This has been an amazing book. It should have been the first thing I ever read on Linux. You might think that it's a specialist book of some kind - after all, it is only about the command line. But the command line is where it's at and the author doesn't assume you know anything about Linux. It's actually a complete introduction to Linux and at each step of the way you have a new skill you can start to apply or just something to screw around with on your computer. I mean, there's nothing in Linux that can't be done on the command line. Graphical user interfaces are just a pretty presentation of what's going on underneath. Some people might grumble at "having to learn the command line" but honestly it feels very powerful once you get the handle on it (not as hard as you'd think) and I think linux actually makes doing stuff in the terminal much more fun, intersting, and powerful than in Windows or OSX.
It starts out with navigating folders and files, copying and what-not like you could do through menus and right clicking on a GUI. Then it teaches you some cool tricks you can only do in the command line (and aren't that difficult) like making a folder for each of the letters A-Z (it happens to be sudo mkdir {A..Z} so again, not as hard as you might think). Or maybe you want to find a folder on your computer whose third letter is either a p or a q - you can't quite remember. There's a chapter on permissions which allows you to, say, make a file that is only accessible to users in the group "teachers," or maybe you just want to turn a text document (say you compiled something from C) into something your computer knows can be run. It tells you how to alter the command prompt to display pretty pictures or show a clock. There's a chapter on the very cool way Linux installs programs. It will even teach you some very basic computer programming concepts, enough to start customizing your linux, and how to install a program from source code (again, it's easier than you think).
So it really runs the gamut of all the basics of how Linux works and I think by actually typing in the commands yourself, you gain a much better understanding of the system and how it works. There are other books I'm reading about operating systems and not a lot of it really stuck or made sense until I started reading this book and messing with things myself through commands and editing files (and editing config files makes you feel like a computer wizard when you're starting out). And there's something about the way it's written, the language, the pacing, the occasionally joke that is just rare enough that it catches you off guard. My only criticism would be that the "Gentle Introduction to Vim" could have been a little more gentle. Perhaps by spacing it out over a couple of chapters to let it sink in rather than trying to remember all of the keyboard shortcuts that make vim what it is all in one chapter. But it's a minor point compared to how much I feel like I've learned reading this book.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
There is a newer edition of this item:
Frequently purchased items with fast delivery
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
From the Publisher
'Excellent'
"This excellent Linux command line book is more than cubicle decoration, it's a secret superpower."
—Ken Hess, Red Hat
'Highly Effective'
"For those looking to master the Linux command line and get an essential understanding of the core Linux command-line tools, this book is a highly effective and useful guide."
—Ben Rothke, RSA Conference
'THE Beginner's Guide'
"I can honestly say I have found THE beginner's guide to Linux."
—Jayson Broughton, Linux Journal
About the Author
William Shotts has been a software professional and avid Linux user for more than 15 years. He has an extensive background in software development. He is also the creator of LinuxCommand.org, a Linux education and advocacy site featuring news, reviews, and extensive support for using the Linux command line.
About the Publisher
No Starch Press has published the finest in geek entertainment since 1994, creating both timely and timeless titles like Python Crash Course, Python for Kids, How Linux Works, and Hacking: The Art of Exploitation. An independent, San Francisco-based publishing company, No Starch Press focuses on a curated list of well-crafted books that make a difference. They publish on many topics, including computer programming, cybersecurity, operating systems, and LEGO. The titles have personality, the authors are passionate experts, and all the content goes through extensive editorial and technical reviews. Long known for its fun, fearless approach to technology, No Starch Press has earned wide support from STEM enthusiasts worldwide.
About the author
Good book but its a fake!
The content is awesome but, just found out the one I received is not from No Strech Press publishing. The spine and back cover are blank. If you open the book, the last page will have the publishing print of what the full cover will look like.Lesson learned: Just buy this/all books from No Stech Press website, yea it might cost more but at least you are supporting the author and publisher directly. Meet NSP at DefCon, super cool and you can tell they are legit and not in this just for profit.Amazon: Get your stuff together, We know you sell a lot of stuff but you started with books, at least get that right!
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2014
Read this book before you read any other Linux book. Actually, any book on Operating Systems at all.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2015
- Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2015
- Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2019
- Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2025
Top reviews from other countries
- AngeloReviewed in Canada on June 28, 2018
A Great Addition to Your Reference Shelf
-
-
-
CHRISTIAN ALVES GONZALEZReviewed in Spain on January 14, 2019
Excelente primera guia de referencia
- Harshit saxenaReviewed in India on June 6, 2017
The Best introduction to the command line
