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I'm delving into the Linux world again as a diversion from my Microsoft-centric day job, and every time I tackle a new project I find it a frustrating exercise in trial and error.

One thing that I always try to do when learning something new is figure out what the big pieces are and how they work together. I haven't yet come across a resource that explains Linux at this level. Resources seem to be either aimed at the barely computer literate crowd (Linux doesn't bite. Promise!) or the just compile the kernel and make your own distro crowd.

I'm looking for a "JavaScript: The Good Parts" type of road map that doesn't necessarily answer all my questions so much as help me understand what questions I need to be asking.

Any suggestions? What about that book makes it special?

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Have you tried using a Linux distro everyday? – Mahmoud Hossam Nov 12 '11 at 22:28
Although my work machine runs Windows, I have used Linux for prolonged stretches. I'm comfortable with basic usage, but something like setting up Rails is still painful for me. – Josh Earl Nov 12 '11 at 23:48
I'm not familiar with Rails, but reading the manual should help. – Mahmoud Hossam Nov 13 '11 at 18:30
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Thanks, Mahmoud, but this discussion illustrates my point. The Rails docs are pretty thin on installation instructions; they assume a base of *nix knowledge. Most tutorials are aimed at Mac users, and I understand Rails is much easier to set up on Macs. The Ubuntu tutorials I found were for older versions, and without a good base understanding of Linux, it's hard to figure out what to do when the magic sequence of commands fails with a cryptic error message. I want to learn what to do next. – Josh Earl Nov 13 '11 at 20:06
I didn't read the manual, but on their website they say all you need to install is RubyGems, which might be available in your distro's package manager, you'll use this to install Rails. – Mahmoud Hossam Nov 13 '11 at 21:22

4 Answers

up vote 3 down vote accepted

I learnt Linux basics just by reading blog posts and other resources, but after a while I purchased Linux Pocket Guide.

Got many "ah ha" moments during my reading and now it's my reference. I still use Google for advanced stuffs.

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This is exactly the type of thing I'm looking for. I have learned a lot so far from the web, but it's so scattered. Linux is difficult in particular because it's modularized by design. The Pocket Guide looks like it'll provide a structured overview, which is what I need right now. – Josh Earl Nov 12 '11 at 23:45
up vote 5 down vote

The Art of Unix Programming is a great read.

http://catb.org/~esr/writings/taoup/html/

Definitely worth a look.

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+1. Knowing the Zen of UNIX definitely helps in leveraging the power of simplicity. – tdammers Nov 13 '11 at 11:58
Seconded! This is an awesome book. – Christopher Mahan Jan 11 '12 at 21:33
up vote 0 down vote

As people suggested, I think the best way to learn about Linux/Unix is to use Linux/Unix.

Once you understand the basics and where everything goes in the system, I believe it would be easier to dive into a book and learn the details.

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up vote 0 down vote

I've been reading the Linux Pocket Guide, which is excellent. Today I came across another good resource on Amazon, How Linux Works - What Every Superuser Should Know. The reviews indicate that the author presents a beginner-level introduction to the entire Linux system, then delves into intermediate-level material, and finally advanced topics. This is exactly what I've been looking for--can't wait to read it.

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