Linux Command-Line Boot Camp

Objective

To master the fundamental terminal commands for installing, configuring, and maintaining a Linux operating system for home and small-business computing, including a self-managed decentralized cloud-like service for encrypted file storage and sharing. (This course is suitable for anyone who can follow basic instructions to type commands into a computer; no prior programming experience is necessary. Students have the option to run the Xubuntu 24.04 distribution of Linux from a bootable flashdrive or else to install it onto their hard disk, whether along side of or in place of Microsoft Windows or Macintosh OS.)

Outline

The following commands will be learned, together with a several graphical user interface (GUI) tools and GUI applications.

1. Getting Started: bootable flashdrive, ufw, Settings Manager (GUI)
2. Working with Files: ls, mkdir, touch, nano, cat, less, mv, cp, rm, rmdir
3. Creating Your Own Decentralized Cloud Server: syncthing
4. More Ways to Work with Files: nano, sed, find, grep, sort, ln, head, tail
5. Customizing the User Interface and Environment: .bashrc, .nanorc, date, TZ, Settings Manager
6. Archiving and Backing Up Files: tar, gzip, cp, rsync, unison
7. Encrypting Files and File Systems: aescrypt, g[nu]pg, pdftk, ecryptfs, gocryptfs
8. Users and Groups: who, id, finger, useradd, userdel, usermod, passwd, groupadd, groupdel, groupmod, su
9. File Permissions and Shared Folders: sudo, chown, chmod, setuid, setgid
10. Bash Scripts: commands, arguments, parameters, globs, etc.
11. Printing/Scanning and Networking: Printers (GUI), ssh, scp
12. Managing Software Applications: apt-get, dpkg, snap, Session and Startup (GUI), Launcher (GUI)
13. Disk Partitioning and Memory Management: fdisk, gparted, df, du, free, swapon, ps, kill
14. Auotmated Tasks and Email Clients: crontab, rsync, tar, Geary (GUI), Thunderbird (GUI)
15. Virus Protection and System Upgrades: clamav, apt-get dist-upgrade, fwupdmgr, do-release-upgrade, Install Xubuntu (GUI)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What Is Linux?
   Linux is a free and open-source operating system that accomplishes similar functions as proprietary operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows and Macintosh OS X. It is widely available for download from the internet free of charge, and consists of software that is open to inspection by computer scientists around the world. These facts make it easy for programmers to customize the operating system and develop supplementary programs.
2. Why Should I Prefer Linux over Microsoft Windows or Macintosh OS?
   If you want an operating system that controls how you work, the stay with the leading proprietary options: Microsoft Windows and Macintosh OS. But, if you want to control how your operating system works, then pick Linux. By customizing Linux, you can continue to use older hardware rather than have to buy a new computer. You also can ensure that features you do not want are either removed or disabled. For example, if you want an AI-free computing experience, Linux makes it easy to maintain that choice.
3. How Do I Obtain Linux?
   The Xubuntu 24.04 distribution of Linux can be downloaded for free from this site. Xubuntu can be installed onto a bootable flash drive following these instructions tailored to your current operating system: Microsoft Windows, Macintosh OS, other Linux distribution.
4. What Is Xubuntu, and Why Is This Distribution of Linux Preferred for This Course?
   Xubuntu is a flavor of the popular and well-maintained Ubuntu distribution. Xubuntu has been selected for this course because it works well on older hardware (e.g., slower processors, lower RAM memory, etc.). Students who already are using a different Ubuntu flavor, or else a different Linux distribution (such as Red Hat, Fedora, or MATE), need not obtain Xubuntu. All command line instructions should work the same; the GUI instructions may need minor modification, but those small differences will not be a hindrance in this course.
5. Is Linux Safe for My Computer?
   Students with concerns are encouraged to search online for reputable answers to this question. Computer experts generally concur that Linux is safe and indeed safer than using Microsoft Windows or Macintosh OS, as viruses generally infect those operating systems but do not harm Linux systems. Most of this course will be conducted by running Xubuntu Linux from a bootable flashdrive without modifying the operating system, application software, or data files stored on the student's hard drive. At the end of the course, the student can decide whether to install Linux on their hard drive. They may choose to install Linux either along side of or else in place of Microsoft Windows or Macintosh OS. It is wise to backup data files before attempting such installations.
6. Why Is Virus Protection Not Introduced Until the Final Lesson?
   Linux generally is not vulnerable to viruses. The main reason Linux users seek virus protection is to prevent any latent viruses from being shared with Microsoft Windows users who are susceptible to those viruses. For this course, students will run Linux on a trial basis from a bootable flashdrive. The last lesson includes instructions for installing Xubuntu onto one's hard drive. Students who choose to do this may also wish to install a virus protection program at that time as well.
7. Will I Benefit from This Class Even If I Decide Not to Permanently Install Linux?
   Yes. All students will gain a sense of how operating systems work. The will understand the logic behind file management, user management, and file permissions. Those lessons apply similarly across all operating systems. A student desiring to use a non-Linux operating system, such as Microsoft Windows or Macintosh OS, will need to adjust some details from what is taught in this course, but the principles will still apply. This course also may open up a student's thinking to consider developing computer programming skills in a variety of program languages, such as bash (introduced in this course), Python (useful for advanced Linux management), C++ (a long-time applications development leader), PHP (a long-time website development leader), etc. Students who would like to grow in programming fundamentals before focusing on a specific language for career purposes are encouraged to continue with Logo via this terminal command: sudo apt-get install ucblogo.

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• Logo (Turtle) Programming