Linux in a Nutshell [Paperback]

Jessica P. Hekman (Author), O'Reilly Media Inc. (Author)

Book Description

Series: In a Nutshell | Publication Date: February 8, 1997

Linux in a Nutshell covers the core commands available on common Linux distributions. This isn't a scaled-down quick reference of common commands, but a complete reference containing all user, programming, administration, and networking commands.

Contents include:

• Commands with complete lists of options
• Shell syntax for the bash, csh, and tcsh shells
• Pattern matching
• emacs, vi, and ex editing commands
• sed and gawk commands
• Software development commands

This book also documents a wide range of GNU tools for UNIX users who have GNU versions of standard UNIX tools. You'll find all the essential commands you need to run your system, as well as all the commands that historically have been included on UNIX systems. Specialized packages included in most distributions of Linux are not covered.

Linux in a Nutshell is a must for any Linux user; it weighs less than a stack of manual pages, but gives you everything you need for common, day-to-day use.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Linux in a Nutshell incorporates all the typical characteristics of a command reference. On the positive side, there's no extraneous narrative gunk to get between you and the specific piece of information you're searching for. On the negative side, there's no entry-level instruction here to guide the uninitiated. While that's not a bad thing, it should serve as a warning to Linux newbies: supplement this book with another if you don't know what you're doing.

Hekman devotes about a third of the book to Linux user commands that aren't part of specific shells, programming languages, applications, or the set of administrator commands. These commands are presented as straight man-page-style documentation in table form, listing commands, their switches, and succinct descriptions alphabetically. The author then goes on to document the three Linux shells--bash, csh, and tcsh--and the GNU utilities. The book's coverage of emacs, vi, pattern matching (regular expressions), sed, and gawk distinguishes it from its competitors. Hekman wraps up with more man-page-style documentation of programming commands and Linux's complete complement of administrator commands.

Review

'O'Reilly have a reputation for producing first-rate computing books, and they've reaffirmed it with Linux in a Nutshell. Each page is clean, accessible and full of detailed and well-written text, while the overall structure and choice of content is equally accomplished.' Rating 8/10. Linux Format, December 2000 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 438 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 1st. ed edition (February 8, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565921674
• ISBN-13: 978-1565921672
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,629,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars the on-going fall of o'reilly, December 27, 2000

By 

hbeaumont "hbeaumont" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: LINUX in A Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

I can't pinpoint exactly what it is that I do not like about "Linux in a Nutshell". Basically, it seems that everytime that I need a bit of information the book does not have what I need. I also dislike the organization of the book. I've had it for 2 or more years and it still just doesn't give me the good use that most other O'Reilly books do.

Basically, it's not a must-have and I'd gladly trade it back in for the money I shelled out for it.

This book continues the fall from grace of O'Reilly & Associates. Once *the* best computer publisher but now - starting to have more misses than hits (where before EVERY O'Reilly book was almost guaranteeded to be worth every penny paid.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A priceless book!, June 29, 2002

By 

Merrifield Winters (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: LINUX in A Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

It is hard to be enthusiastic sometimes about a book that seems to contain only commands and summaries of various programming tools. This book contains an excellent section on vi (which was easy to start with) and emacs (which really is complicated). The Emacs sections is reason enough for buying the book. It helped me to quickly figure out how to use this program to do basic functions. The other commands are well-organized into sections that make them easy to finds. It is a quality book.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Do you REALLY need this one?, March 23, 2001

By 

Kip Perkins (Mt Juliet, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: LINUX in A Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

I have this book, but I have reaely referenced it. Being what it is, the man pages are just as helpful. Some people however, do not like reading from a computer screen, I can understnad that, a book is just more comfortable- this book is for them. My biggest gripe is that this book is not organized well. A book of this type should simply organize the commands alphabetically. However, it is a decent book and the information is quite useful. So because it is a useful book that I simply don't like by prefrence i gave it three stars.