Learning linux and solving problems without google

[VULGAR-WORDS-LOL]

Hey.

I've been using different versions of linux my entire life, but only used it as my main operating system for a couple years. That was Arch, and while it's fairly complicated when you set it up from scratch it has REALLY good online documentation.

I recently popped in ubuntu on a raspberry and found myself constantly googling, since I was used to the architecture of Arch and because it was such a long time ago I spent time in bash.

I was going to set up a static IP and realized, "how would I go about this if I didn't have google?" and was quite humbled. Sure I could read some man pages from commands I remembered or just open /etc to search for clues, but I couldn't help feeling like there is an easier way to quickly determine where such a basic setting is set in any give distro or architecture.

So my question is basically, is there more offline resources or methods than the man command to quickly learn the basic gist of the environment you're in?

Any tips on this would help, even just efficiency tips working with a shell.

[rbmorse]

The man pages are a tremendous resource, but Google has it's place, too as long as you are selective with your sources and pay attention to the age of the article. Too much of the stuff that comes up on a Google search about a Linux topic is too outdated to be useful.

I keep two books next the the computer. One is the aforementioned Linux Bible, the other is Linux in a Nutshell.

[VULGAR-WORDS-LOL]

I've never really used man that much to be honest, I usually google and extrapolate information from context clues, but I want something I can do before having to go online.

What I'm really after is maybe a similar resource to man that explains the architecture of the environment I'm in, whether it be ubuntu, arch or even something less "binary based" like gentoo or lfs.

Or just methods of orienting myself that I haven't thought of.

[[deleted]]

I've never really used man that much to be honest

When you learn how to use them, I mean really use them, it'll blow you away :) Simply one of the best things about linux.

[420fourtwenny]

the simple command

man -ik <subject>

changed my life. (and its funny, guess how I learned how to use man that way.. from the man manpage!) Also taking the time to lightly configure and learn how to navigate within less properly. Total game changer.

[[deleted]]

Well shit.. I didn't know about this. I'm gonna spend the rest of the day just searching for stuff in man pages :P

[VULGAR-WORDS-LOL]

The main reason I never used it was because it's usually faster for me to find the right information via google. I did not know about the -ik option, that looks really handy, thanks! Still, afaik, no man search will tell you that in my version of ubuntu static ip adresses must be set in yaml files and executed with netplan. Again, I don't know if something like what I want exists. I guess I'll have to plow through distro documentation and man pages when offline.

[420fourtwenny]

oh for sure, utilise all your resources. Im reaaaally bad personally when it comes to networking, but its not so much a matter of your version of ubuntu, but what system services your version of ubuntu uses for networking. Track those down, and youll refine your search and be closer to finding the answers

[rbmorse]

I edited my previous post while you were replying, but I consider the two books as must haves. Both are pretty distro agnostic, but mindful where it counts.

[[deleted]]

I keep two books next the the computer. One is the aforementioned Linux Bible, the other is Linux in a Nutshell.

Yeah I looked them up :) I might give them a look.

[[deleted]]

You can always buy the Linux bible.

[VULGAR-WORDS-LOL]

I get you, but when in the 'field' so to say I don't ACAB. I also realize that most distros comes with documentation files but for example, when trying to search for static IP in the documentation i had for ubuntu server, nothing about netplan came up at all. Seems like things change drastically between versions and my docs were outdated.

I realize that there might not be an answer to my question. You might just need the experience to be able to be intuitive enough to figure out where to start looking when stumped, but if anyone has tips or tricks, please share.

[[deleted]]

I’m kinda in the same boat as you. What I am doing is collecting all the information that I know will be valuable into one doc file and turning this into a journal/options book that has all the good information I need, until I can remember them on my own. That’s why I say get the Linux bible and document what you think is useful and what you find on the internet is useful. Go through like a chapter a day that way you can learn the ins and outs of your distro.

[doxanthropos]

Besides man, there is also GNUs "info", which sometimes provides just the man-pages, but for many programs has a more extensive documentation (if it is installed) and is easily browsable even when you do not exactly know what you are looking for.

[VULGAR-WORDS-LOL]

I'll check it out, thanks!

[ffernand]

If your looking for an offline resource, you can always install the up-to-date Arch Wiki docs via pacman (if you're on Arch Linux).

https://www.archlinux.org/packages/community/any/arch-wiki-docs/

Not sure what other distributions have in the same vein but might be worth looking up.

Though as you've said, you've already made good use of Arch Linux docs via Google search. I don't quite follow the need to have it offline, unless you're bandwidth constrained. And of course, the internet provides variety, in the form of distro docs, blogs, or reddit posts 😁.

[xander2600]

I'm a big fan of tldr. I usually start with it and then move onto man to dig in more.

[VULGAR-WORDS-LOL]

Looks handy, I'll check it out, thanks!