By Ellen Siever, Stephen Spainhour, Jessica P. Hekman, Stephen Figgins
August 2000
Pages: 816
ISBN 10: 0-596-00025-1 |
ISBN 13: 9780596000257
(Average of 9 Customer Reviews)
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This complete reference covers all user, programming, administration, and networking commands, with options, for common Linux distributions. It also documents a wide range of GNU tools. New material in the third edition includes common configuration tasks for the GNOME and KDE desktops and the fvwm2 window manager, the dpkgDebian package manager, expanded coverage of the rpm Red Hat package manager, and many new commands.
Full Description
- LILO and Loadlin (boot) options
- Shell syntax and variables for the bash, csh, and tcsh shells
- Pattern matching
- Emacs and vi editing commands
- sed and gawk commands
- Common configuration tasks for the GNOME and KDE desktops and the fvwm2 window manager
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Cover | Table of Contents | Index | Sample Chapter | Colophon
Book details
Third Edition: August 2000
ISBN: 0-596-00025-1
Pages: 816
Average Customer Reviews: (Based on 9 Reviews)
Featured customer reviews
Linux in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition Review, March 24 2003
Very handy, a bit similar to printed man pages, but much better - logically organized according to the commands intended function. Nutshells explanations are what the man pages could have been. Each nutshell entry includes examples which actually relate to common PC user needs.
I would, however, appreciate replacing the fvwm2 section with likewise detailed devfs content, since devfs is coming of age (I doubt I'll ever use fvwm2, devfs is much hotter of an issue for me today).
Linux in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition Review, March 06 2003
The book is the most informative book I've ever found on linux.It is more definitive and good for beginners.
Adil Ashraff
Linux in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition Review, February 25 2003
This is a great book. One that is destined to be on every Linux users desk, or at least book shelf. It has a little bit of something for everyone. Shell scripting (bash, csh and tcsh), vi and emacs, sed and gawk, GNOME KDE and fvwm2. What I likes best was the almost 400 pages of Linux command reference. I still consider myself a newbie and this sure helps out, just flipping through it and finding out not only what new commands are, but how to use them as well (Though not always the best way to use them, for instance: there is an easier way to use tar then is documented). I do have one recommendation to make this great book better. Place the Linux command reference in the back of the book, this would make it easier to read the other 14 chapters, and make more sense to have the reference in the back. Just my .02!
Linux in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition Review, December 21 2002
While this book is useful as a reference, the chapters on KDE, GNOME and FVWM2
assume the audience to be dumber than those who would actually buy the book. A chapter on XFree86 would be really beneficial. A reference book on GNU/Linux without a proper reference to XF86 is really unthinkable.
Linux in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition Review, December 04 2001
I bought the second edition. It has useful information, but the book is disjointed.
The good news is that you can eventually find out how commands work and then use them effectively. The book does a fair job in this area.
The bad news is that often times you need to mix and match commands.
The book could be fixed in the following manner.
* List all commands alphabeticaly.
* List the grouped-subsections as indexes in the back.
* Expand on a "see-also" ability in the book.
Linux in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition Review, June 06 2001
I have been using the Unix version for years(before they put animals on the front of it), and have been using the NT on also. This one ranks with them. This is the one reference I always keep handy. People tend to forget these books are meant for experienced users. I have met few people who can remember all the commands and switches. A dictionary won't tech you english but it will make the english you speak better and so it is with the nutshell books.
Linux in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition Review, March 25 2001
The 1st Ed, '97 was uselessly sparse. An O'Reilly editing failure. The 3rd ed looks marginally better on the store shelf, but not informative enough to buy.
The UNIXy world uses many anti/non-mnemonics. "Arbitrary-grunts"are NOT a way for users to communicate! The 1st ed failed! It left me suspicious of the authors and the editors. X
Eg: The description of "tar" n doesn't give 'TapeARchive' as the source.
Eg: No explaination nor example of ".z" suffix. www.Whatis.techtarget.com even briefly mentions Lempel-Ziv.
If GNU/Linux is to continue expanding users need a little context for the argot!
O'Reilly needs to add an argot agent to its editing.
A 4th edition is needed.
Linux in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition Review, September 28 2000
Greetings!
Love the book. Bought the second edition when I was new to Linux, and HAD to have the third just because. Considering the massive outbreak of Linux documentation offline recently, this is the one I would choose if I had to pick one.
Thanks again.
Linux in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition Review, September 05 2000
This book is excellent for the beginners and advanced. As usual O'Reilly delivers top-notch writing material on Linux. I highly recommend it to anyone new to Linux and even the experienced.
Media reviews
"This is a great book. One that is destined to be on every Linux user's desk, or at least bookshelf. It has a little bit of something for everyone."
--Kenneth Wilcox, Boise Software Developers Group, Feb 2003
"An extremely useful book."--Mick Bauer, Linux Journal, August 2002
"I recommend the book 'Linux in a Nutshell' (pun apparently intended) from O'Reilly Publishing. It's an excellent desk reference of shell commands."
--Thomas C. Greene, The Register, August 28, 2002
"'Linux in a Nutshell' is another great reference book from O'Reilly. Being a 'quick' reference it does not claim to be an end all or be all guide. It is geared towards users knowing what they would like to do with Linux, but needing a little guidance or a reminder on how to accomplish a specific task...an excellent resource without a lot of fluff. It provides a quick, and within hands reach, guide to Linux commands and concepts that users of Linux utilize on a daily basis."
--Will Bober, Bay Linux User Group, July 2002
"This book provides essential information for users of the Linux operating system?I find the book of great value and recommend it highly as a reference and to flesh out the details of lessons learned in introductory Linux texts."
--Pim Borman, SW Indiana PC Users Group, May 2002
"An extremely useful book."--Mick Bauer, Linux Journal, August 2002
"I recommend the book 'Linux in a Nutshell' (pun apparently intended) from O'Reilly Publishing. It's an excellent desk reference of shell commands."
--Thomas C. Greene, The Register, August 28, 2002
"a great reference to have for anyone who uses Linux, just like a dictionary is a must for anyone who uses a language--regardless whether you have mastered the language or not. And of course, it is not recommended to learn any language from dictionaries."--Rei Ayanami, linuxchix.org, April 2002
"Linux in a Nutshell is one of my favorite books. I've had a copy of it on my desk since the first edition was
released in 1997."
--Jon Holman, UnixReview, Dec 19, 2001
"I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has a basic familiarity with Linux or UNIX and wants to learn more." --morris57, CedarLug, Feb 2001
"a concise handbook of commands... the O'Reilly's series is highly respected in the community."--Book News, Oct 2000
"O'Reilly & Associates' classic Linux in a Nutshell title has now undergone another revision and release, and the new 3rd edition fits the bill just as completely as previous editions did. I have begun to keep Linux in a Nutshell on my desk, using it in lieu of online pages in many cases. If you're looking for a fast flip-through reference for use in the trenches, Linux in a Nutshell still holds the crown." --Aron Hsiao, Focus on Linux, Nov 2000
"Unless you have been working with UNIX for a while, you will need training or alternatively find a good book as a guide. Linux in a Nutshell would be high on my list of choices for that book. The book is meant to be a quick reference, but I find it quite comprehensive. Indeed if this is a nutshell, then the nut would have to feed a family of four!" -- Peter Scott, firstmonday.com, April 2001
"Every Linux user needs a comprehensive command reference, and O'Reilly makes one of the best." --Ashton Mills, Australian Personal Computer, March 2001
"O'Reilly has 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 on content is equally accomplished, you'll rarely chance upon something of such high quality." --Linux Format, Dec 2000
"a valuable resource for the Linux user and an essential tool for the Linux administrator." --Elizabeth Zinkann, Sys Admin, Dec 2000
"Without a doubt, the best Linux book is Linux in a Nutshell from O'Reilly." -David Coulson, PC Plus, February 2001
"a welcome update of a good reference book. It is a usable, well organized, and thorough reference on all Linux commands. Highly recommended." --Jan Fagerholm, PC Clubhouse News, January 2001
"a very good quick reference, and it comes recommended not just by me, but by the local Linux guru in my organization." -"Jude Thaddeaus" Computer World, Dec 18, 2000
"This is a handy and inexpensive reference and apart from the reservations about vi (I never liked her) this is a recommended book for Linux users who have no Unix books or experience." --Chris Hills, C Vu, September 1999
"Authors offer concise, precise discussions of probably 98 percent of what you'll need to know to run or administer Linux on a day-to-day basis! All organized splendidly!" --editors, barnesandnoble.com
"Serious power users are sure to be delighted." --John Suda, Apple Cider Computer User's Newsletter, Dec 2000
"An excellent reference for those wanting to work at a more intimate level in the system." --Dr. John Joyce, Scientific Computing, Oct 2000
"I've found Linux in a Nutshell very helpful for getting an overview of the huge assortment of command-line utilities that give you control over your system" --Paul Heinlein, Computer Bits, June 2000
"Linux in a Nutshell is, I believe, considered to be one of the best command references for Linux. If Linux in a Nutshell was simply a command reference, it would be a terrific book, but the command reference is just one chapter... Linux in a Nutshell should be required reading for all newcomers to Linux. Looking through it, I wished I had it back in March of last year so I could have saved myself a lot of trouble.
Linux Journals 2000 Readers' Choice Awards Second Place, October 2000
"...the ultimate Linux command reference dictionary...In our opinion, it's not a question of should you buy this book, its more like how fast can you get to the store without getting a speeding ticket. If you buy only one Linux book, it should be this one. Whether you are a newbie or a geek, a Sys Admin, end user, or a programmer, this is a must have. Bravo O'Reilly! It's not often that you can improve on something already deemed the best in the field." --Dean Staff, Maximum Linux, Nov/Dec 2000
"a valuable resource for the Linux user and an essential tool for the Linux administrator." --Elizabeth Zinkann, Sys Admin, Dec 2000
