Quick and Dirty Guide to Free Documentation for Linux

by Todd Lisonbee

Linux Documentation Project

The Linux Documentation Project is perhaps the single most useful reference for learning nearly anything about Linux. The Linux Documentation Project hosts both HOWTO's, subject-specific help, and Guides, longer in-depth books. (Note that what follows is but a small sampling of the Linux Documentation Project).

Some HOWTO's individuals new to Linux might find useful:

A few Linux Documentation Project Guides


Linux Distribution Manuals

Most Linux Distributions have free manuals and/or user guides specific to that distribution available online.  Usually these are the same as the hard copy books included with an officially supported boxed set of Linux CD's.



Free Software Foundation's GNU Manuals

The Free Software Foundation has a number of manuals for GNU tools available online.




O'Reilly Publications Open Book Project

O'Reilly Publications is well know for publishing a wide range of quality technical reference books. Most of these books are published with traditional copyright restrictions in place but a growing number are being distributed under one or another of the Free Documentation License's in use today. Here are some highlights:

Technical

Non-Technical


The New Riders Open Publication License Library

A collection of books published by New Riders under the OPL (Open Publication License).



Please send mistakes/suggestions/improvements/modifications to toddj@ecst.csuchico.edu for incorporation.


Copyright © 2002 Todd Lisonbee

Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is available at http://www.gnu.org/licenses/fdl.html

It may seem kind of silly attach Copyright and License such a short document but this makes it very easy for anyone to use and/or modify it according to their needs. (Maybe saving that one random unlikely person who would like to use it a couple of hours ;-)