Linux in a Nutshell, 2nd Edition (O'Reilly Nutshell) (Paperback)

by Ellen Siever (Author), The staff of O'Reilly Media (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Linux in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference is a 612-page command and program reference guide for this red-hot Unix derivative. While Linux couldn't be easier to get--it's a free download from the Web--clear and concise documentation is key to successful application.

Linux in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference is only a minimal introduction to this remarkable operating system; the book's real strength lies in the simple alphabetical table of Linux commands that runs for more than 150 pages. Each command is documented with its various switches including occasional examples and brief overviews of especially interesting commands. Author Ellen Siever dedicates a section of the book to covering three common shell programs for Linux: bash, csh, and tcsh. In the short introduction to shells, Siever lists the commands that are common to all three as well as those that differ. This is followed by individual references for each.

Coverage of the Emacs, ex, sed, and vi programs and command sets comprise the material on Linux text editors. The gawk scripting language is also represented, as well as sections detailing programming commands and the RCS and CVS file-versioning programs. The book also covers Perl, system administration commands, and dual booting.

While Linux can be lots of fun, no one should dive in ill equipped. Using Linux in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference will help you navigate this OS safely. --Stephen Plain

Product Description
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. New material in the second edition includes popular LILO and Loadlin programs used for dual-booting, a Perl quick-reference, and RCS/CVS source control commands. Contents include:

• Commands with complete lists of options
• Shell syntax for the bash, and tcsh shells
• Pattern matching
• emacs, vi, and ex editing commands
• sed and gawk commands
• A Perl quick-ref
• LILO and Loadlin options

A must for any Linux user, this book gives you everything you need for day-to-day tasks. Also covers a wide range of GNU tools for UNIX users who have GNU versions of standard UNIX tools.

Product Details

• Paperback: 628 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly; 2 edition (February 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565925858
• ISBN-13: 978-1565925854
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,204,061 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Reference, November 29, 1999

By	Portege "portege" (Columbia, MO) - See all my reviews

First off, this book is NOT for absolute beginners. It is not a book meant for someone who has zero experience with Linux. But, as a desktop reference for those who know how to use Linux, it is an excellent and handy book. It helps by saving time scanning through man pages for commands and GNU tools. The information on Emacs, vi and shell syntax for bash, csh and tcsh shells is extremely helpful.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Authors didn't make a serious effort, June 28, 1999

By A Customer

Generally O'Reilly nutshell series are easy to be blamed as a printout of existing manuals. But still some are better in incorporating authors' experience. By reading UNIX in a Nutshell, you know examples in there are very carefully selected based on authors' experience. Other Nutshell books such as Java in a Nutshell, VB/VBA in a Nutshell contain a lot of author's own wisdom and tips accumulated over the years. However, Linux in a Nutshell is too close to a nicely-bound printout of manual pages. The author could've shown us useful examples of some important commands and given more detailed descriptions of Linux-specific issues. If that makes the book too big, don't include too much non-Linux stuff. I bought it because a Half Price Bookstore was selling it for 50% off and it saves me trouble printing out manuals. But the chapters on Perl, sed/awk etc. are a waste of paper for anyone who already has UNIX in a Nutshell (which I believe most of us do) and Perl books. In a nutshell, even a layman with a few months' learning can write (or compile) this book. Hey, you can make money fast! -- Seriously, this book is useful though. But they should've sold it for even less because there's not much work involved in producing it.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Could have been excellent, December 10, 1999

By	Warren C. Norwood (Weatherford, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This could have been an excellent reference manual had the author bothered to give command syntax along with a more complete list of options. The other thing that keeps me from giving this or any other computer book I own a five star rating is a poor, incomplete index. Why is it that people who write books on computers don't use their computers to amass comprehensive indexes? Baffles me. Anyway, I keep this book close by, but it has turned out to be less than I hoped for and less than it is rated as being. If it had a good index, I would give it four stars. If it provided more in the way of command syntax, I would probably give it five stars. This is a book for intermediate to advanced users willing to jot notes in the margins on command options not included and cross references not indexed.