If you really want to learn Unix/Linux

[bzImage]

- Install any distribuition, yes ANY.

- Do NOT INSTALL A GRAPHICAL ENVIRONMENT (this its important, just use the text mode!!!)

- Forget everything you know about windows

- Dont compare windows to Unix/Linux, its like comparing apples and oranges.

- Do no return to windows, do everything you want in text mode (yes you can do everything in text mode)

- Learn how the kernel works, how the shell works, LEARN VI or EMACS.

- Read about it, there are TONS of tutorials and information on the internet.

- Create your own shell scripts. Learn to REALLY use the shell.

- DOWNLOAD, CONFIGURE AND COMPILE YOUR OWN VANILLA KERNEL FROM ftp.kernel.org. (learn the kernel options)

- When you feel comfortable with the shell (processes, file systems, directories, permissions, shell scripting, boot levels, networking, security, etc.) then install the graphical environment.

- DO NOT INSTALL ANY WINDOWS EMULATOR (like vmware or lindows) if you want to run windows, just run windows, if you want to learn Unix/Linux, JUST USE UNIX/LINUX.

- It helps ALOT if you have programming experience (Ansi C preferable).

- Read, read and read.

- If you can, read:

"The design of the Unix operating system -- Bach "
"The unix programming environment -- Ritchie"
"Tricks from the Unix Masters --- Dont remember the author"

- Your best friend its called "man", ALWAYS READ THE MANUALS OF THE COMMANDS

[N.B.]

hmmz, nice post mate ..
You are right, it is surely the hard way, but the best to go

[lotusfang]

True. So true.

- LotusFang

[bzImage]

I use to work @ SCO making Unix for 8 years (yes.. MAKING, not using, well, also using.. ).. and for the first 4 years i only use a dumb terminal (wyse 60), life was good. And i REALLY learn Unix.

I only use the graphical environment to open more terminals..

[lotusfang]

Work@SCO, Minix coding, MenuetOS... Only one word - Wow!!!

Unfortunately, now everything is gooey-fied. Even Linux distros are trying to sell themselves as Windows clones to get a share of the pie which is really sad. People seem to want to learn to fly before they learn to walk.

I got a lot to learn from you. I spend most of my waking time in trying to meet impossible deadlines at the office (set by people who seem to firmly beleive in the saying "Together nine women can deliver a baby in one month"). I once had dreams of rolling out a new OS, ... However, these have remained dreams at best

- LotusFang

[zen]

It's called PROGRESS,we don't want to go back to the dark ages we want graphical interfaces,we don't want to know how it was written we just want it to work...WELL.

Linux is new to me and I'm trying to teach myself.......from scratch..but Idon't like code...I just want the stuff to work.

Currently testing Mandrake 9,which I've just installed on the main 'box' and RedHat 8 on the 'test box'.

What a disapointment RedHat...Nice desktop etc crap burning software[x-cdroast don't work]. There file system looks better than Man9,there firewall works from install [Man9 Don't]

Given time if you combined the 2 distro's it would be a good O/S!!

[bzImage]

You are not learning Unix or Linux, you are learning how to use a graphical environment that looks like windows, dont feel different about it, there its nothing special there..

When you PROGRESS from USING software to CREATE software you will understand what i mean..

Unix/Linux its an environment created for and by programmers, not aimed to users, the graphical environment give the FALSE FEELING OF KNOWING SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY DONT KNOW..

[zen]

If It's not aimed at 'user's' why are they mass marketing it to city institutions [ Banks etc ] as an alternative to windows ?

I think the end user like me ain't to concerned how it's put together.....as long as it works!

If the programmers wanted to keep it they should'nt have released it !

_____________________________

Linux is simple..........just needs better programming

[ThinkerTDM]

If Unix is aimed at programmers, and Windows at the common user, why would you want to switch?
And what do people fail to learn by using a gooey rather than the command line?

Actually, I take that back- after reading some of the previous posts, the command line really is a necessity. But the gooies are nice for some things. But solely using a command line only keeps the power in the hands of a few "high priests" who think that they are the only ones who get the knowledge. Zen said it best- we only want the stuff to work. We don't need to know the principles of internal combustion to drive a car.
(Of course, not knowing the details makes you a slave to the mechanic, so I think I just shot down my own argument.- How about this- knowing everything about your computer, command line AND gooey, makes you a slave to no one.)
But people should switch, just to fight against Microsoft- and believe me, we should.

[lotusfang]

Hmmmmm, one question - when something is offered to you for free, why should you not grab the oppurtunity to make the fullest use of it? Gooey may seem to make things easier, but to get the real nut and bolts feel of any topic, you need to go from the ground up. Learning is never a waste. Knowledge is never "enough". The more you know, the more you realize the less you know.

Maybe I should start writing the "fortunes" in fortune cookies

- LotusFang

[mpsan]

Originally posted by bzImage
I use to work @ SCO making Unix for 8 years (yes.. MAKING, not using, well, also using.. ).. and for the first 4 years i only use a dumb terminal (wyse 60), life was good. And i REALLY learn Unix.

I only use the graphical environment to open more terminals..

I still have SCO Xenix system 5 here with the books!!