What Do You Want to Know About Linux?

I would like to write a new sticky for our Linux forum, but don't really know what you all want. I spoke with a few fellow Linux gurus, and I got some ideas - but there isn't a way to know what's most important. So, I am taking it to a plebiscite.

Please choose from the options above, or SUGGEST another one by choosing other and posting your idea(s) here.

If you want to write a guide on a Linux related subject, just PM me and we can discuss it - and get it stickied.

 

I'd like to know some useful commands to use in the terminal. Stuff for checking some system/hardware info... or even simple things like "sudo gedit" would help a lot of new users.

 

All of the above.

What I would like would be a "How to get started into Linux" guide.

 

I would like to know how graphics are handled in linux.

 

how to install drivers (wireless etc.) for noobs

 

i wanna kno why everyone thinks gimp is so great, i tried it with ubuntu linux on my e1505 and it kept crashing after every little thing

 

Hmmm... I've never had GIMP crash on me. In fact it is probably one of the most stable programs I've ever used to be honest. Maybe you have a problem with your install. What version of Ubuntu are you using?

 

ditto. gimp worked fine for me in 5.04, 5.10, 6.06LTS and 6.10 sooooooo =S

 

Agreed, the GIMP is normally a very stable program. Are the any errors you get when GIMP crashes? If you run GIMP through the terminal, is there any error output when it blows up?

 

We need votes, people! There have been over 80 thread views, yet only a meagre 10 votes!

 

I would like a comparison in differ types of Linux. The command seem so differ on almost every distro I tried. I really getting used to figuring out command on Ubuntu's terminal and hate when I switch distros having to learn more commands.

I also asked about this before and was told that the commands are basically the same across all distros. So why is the actual command (what you type in terminal) so differ from lets sat Ubuntu and SUSE? etc:

 

which commands?

if you mean software installation commands, that's because they use different systems. Or if you mean things like editing configuration files, distros can use different hierarchies, it would be nice if they followed the LSB, though.

the vast majority of terminal commands are the same. stuff like dmesg, uname, cat, cp, mv, tail, less... I could go on.

Personally, I think it would be a good idea to look at things that might be laptop-specific like installing wireless drivers/firmware or other stuff like configuring laptop-mode-tools. The only thing about all of this is that I'll pretty much guarantee that we'll be duplicating efforts of others. I know that giving someone a hyperlink may seem impersonal, but it always seems like a waste to tell someone the exact same information that they could get at whatever website you suggest.

 

I voted for the Linux choosing/installing option even though I won't use it. I think it's most necessary for new users looking at Linux, and a well-written intro guide that would explain the differences, how to install, and perhaps how to configure some common wireless adapters (for laptops, of course), would probably be most likely to convince people to try it out.

- Trip

 

a guide to bash commands would be really nice... maybe even cover some bash scripting. though there are several good guides online already so...

 

It's possible that your GIMP was corrupted somehow. To make your question more constructive in terms of writing a guide, do you want to know what are the most popular programs for Linux (both GNOME/KDE)?

We have this in our forum as a sticky. It's called "Linux Distro Guide for the Newbie"

So a guide for cross-distro commands only, in your case? So your suggestion would be to not include "sudo" for the guide, since it's an Ubuntu thing? Trying to understand the suggestion here.

 

Heh, try using BSD once. I tried it and loved it, but everything was completely different in the terminal. I decided to put it off until I finished learning Linux.

 

Yup, It's mostly software commands and editing config files. I don't really need much command besides that. Maybe unpacking a file command every once in awhile.

When it comes to drivers for hardware, I wish Linux could search the net or whatever for the right drivers. Like Windows does. Or is that possible already?

Yea, thats completely differ. I think it has something to do with it being more Unix than Linux. Not sure, but thats what I read.

 

I completely agree

 

100% newbie... i am trying to learn linux. i guess command probably is what i need

 

I want to know how to get windows games like FFXI to work with linux so I can make the change! =D

 

I'm gonna say you should keep using windows...

 

Yeah, BigV is right here. IF you need to play games, then nothing beats Windows for that. You could still dual boot if you want to play around with Linux.

 

sudo is not only an ubuntu thing. It's the only way to become root on Mac OS and is installed on or available for, to my knowledge, every distro. sudo would be seemingly more flexible than su. In my opinion, if that type of guide were written, it should discuss sudo and sudo -s

 

I'm sorry I didn't clarify that. I realize sudo is a cross-distro command (if you install it), but I wouldn't have a use for it, say, on Debian because of

Code:

$ su root
# (now root)

and then I needn't worry about "sudo" every time. It's more powerful for me.

 

Debian is the distro that really pioneered making sudo standard. su is more common in Redhat and Slackware.

 

yeah... su makes your terminal session remain root until you end it. there's just more potential to screw something up by forgetting that you're still root.

I thought Ubuntu was the first to REALLY drive the sudo-ing home. after all, you don't even have a root account you can access from normal login. confused the hell out of me the first time I tried the distribution.

 

I guess for noobs, maybe.

For me, I like Ubuntu, but I don't like not being able to go #root. I like the simplicity of doing a lot of system commands without "sudo" every time. I would use Debian all the time, but I want to support Ubuntu which is catering to the mass populace...and that means getting the word of free software to all.

 

Gautam: That's what "sudo -i" is for Try it sometime. No need to expose yourself more by actually enabling the root account.

 

Wowsers...the -i flag is awesome! Thanks for my catharsis of the day
Just when you thought you toyed around with all the options...

 

sudo su

That's always useful.

- Trip

 

Also, you might find sudo -s useful. It's effectively the same thing as sudo -i, except it doesn't change to the user's home directory... Your choice... Nice to know about sudo su. The reason I like sudo instead of su is there's one less password to worry about being remembering/being compromized

 

11 days left to choose the new sticky...vote up friends!

(that was a free bump)

 

How fitting. I'm putting together a handout since my teacher wants me to teach a lesson to the class on Linux this week. I'll post said handout when I'm sure I'm done with it. It's in OpenDocument format.

- Trip

 

Personally I would like to see a guide about troubleshooting Linux since so many first-time users run into problems with getting devices recognized and installing drivers. The installation of tarballs should be integrated into such a guide as some of us find programs/drivers we would like to use but have no idea how to install manually. I would also like to learn the basic inner workings of the kernel in relation to the drivers and desktop interface so that perhaps in the near future I can fix problems myself.

The poll option "Help and Guide Links for the Major Distros" can be remedied with the link www.distrowatch.com; a centralized download and link location for all the big distros out there.

 

Gautam, if you wanted, you could write up the bash command tutorial, and I could do a choosing/installing a distro guide. I've been waiting for opportunities to do stuff for the community, and I reckon I could do up a nice illustrated install guide. Could include such things as video drivers, multiple wireless solutions, and other frequently asked questions.

 

OK - so...

Lysander is doing the Install Guide

I'm doing the BASH command guide (which is probably going to be a lot of links since man pages so the job well...)

I am going to merge up the various ideas presented in this thread into a new poll for our next set of Linux guide writeups...I'd like it if other NBR Team Linux people wanted to write stuff for this forum.

 

I have no problem writing some stuff up, I'm just usually a better editor than writer Gautam, if you want, I can check through your bash guide before you post it. As a degree-holding Mathematics/Computer Science major, I figure I know more than a thing or two about programming, and I have a number of handy scripts I keep around for different things that I could add to it.

 

I would love to help, but the three research papers that are due in a couple weeks preclude it.

Hopefully later.

 

I'll write some stuff if you want. It won't be about BASH commands or anything, cause I don't have nearly enough experience in it (which is why I voted it up). But I could do things like tips and tricks, resources, and beginner help.

 

You are the boss, Pita. I am just a computer enthusiast who has learnt whatever I can in my spare time. No professional knowledge at all...a.k.a I am studying Biological Anthropology. If you could write it that'd be great...but otherwise, you'll get co-editor rights and credit if you help me out. Thanks for the offer.

Whenever you have time, BigV. You are a great help anyway, so take your time. A new poll is going up soon.

Cool, cool.

 

I don't care about the credits, I just want to make sure everything's right with it, and important things that I've come across in my scripting aren't missed