Our look is the result of reader comments, our own experimentation, and feedback from distribution channels. Distinctive covers complement our distinctive approach to technical topics, breathing personality and life into potentially dry subjects. The animal on the cover of LPI Linux Certification in a Nutshell is a Texas longhorn cow. Christopher Columbus originally brought cattle to the New World from Spain. Descendants of these animals mated with English cows, and the offspring gradually evolved into the breed we know today.

Unfortunately, this animal was once on the verge of extinction. In the 1800s and the early 1900s, tallow was a valued resource, as it is a key ingredient in candles and soaps. Animal fat is a major component of tallow, and the naturally lean longhorn didn't have enough of it to be considered useful in making a fat-based concoction. As a result, the longhorn was cross-bred with cattle who had more fat, so cattle ranchers would be assured of a larger financial profit in the tallow industry. Purebred Texas longhorns were being phased out. However, in 1927, the U.S. Congress decided to step in, and formed a government herd of this breed, to save them from disappearing altogether. Very few purebred Texas longhorns were found, but Congress did manage to round up 27 animals, which were placed in a reserve area in Oklahoma. Today, the Texas longhorn is enjoying a rebirth of sorts, with numbers in the U.S. of up to 100,000. Mary Brady was the production editor and proofreader, and Norma Emory was the copyeditor for LPI Linux Certification in a Nutshell. Nicole Arigo and Claire Cloutier provided quality control. Edith Shapiro and Sada Preisch provided production assistance. John Bickelhaupt wrote the index.

Ellie Volckhausen designed the cover of this book, based on a series design by Edie Freedman. The cover image is an original illustration created by Lorrie LeJeune. Emma Colby produced the cover layout with QuarkXPress 4.1 using Adobe's ITC Garamond font.

David Futato designed the interior layout based on a series design by Nancy Priest. Anne-Marie Vaduva converted the files from Microsoft Word to FrameMaker 5.5.6 using tools created by Mike Sierra. The text and heading fonts are ITC Garamond Light and Garamond Book; the code font is Constant Willison. The illustrations that appear in the book were produced by Robert Romano and Jessamyn Read using Macromedia FreeHand 9 and Adobe Photoshop 6. This colophon was written by Mary Brady.