root of all evil : TheManPages

TheManPages - Section 2 - Windows vs Linux

root — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:12:00 GMT

Learning Linux Linux has a reputation for being difficult to learn compared to Windows. For many years this was true, as the main interface was a command prompt, supplemented only by primitive GUI's. However, today's Linux no longer deserves this reputation....(read more)

TheManPages - Prologue

root — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:33:00 GMT

Dear Users,

This series is geared towards the average Windows users who would like to be shunned by their fellow Windows friends and join the elite/arrogant Linux users.

Just kidding.

Kinda.

Our goal is to get you comfortable enough with Linux to actually go so far as to install and play with it. Most people are turned off by it simply because it's new and different.

But you aren't afraid, are you?

No, you aren't!

You are callous and fearless! You are ready to pound away at the keyboard until your eyes are sore from staring at the terminal screen and it's 3:52AM and you have work in 3 hours, 7 minutes and 52 seconds... you know this because you have a clock that you've set to count down in binary. But you can't stop because you just figured out how to write a script that can alphabetize your entire music library, move them to their respective folders, and then do a ROT26 encryption before compressing it to a tar file.

Are you ready?

Project Lead, Chief Editor, Arrogant Linux User

TheManPages - Section 1 - What is Linux?

root — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:00:00 GMT

What is Linux?

Linux is an freely distributed, open source, operating system. An operating system is what Windows XP/Vista is. Once you install it, you can use most of the tasks you would normally perform on a Windows based computer. Linux, as opposed to Windows, is freely available under the GNU GPL (General Public License agreement).

...And GPL?

The GPL is basically a copyright for free software. The idea is to have the freedom to modify and distribute code. So, under the GPL, you can modify any code freely, but if you distribute the code (whether for a fee or for free) you must allow others to have the same rights as you and you must give them access to your source code. This allows them to modify your code and distribute it freely as well. It all encourages growth and maturity in code.

The birth of Linux

Linux was initially created as a hobby by Linux Torvalds, at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Linus has an interest in Minix, a small UNIX system, and decided to develop a system that exceeded the Minix standards. He began his work in 1991 when he released version 0.02 and worked steadily until 1994 when version 1.0 of the Linux Kernel was released. The kernel, that's at the heart of every Linux system, was released under the GNU General Public License. The current full version of the Linux Kernel is version 2.6 (released December 2006). (source)

The future of Linux

Linux is so widely used and customizable, that it is constantly evolving and being updated. Pretty much any device can run Linux. If you are using a router, odds are its running Linux. The reason being is that the Kernel is very flexible in its ability to work. All you need to do is write a shell that can use it. Devices can range from iPods to routers to PCs to PDAs. We use Linux based hardware daily without knowing it. And it is because of its wide availability at no cost that makes it the perfect candidate for many devices. Thus ensuring its use in the years to come.

TheManPages Team

Credits for this sections
Researcher: freezy, guardian, Sidicas, rdaniels
Writer: kunzy
Editor: root