linux comandements.pdf

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10 commandments for Linux users

I was browsing the web and I found The 10 Commandments for Linux

Users that might be useful for new Linux users. Before I get to my thoughts on

them, lets just read the commandments:

and the ROOT user did speak

1. Thou shalt not log in as

root.Use sudo or su - for

administrative tasks.

2. Thou shalt use the

package manager when

possible.

Sometimes installing from

source code cant be avoided,

but when you use your

distros package manager to

install software, you can also use it to update and remove it. This is one of

the main strengths of Linux.

3. Thou shalt be a part of the community.

Freely give what you have received for free. Offer help and advice whenever

you can.

4. Thou shalt read documentation and man pages.

Always read the documentation. The people who wrote the software tried to

anticipate your questions, and provided answers before you asked.

5. Thou shalt use the available support system.

Switching to Linux can be tough. It can be frustrating, but there are a lot of

people out there who want to help you. Let them.

ommandments for Linux users : The Unwritten Words http://www.bartbania.com/index.php/10-commandm

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6. Thou shalt search.

In most cases, your question or problem has already been addressed. Try to

find the answers that are already out there before asking someone to provide

a new one.

7. Thou shalt explore.

Linux opens a whole new world of options and possibilities. Try everything

you can.

8. Thou shalt use the command line.

Especially when it comes to configuration, use the GUI tools to get your

system working, but get to know the command line versions as well. In many

cases, the command line is the only way to use some of the more advanced

features.

9. Thou shalt not try to recreate Windows.

Linux is not meant to be a clone of Windows. Its different. Embrace and

appreciate the differences.

10. Thou shalt not give up.

I tried several distributions before I found one I liked. I still try other distros

from time to time. I also tried several different programs to serve one

purpose before settling on what I use now (amarok, xmms, beep, exaile for

music azureus, ktorrent, deluge for bittorrents). If you dont like the

defaults, remember that you can change almost everything to suit you.

Now that we have that out of the way lets talk about the Commandments

themselves:

1. Thou shalt not log in as root.

This doesnt mean you shouldnt log in as root at all. It simply means you should

use your normal user account for everyday tasks and use root only when required.

There are times you have to use root account (for Raspbian and most Linux

systems: sudo -i gets you to root access without having to re-log), e.g. for

troubleshooting an installation, but once its done you log out immediately. The

issue is that if a root account is compromised or you make a mistake as root it can

have a huge impact on the system stability.


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Lets take an example: say you are trying to delete all files in your home directory

with the following command: rm -rf ~/*. Because you were tired or didnt pay

attention to the screen output, you entered the following instead: rm -rf ~

/* (Notice the space between the ~ and the /). Now, if you are logged in as a

normal user you will get a bunch of permission denied messages and you are

fine. BUT. If you are logged in as root, you will delete every single file in the /directory (which is the top directory on the disk and hence contains all the files on

your system). With one Enter hit you have vanished your system away. You will

have to restore it from backups (if you do backups, dont you?) or re-install, which

will take precious time.

Think that wouldnt ever happen? It does. More times than you could imagine. You

think this just happens on Linux? Sorry, wrong again! I have personal experience

with such a thing on Windows (it was Windows 3.1 in the old times) and at that

time I was just learning how to use computers. Id installed a bunch of fonts (how

cool they were!) thinking I was installing a fonts management program. When I

realized that the few 100 MB worth of stuff I installed on my system didnt give me

any new programs, I was upset. So, Ive decided to delete the fonts from my

system. Unfortunately, the command I entered was: deltree c:\Windows.

This command, as you might imagine, deleted my entire Windows folder and Ive

spent a week reinstalling. This wouldnt have happened if I was using Linux or if

DOS/Windows had any concept of multiuser access controls. They have gotten a lotbetter at it and XP/Vista/7/8 is a whole lot more secure than the older versions.

2. Thou shalt use the package manager when possible.

Usually a good idea, unless you have a specific reason for not using it. Think of the

package manager as the Add/Remove Programs equivalent in the Linux world.

Only its a lot more powerful and versatile. Basically, it makes managing the

system/installing new software a lot easier. All you have to do is to select a program

you want to install (using the GUI frontend or the command line [apt-get,

aptitude, synaptic, yast...]) and it does the work for you. The same goes

for removing programs. Adding a program manually (by compiling it) confuses the

system as the package manager doesnt know its there so if its needed for some

other program, it will just download and install the latest version which might not

be compatible with the version you installed.


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Compiling programs and installing them is usually only required for users with

specific needs or for software that doesnt exist in the package manager repository.

3. Thou shalt be a part of the community.

An important part. This doesnt mean that we expect you to start handing in codepatches and fixes. It just means you share your experiences and if someone asks a

question you can answer, you reply. You can be a part of the community by

reporting bugs, creating documentation, help organize a meeting or create a new

logo or layout thats more efficient. Proofreading the guides and reporting the issues

you found while following it is also helpful. Feedback from a new user is an

important step in software development and is appreciated.

4. Thou shalt read documentation and man pages.

Also important, but it doesnt mean that if you have read it and still dont

understand it, you cant ask questions. It just means that if you want to know what a

command does, you google it (e.g. how to delete files on linux), search man-pages

(on your system, e.g. man rm)before asking questions. Its an important rule, as it

saves both your developers time. The time it took you to ask someone and wait for a

reply, you could have assigned for searching the answer on your own.

5. Thou shalt use the available support system.

I dont really agree with this one, as sometimes the hardest part is finding the

support system. I face this problem when I try to fix issues on Windows systems.

Just recently I had problems with drivers for my laptop. If I hit an issue, I

sometimes have a hard time because I dont know the right forums/news groups to

ask questions in, or sufficient search term to google for.

6. Thou shalt search.

See Point 4.


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7. Thou shalt explore.

This is true both for Windows and Linux. Dont be scared of your computer, its not

an evil machine plotting to make your life miserable. Its a tool, the same as your

mobile phone, car, alarm clock, shoes. When you buy a new car dont you want to

explore all its features? The same is with a computer.

My friend just bought a new computer for and the first thing I told him was dont

be afraid to experiment; whatever you break in the software, can be fixed. (So can

the hardware. But that might cost some money.) Ive learned more by breaking the

systems down and then trying to fix them, than by just playing. If in doubt, always

ask.

8. Thou shalt use the command line.

I would rephrase this as Thou shalt learn to use the command line. If you want to

(and are interested in), you can save a lot of time by entering a command instead of

clicking through 10 dialog boxes.

9. Thou shalt not try to recreate Windows.

Good one. Linux is a different system. Think of it like a new language. When you

learn Spanish, would you try to enforce your mother tongue vocabulary rules in it?

Not really So why do the same with Linux? You can recreate the Windows

layout, etc., but dont expect it to behave exactly like Windows.

10. Thou shalt not give up.

Very important rule. For everything in life, as well as computers. If you give up,you will never know what you are missing. You are more than welcome to try and

decide what is and what isnt for you, but dont start installing and then quit the

minute you hit the first obstruction.

Finally, a new addition from me:

11. Thou are more than welcome to use whatever OS that


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Pass this on:

Google+ Bart Bania

suites your needs

The main idea is to get the computer to work for you. If you are happy with

Windows and it works for you well, then you are more than welcome to continue

using it. After all, its all a matter of choice. I wont force you to follow mine and I

expect the same from you.

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Wasd.it :: 10 commandments for Linux users : The Unwritten Words says:

October 2, 2013 at 2:07 pm

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