Paul S. Wang - Mastering Modern Linux, 2nd Edition

Paul S. Wang

Kent State University, Kent, Ohio

CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group
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Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742

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Version Date: 20180420

International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-8153-8098-6 (Paperback)
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-8153-8111-2 (Hardback)

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Wang, Paul S., author.

Title: Mastering modern Linux / Paul S. Wang.

Other titles: Mastering Linux

Description: Second edition. | Boca Raton : Taylor & Francis, CRC Press,

2018. | Revised edition of: Mastering Linux / Paul S. Wang. 2011. |

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018008944| ISBN 9780815380986 (pbk. : alk. paper) | ISBN

9780815381112 (hardback)

Subjects: LCSH: Linux. | Operating systems (Computers)

Classification: LCC QA76.774.L46 W36 2018 | DDC 005.4/46--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018008944

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Linux, a great success story of open-source, community-developed software, is increasingly used in Web and application servers, software development platforms, personal workstations, and research machines. In the past few years, Linux has improved its user interface, added many useful and powerful apps, and greatly expanded its home and business user base.

In computer science and engineering departments, youll find Linux systems in classrooms, programming labs, and computer centersnot just because Linux is free but also because it offers a rich computing environment for teaching and learning.

From its beginning in 1991, and with help from the GNU Project, Linux has evolved quickly and has brought new powers and conveniences to users. Competency on Linux will be important for any serious computer professional.

This book is a revised edition of Mastering Linux (late 2010), which was very well received and had the most wonderful review from ACM Computing Reviews :

This authoritative and exceptionally well-constructed book has my highest recommendation. It will repay careful and recursive study.Computing Reviews, August 2011

The new edition has a new title, Mastering Modern Linux , yet retained much of the good materials while updating them, adding new topics and removing old ones.

This book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to Linux concepts, usage, and programming. This text will help you master Linux with a well-selected set of topics. Hands-on practice is encouraged; it is the only way to gain familiarity with an operating system. A primer gets you started quickly. The chapters lead you from user interfaces, commands and filters, Shell scripting, the file system, networking, basic system administration, and Web hosting, to C-level programming and kernel system calls.

There are many examples and complete programs ready to download and run. A summary and exercises of varying degrees of difficulty can be found at the end of each chapter. A companion website provides appendices, information updates, an example code package, and other resources for instructors as well as students. See page 353 for details.

There is both breadth and depth in this books presentation. Chapter contains a Linux primer to get the new user started as quickly as possible, without awkwardness or confusion. Being able to play and experiment with the system adds to the users interest and motivation to learn more. Once introduced and comfortable, the user is guided through a well-selected set of topics covering the type of detailed material appropriate for a one-semester course at the advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate level.

The first part of the textbook covers interactive use of Linux via the Graphical User Interface (GUI) and the Command-Line Interface (CLI), including comprehensive treatment of the Gnome desktop and the Bash Shell. Using different apps, commands and filters, building pipelines, and matching patterns with regular expressions are major focuses.

Next come Bash scripting, file system structure, organization, and usage, which bring us to about the middle of the book.

The next chapters present networking, the Internet and the Web, data encryption, and basic system admin, as well as Web hosting. The Linux Apache MySQL/MariaDB PHP (LAMP) Web hosting combination is presented in depth. Such practical knowledge can be valuable for many Linux programmers.

In Chapters , attention is then turned to C-level programming. Because the Linux kernel and most of its applications are implemented in C, it is considered the native language of Linux. In-depth knowledge of Linux requires understanding the Standard C Libraries and the system calls which form the interface to the Linux kernel. Topics covered include the C compiler, preprocessor, debugger, I/O, file manipulation, process control, inter-process communication, and networking. Many complete example programs, written in the standard ISO C99, are provided.

Appendices are kept on the books website (mml.sofpower.com). They supply useful supplemental information for students, including text editing and how to set up Linux learning environments on their own Windows or Mac computers.

This book is for people who wish to learn Linux and to become good at using it and writing programs in it. The book does not assume prior knowledge of Linux or UNIX, but has the depth to satisfy even those with Linux experience.