Learning the Linux CLI

[JigPu]

Hey all you Linux gurus out there! I was wondering how hard it is to learn to use the CLI of Linux. I am currently rather low on funds so buying a form of Linux is out of the question, and due to this 56K modem being.. well.. 56K... I don't really have the time to download Linux. After searching around, I found a VERY small Linux that is designed to run off a floppy. Installing onto the floppy has worked great, and I can boot into Linux perfectly.

So I was wondering how hard it would be to learn the CLI while I'm waiting for cable or some $$. From the little I've read from the NHFs on LinuxNewbie.org, it seems to run kinda like DOS. I suggests to not mess around under the 'root' user, and I don't know how to change that. Any other sites you can think of that should help me learn the Linux CLI??

Jumping straight into the hard stuff...
Why can't I ever just start out easy?!?!
JigPu

[Thelemac]

I'd say it's pretty easy. You can usually find how-to's online somewhere. www.linuxdocs.org is a good place for them. You can also check out /bin /sbin and any other binary directories further down the file tree.


Also...didja notice the alternative OS board?

[JigPu]

Thanks, I'll check out the link and go where you suggest. Hopefully learning it shouldn't be too hard ;) . And, um... no, I didn't notice.... We got a new topic to post under?? I should pay more attention to the new boards!

Also, how do I exit the elvis program? It says that it is a text editor, and whenever I open a file, I can't seem to close it!! Any help is appreciated.
JigPu

[Thelemac]

try:

man elvis (at the prompt)

should give you an idea of how to use commands. If it's like vi then I don't know exactly, as I have very little experience with it.

[JigPu]

Yeah... one of the first things on the NHFs at LinuxNewbie.com was the man command. After that, I got a little lost... But I checked and it gives all sorts of command line options, and describes what they all do, but nowere how to exit the program!! Is there any generic way of killing a program (like alt-f4 in windows) without me having to use ctrl+alt+del?

Been exploring the directories, lots of stuff....
JigPu

[Thelemac]

CTRL+C is a pretty good kill call.

You could also do

ps

and find the pid (process id) of the program and then

kill pid

At least, I think it's the pid. Whatever it is, it's the number on the left. :)

I *think* you want to get a commnad entering mode and then hit q to quit, though. (Could be wrong, even if it is like vi, I really don't know vi at all. :()

[JigPu]

Yeah... the MAN file says it basicly IS vi. I did some searching around, and found out how to close it!!! It says that to close it, press ESC. then ":" and then the "q" key. This is it!! The author of the document says he like joe (or some name like that) MUCH better, and it sounds eaisier to exit. I wonder if this tiny distro has it??

JigPu

[Thelemac]

Yep, Joe is the one that I like, too. You can probably stick it on there (maybe) but I don't really know how big it is.