Linux: The Textbook [Paperback]

Syed Mansoor Sarwar (Author), Robert Koretsky (Author), Syed Aqeel Sarwar (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0201725959 | ISBN-13: 978-0201725957 | Publication Date: July 12, 2001

@CATEGORY = Linux (CJ00)@TITLE = Linux: The Textbook@AUTHOR = Syed Mansoor Sarwar@AUTHOR = Robert Koretsky@AUTHOR = Syed Aqeel Sarwar This book assumes that the reader has no background in Linux. It tours the Linux applications interface, guiding the student through operating system utilities including process, file, storage, and I/O management. Using this approach, readers quickly learn to navigate the applications interface while broadening their understanding of operating system principles. This singular organization combined with additional coverage of Linux software development tools and a quick-reference command appendix benefits the novice programmer as well as the skilled Linux user in need of a solid reference. This book is written in short, well-organized chapters that make the reader focus on a small set of related topics. Its in-depth coverage carefully blends important Linux concepts, like inter-process communication and I/O redirection, with shell commands to enhance understanding of both. The presentation features an integrated textual and graphical presentation of commands and concepts to enhance understanding of difficult concepts. This book is designed for novice programmers without a background in Linux and for the skilled Linux user in need of a solid reference.@ISBN = 0-201-72595-9@MAINCAT = Linux@DATALINE1 = 2002, 400 pages, 6 1/4 x 9 1/8@DATALINE2 = Paper, $35.25k

Product Details

• Paperback: 678 pages
• Publisher: Addison Wesley (July 12, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201725959
• ISBN-13: 978-0201725957
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #365,002 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Dull and confusing, August 6, 2003

By 

Leicester Dedlock (Ames, IA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Linux: The Textbook (Paperback)

Author: Computer Science/Math double major at Cameron University. Junior.

After reading four five-star reviews, I think I need to speak up. Our school used this book for a freshman-level Operating System Utilities class and I was not fully pleased. As far as positives go, I will give that this book is extremely comprehensive. Most important commands are explained and the more obscure commands and options are included in the back. Even though I disliked the book, I still keep it as a reference due to its scope. Issues regarding differences between different versions of Linux are not covered well, but that's really too much to cover in one book. Just make sure to get a book specific to your version in addition (or possible exclusion) of this one. I have Red Hat and fortunately most of the code in here is portable to Red Hat. Also Mandrake is included on the disk (at least in my version), which is the version the book is catered to. Maybe it's just bad luck but I found the version of Mandrake included to be quite buggy, but that's a separate rant.
The main reason I didn't like the book is the usual flaw in technical computer books: unclarity. The explanations are not well-written and are short of examples in some areas. Also, the explanations that are given tend to be just as dry and boring as unclear. In addition to the constant vagueness and unreadability, there isn't enough attention given onto the traditional privileges and restrictions of the typical user. The examples and explanations don't give the reader a good feel as to what they can do on a Linux system, unless they happen to have full root access. Given an experienced programmer knows there restrictions and they may vary, but the introductory Linux programmer is not clear on the kind of programming environment they will be working in.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A really good book, November 6, 2001

By 

Riccardo Facchini "Magister" (Sant Joan Despi, Barcelona Spain) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Linux: The Textbook (Paperback)

Impressive book, well written, self explaining and covering almost all aspects required by the linux "not-so-expert", as I am. But:
One really important part is missing! Almost no discussion is provided on the user profile definition. How the user is related to the group, how can a user be part of several groups, etc...
Really, is a good book, but the writers suppose that everybody will use "root"? I hope not. To be useful for the IT Professional, a little more has to be spent on this area.

5.0 out of 5 stars Good and Bad, September 1, 2010

By 

Stefan (Missouri, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Linux: The Textbook (Paperback)

If you are willing to accept the good with the bad, then this text will work for you.

For some reason the authors find it necessary to explain utterly irrelevant topics such as basic computer hardware architecture. Not sure why, but I just skipped over those few sections.

Otherwise there are interesting sections to learn stuff about.

I have been using linux intermittently for about 3 or 4 years now, and was looking for a book that would take me from linux user to linux admin. Turns out this book is not the one, but still contains valuable information. I assumed, incorrectly, that a textbook's scope would be beyond just user.

EDIT: I have bumped up my rating of this book after really delving into the latter half of it. I still don't like how it begins, and don't think the structure of the book is appropriate for a user with no experience, but for the most part it is solidly written and is comprehensive on the subjects it covers.

EDIT: 12-26-2011 After thinking about this book some more, I have bumped it again to a 5 star. It seems other books don't sit down and comprehensively explain things like this one does.