Reviewed on 2007-09-16
* * * * *

This book is a constant companion on my physical desktop....if you deal with Linux in anyway at all this book is a necessity.
A very big nutshell! - Reviewed on 2007-07-23
* * * *

This book is as it promises, lots of information in a very (relatively) small space. The chapters are organized on topics that the newbie (read: me!) needs to know about and the explanations are thorough and well-written. While the old hand will understand the material covered easily and without much review, the newbie will have to read and re-read to get it all. Chapter 3 lists the most common LINUX commands and details arguments that go with them. The index and the fact that the commands lists are alphabetical make it very easy to look up a specific command or function and find out what you need to know to make it work on the spot. The chapters on Shells and on the VIM Editor are very informative and make two tough topics easy to understand. Reading through the VIM editor chapter as I did a lab practical made the process almost fun. For me, the best part was that I could understand the book, and my way experienced friend also finds it a useful reference for his more advanced work. So, I'll be able to use it while I grow into it as a LINUX user.
It's a Nutshell book. Duh. - Reviewed on 2007-07-15
* * * * *

If you've been in the tech field for any length of time you own at least one Nutshell book. If you like them, you own several; if you don't, you probably stopped at one.
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