Newcomb - Linux for makers: understanding the operating system that runs Raspberry Pi and other maker SBCs

by Aaron Newcomb

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• May 2017: First Edition

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978-1-680-45183-2

[LSI]

When I started a Makerspace in my local community, I noticed some particularly interesting learning trends. Some people were reluctant to learn a new skill until someone shared some basic techniques that helped get them started down the path of understanding. Other users would jump right into learning a new skill without any idea of what they were doing. This would lead to slow progress until, again, someone provided some assistance that would lead them in the right direction. In both cases, just a little guidance in the beginning greatly accelerated the learning process.

Learning how to use Linux for making and building projects is no easy task. In many cases, Makers cut and paste from a website tutorial into the Linux command line without understanding what they are actually doing, only to be frustrated when they want to modify or tweak something to suit their needs. Also, many Makers shy away from using the Raspberry Pi or similar boards because they feel Linux is too foreign and that using a command line as indicated in many tutorials will be more difficult than using a GUI.

This book aims to overcome those fears and provide a foundation for further learning and exploration when using the Linux operating system for your projects. Linux is just another tool in your Maker tool belt. It might be different from other operating systems youve used in the past, butlike all toolsits no more challenging to use once you know how to use it effectively. In fact, Linux is so powerful, you may start to prefer it to other operating systems and choose to use it on a daily basis.

Linux is a powerful open source operating system that has been around for many years and is widely used for running servers and websites. But most students and Makers encounter it for the first time when theyre working on projects with their Raspberry Pi or similar single-board computer (SBC), such as BeagleBone Black or Intel Galileo. Linux for Makers is the first book that explains the Linux operating system specifically for Makers as opposed to programmers and administrators. By gaining a deeper understanding of Linux, Makers can add another useful tool to their kit that will help them build projects more easily.

Because this book was written with todays Maker in mind, it will focus mostly on the Raspbian distribution of Linux running on the Raspberry Pi, as that platform is the most prolific in the ecosystem today. However, most of the topics covered will apply broadly to other Linux distributions, and I will indicate when they may differ. To that end, this book will focus on the basic principles that a Maker needs to know, avoiding details that are not particularly relevant to building projects. After loading the operating system, I will cover the principles of how Linux works, how to use the command line, how to control devices, and loads of tips and tricks that can help you be more effective.

Throughout the book, you will find sections called Try It for Yourself where you can get your hands dirty practicing what you just learned and explore additional opportunities to try out new concepts. I have also included illustrations and pictures throughout the book that should help clarify what you can expect to see as you use Linux on your Raspberry Pi.

I have also included a brief history of Linux in for those readers who might be wondering How did all this get started? or How did Linux end up getting put together the way it did?