FC2 - Another Newbie Question

Øyvind Stegard oyvinst at ifi.uio.no
Mon May 24 23:26:33 UTC 2004


On Mon, May 24, 2004 at 06:41:50PM -0300, Betti Ann & Preston Smith wrote:
> Where can one find a comprehensive list of the various utilities that are 
> available to examine/change/configure/add/delete various aspects of 
> Fedora?  Such as the 'switch desk' utility someone just mentioned ....
This is deep voodoo knowledge, only avaiable to the true believers. For
you to become a believer, you must follow the cult of Linux for at least
5 years, as an apprentice. Then, after all that time getting RTFM'ed,
flamed, pulling your hair out, decrypting man/info pages, Googling your
eyes out, reinstalling, cursing at your computer, becoming a 
master CLI touch typist, staying up too late, asking a friend which 
happens to be a priest in the Linux cult, you will perhaps see the 
light (a desktop). 

Seriously though, some RedHat/Fedora specific, and general pointers:
* The old RedHat manual probably has many things that applies to Fedora 
as well: http://www.redhat.com/support/resources/howto/

* The 'apropos' command shows you available related commands based on a 
keyword you give, for instance:
$ apropos desktop
..
..
spotlight            (1)  - move spotlight around desktop
switchdesk           (1)  - graphical and text mode interface for 
choosing desktop environment
zoom                 (1)  - wander around magified desktop
..
which gives you 'switchdesk'.

Now, how would you ever find out about 'apropos' itself ? That's the 
question.

* Asking people who knows still isn't illegal, that's what a user
mailing list is there for, IMO. However, it's sometimes easy to spot
when clueless (cult-less) people aren't even _trying_ to figure anything
out by themselves (ie they are truly lazy), which can result in slightly
"impolite"/harsh RTFM-style responses and otherwise empty mails from
people with `-- Automatic reply: RTFM, read DOCS/manuals, Google --' in
their signatures (no offence).

* Linux is very well documented, IMHO:
http://www.tldp.org
BUT, spending hours in the TLDP library should NOT be a necessary 
prerequisite for installing Linux, for ordinary users with normal 
desktop-needs. (Don't really think it is, either)

(General tip to linux priests: never reveal that you have even the
slightest knowledge of linux to a person you know who is "thinking of
trying out linux", you'll end of serving free-for-friends over-the-phone
support 4 ever.)

 *Ehem*, forget I said that, didn't mean it.

* Google is truly excellent, learn to use it well, for quick
hints/fixes/all sorts of things. Mailing list archives are usually very
well indexed.

* Buy a good linux book, there are heaps. (avoid "Linux 4 dummies"-style 
books, they suck, you aren't a dummie, now, are you?)

* Buy a boxed linux distribution which comes with printed manuals, 
should be easier for first-timers.

> Such info should be in a Linux/Fedora Newcomers FAQ so that we do not have 
> to bother people with these basics.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=fedora+faq&btnG=Google+Search

> 
> Regretfully, this is a very basic question that in my mind must be answered 
> if neophytes like me are ever to make a 100 per cent conversion to Linux.
This is true, Linux is not benefited by the "Only for hardcore 
enthusiasts"-label. At least it's going in the right direction, 
things are getting much easier/better then they used to be. The hardest 
part for most people is installation/maintenance (provided they use a 
suitable distribution), but it's getting really good, look at FC2:)


If Linux gives you a hard time, get a Tux punching bag, (free-standing
or hanging) next to your computer, instead of banging your keyboard
against the wall. If you cannot find any such thing for sale, you are
bound to find all sorts of Tux-teddies, so just politely stuff an
ordinary punching bag up its *****, and you're good to go. 
(Alternatively, go see "Anger Management", and become a better person.)

=)
(tux-lovers ignore last paragraph, for lack of a better apology)

Cheers,
Øyvind

-- 
< Øyvind Stegard <oyvinst at ifi.uio.no>
 < University of Oslo, Dept. of informatics
  < http://www.stegard.net/
   < "If at first you do succeed, try not to look astonished."





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