10. Organization of this document
This guide aims to be the foundation for all other materials that you can get from The Linux Documentation Project. As such, it provides you with the fundamental knowledge needed by anyone who wants to start working with a Linux system, while at the same time it tries to consciously avoid re-inventing the hot water. Thus, you can expect this book to be incomplete and full of links to sources of additional information on your system, on the Internet and in your system documentation.
The first chapter is an introduction to the subject on Linux; the next two discuss absolute basic commands. Chapters 4 and 5 discuss some more advanced but still basic topics. Chapter 6 is needed for continuing with the rest, since it discusses editing files, an ability you need to pass from Linux newbie to Linux user. The following chapters discuss somewhat more advanced topics that you will have to deal with in everyday Linux use.
All chapters come with exercises that will test your preparedness for the next chapter.
Chapter 1: What is Linux, how did it come into existence, advantages and disadvantages, what does the future hold for Linux, who should use it, installing your computer.
Chapter 2: Getting started, connecting to the system, basic commands, where to find help.
Chapter 3: The filesystem, important files and directories, managing files and directories, protecting your data.
Chapter 4: Understanding and managing processes, boot and shutdown procedures, postponing tasks, repetitive tasks.
Chapter 5: What are standard input, output and error and how are these features used from the command line.
Chapter 6: Why you should learn to work with an editor, discussion of the most common editors.
Chapter 7: Configuring your graphical, text and audio environment, settings for the non-native English speaking Linux user, tips for adding extra software.
Chapter 8: Converting files to a printable format, getting them out of the printer, hints for solving print problems.
Chapter 9: Preparing data to be backed up, discussion of various tools, remote backup.
Chapter 10: Overview of Linux networking tools and user applications, with a short discussion of the underlying service daemon programs and secure networking.
Appendix A: Which books to read and sites to visit when you have finished reading this one.
Appendix B: A comparison.
Appendix C: If you ever get stuck, these tables might be an outcome. Also a good argument when your boss insists that YOU should use HIS favorite shell.
Appendix D: What you can do with this guide, from the legal perspective.
