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Introduction

This book takes a clear, concise approach to teaching computing beginners, and computer-literates new to Linux, how to become proficient with Linux in minimal time.

So what is Linux?

Linux is an operating system (the software that controls the basic functions of your computer), heavily based on Unix (a powerful, and until recently, very expensive operating system).

Because the source code (the programming instructions that create the software) is freely and widely available (what's referred to as Open Source or Free Software), programmers from all over the world are improving it at an unprecedented rate. Many in their own free time.

Hundreds, if not thousands of individual bits of software are pieced together to form a Linux distribution (distro), and many distributions exist.

Note:

This book does not instruct on how to install Linux, which differs for each distribution, and each version of a specific distribution. For help, consult the documentation contained on one of the installation CDs or (if you purchased a Linux boxed-set), the printed installation manual.

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