Books

[Kenneth Marcy]

On 11/22/2015 6:34 PM, Scott Blair wrote:
> I joined this list for two reasons. The second was for help. Thank you 
> for all the help I have gotten. The first was to learn more about 
> Linux and Ubuntu. However, I am not near the level you all are that 
> provide the answers. I know how to install, update, add programs, 
> remove them.  I do not have, what I would consider, a firm grasp on 
> files and directories or where programs install to and how to edit 
> config files without what to put in it and where. i would love be 
> really good at the terminal, so I could know what to put in the 
> terminal to find out how things are working and if they are right. I 
> consider myself to be above beginner and just a little bit below 
> average. The books I have found either are for a beginner, that start 
> out telling how to install, or too far above my level. What books do 
> you recommend for someone in my position?

Mark G. Sobell is the author of several Linux books, the first of which 
to read is the latest edition of "A Practical Guide to Linux Commands, 
Editors, and Shell Programming."  Concurrently, you may wish to peruse 
one of several books with pink covers published by O'Reilly Press about 
classic shell scripting and the bash shell, which are a good part of 
"be[ing] really good at the terminal."

The Bourne again shell, or bash, not only is a way to interact with 
Linux, it is also facility for a specific type of programming called 
scripting.  As your experience with, and knowledge of, Linux grow, the 
usefulness of scripting will become more clear, and so will the utility 
of other scripting languages, such as Perl and Python. O'Reilly has more 
pink-covered books about Python (start with the long one by Mark Lutz), 
and several aqua-covered ones about Perl (start with Programming Perl, 
3rd edition, by Larry Wall and Randal L. Schwartz.  It has a camel on 
its cover).

Perl and Python are each large subject matters themselves, not only as 
languages for scripting, but as general programming languages. These 
topics rather removed from beginning Linux system administration, yet 
they are right at your finger tips, and can be quite useful as you learn 
about them.  Likewise with the C programming language, in which the 
Linux kernel, and much open source software, is written.  The second 
edition of Kernighan and Ritchie's book, The C Programming Language, is 
a definite recommendation for your computing bookshelf.

Learning to program is another world, yet it is right where you are.  
The multitude of programming resources includes MIT OpenCourseWare, with 
lots of introductory python and computer science instruction using 
python online for extended viewing. Course 6.00SC is a good start.

Returning from the easy-to-make diversion into learning programming to 
books for Linux learners, after a book or two by Sobell, another classic 
is Unix and Linux System Administration Handbook, fourth edition, by 
Nemeth, Snyder, Hein, and Whaley.  This volume starts with shell 
scripting and goes deep into the operating system and how it interacts 
with its environment.  Not light reading, but an authoritative reference.


Ken