2025-Readings
Created Monday 05 January 2026
The Syllabus is still valid, but I intend to focus quite a bit more on containerization and virtualization than in the past. This is a good thing, trust me. Makes a LOT of things easier.
Week 9 - DOCKER
Hey folks, please try your hand at getting Docker installed. We wil try to demonstrate in class.
Week 8 - Mad Libs Review and Docker
Mostly, I want to finish up Bash et al, but you may get ahead of the game with the following:
Week 7 - "Installing Stuff"
Top X list of Linux Distros - http://distrowatch.com
https://debian-handbook.info/browse/stable/sect.apt-get.html
https://rpm.org/
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Pacman
https://sandstorm.io/news/2015-09-24-is-curl-bash-insecure-pgp-verified-install
https://www.lifewire.com/installing-software-using-git-3993572
https://community.linuxmint.com/software/view/software-center
https://www.ubuntupit.com/snap-vs-flatpak-vs-appimage-know-the-difference/
In the wild, scroll down to "How do I install apps" and skim - https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/671A-4453-E8D2-323C
https://www.linux.com/topic/desktop/how-install-and-use-docker-linux/
Mostly just about the "flatpak" thing: https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/671A-4453-E8D2-323C
Week 6 - Networking and Bash
https://jrm4.com/slides/Networking_and_the_Shell.html
Week 5 - Scripting and More
Week 4 - Getting Started with Linux
https://jrm4.com/slides/Linux_And_the_Command_Line_-_Raw_Slides.html
and what we will continue with next week
http://jrm4.com/slides/Scripting_and_Programming.html
Some resources:
https://alexpetralia.com/posts/2017/6/26/learning-linux-bash-to-get-things-done
https://adtmag.com/blogs/dev-watch/2016/07/bash-salaries.aspx
https://blog.jessfraz.com/post/for-the-love-of-pipes/
https://devhints.io/bash
Optional:
If you have some familiarity with other languages - https://learnxinyminutes.com/docs/bash/ is great.
Some of the stuff in here we haven't gotten to, but the bits on variables and quotes are very good - https://wiki.bash-hackers.org/scripting/newbie_traps
A very quick intro in video form https://omgenomics.com/writing-bash-script/
For those who want to get an early start: Here is the (likely much longer and multi-week):
https://timvisee.com/blog/elegant-bash-conditionals/
Week 3 - Installing Linux
https://www.linux.com/what-is-linux/
https://opensource.com/resources/linux
This week will be a bit different, we will focus on getting you a working version of Linux.
If you like VIDEO, this goes into detail on most everything: ../../../../Videos/VirtualboxInstall.mp4
(The virtualbox.org site is cleaner looking now, but the fundamentals are the same)
If you prefer READING and going on your own, see the below.
Default method: Virtual Install.
A "virtual install" is a completely non-destructive, completely reversible way to do "real Linux" on your computer. It's not much different from installing an app, though the process is a little more involved:
For a virtual install, you will need VIRTUALIZATION SOFTWARE and A LINUX DISTRIBUTION
VIRTUALIZATION SOFTWARE
Most of you can still use https://www.virtualbox.org/
New fancy M1 mac people, you can't, but you can use https://mac.getutm.app/ - watch for which type, usually you'll want the specific Ubuntu flavor
VMware and others are also acceptable; https://www.ubackup.com/enterprise-backup/linux-vm-on-windows-10.html
LINUX DISTRIBUTION
A "distribution" or "distro" is just a version of a full Linux Operating system, and there are a bunch of them:
Presently I recommend one of the following — but LITERALLY ANY WILL DO.
https://mxlinux.org/
https://linuxmint.com/
https://ubuntu.com/ as a last resort for new computers?
Or again — ANYTHING here, check the leaderboards!
https://distrowatch.com/
If you end up unable to get the above working:
Mac users: You may use the native Mac terminal
Windows users: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install
Or, the following
Week 2 - Linux and Computing
The basics:
https://www.linux.com/what-is-linux/
https://www.techrepublic.com/article/getting-up-to-speed-with-the-linux-desktop-operating-system/
https://www.infoworld.com/article/3019852/how-linux-won-without-winning.html
https://www.computerworld.com/article/3144063/open-source-has-won-and-microsoft-has-surrendered.html
Read AT LEAST the first 4 sections (Intro, MGBs, Tanks and Batmobiles, BitFlinger, and GUIs) — the rest is optional, but pretty good:
http://project.cyberpunk.ru/lib/in_the_beginning_was_the_command_line/
Backlinks: FSU Courses:LIS5364:Previous Readings