In this Nugget, we learn the components that are required to build a system from scratch.(00:20:18)Building on our filesystem Nugget, we learn where various types of data are stored on a Linux system in this Nugget. In this Nugget, we learn about the differences.(00:23:56)Modern Linux works on a wide variety of computer hardware. Thankfully, Linux provides a robust collection of documentation built right into the system.Įven Linux distributions have various strengths and weaknesses depending on their intended purpose. In this Nugget, we learn about the shell, variables, globbing, quoting, and a handful of useful command line tools that every sysadmin should know.(00:20:47)While grumpy sysadmins will often shout, 'read the manual!,' it's not often clear how to actually go about doing that. If you don't know a console window from a terminal session, this Nugget is for you!(00:21:45)While the Linux desktop provides a very robust GUI with a wide variety of graphical applications and tools, the command line is where a system administrator spends most of his/her time. In this Nugget, we learn about the Linux desktop, the command line, cloud computing, and virtualization. The Linux community tends to throw around a lot of acronyms, so let's clear some of them up.(00:22:58)Basic Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills are important when working with Linux. He advised those who are attempting to sell Linux, or, really, the *idea* of Linux, to be forthcoming about the shortcomings of Linux while also explaining the advantages, because 'if you tell them everything which is bad, they can only discover the good.In this Nugget, we learn about the Free Software Foundation and the Open Source Initiative. Freedom is the freedom of choice, including the freedom to make the *wrong* choice. When they deviate from their default applications, it's important to let people make stupid decisions. The variety provides choice, but the names can confuse the user, who wants things such as a Web Browser, Email Client, and Chat Client, not caring about the name or community behind it.
One of the things which is a double-edge sword for Linux distributions, says Powers, is the variety of software doing the same thing. He also urged educators in the audience to teach concepts, such as word processing and image editing, instead of specific programs such as Microsoft® Word⢠and Adobe® Photoshopâ¢. Powers stressed the need for the Linux and open source community not to bash proprietary products, but to showcase the strengths of open source software and improve it so that it's simply the best choice for people and businesses. Shawn Powers, associate editor of Linux Journal, delivered the morning keynote speech at the 2009 Ohio Linuxfest.