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Linux Library [TopPage] Linux Library
... Email

... Linux Internals

... Linux Desktop		Applications, window managers, editors, OS installation and configuration, CD reading and writing.

... Linux Laptop Adventures		Sometimes it's tough to put Linux on a laptop, but it can usually be done and it's quite rewarding.

... Linux Terminal Emulators

... Configuration and Administration		Configuring data and databases, hardware, servers, the operating system, and other configuration. There is also some configuration information in the Desktop section above.

... Linux Programming		Linux programming in various languages.

... Learning Linux		Resources for learning more about Linux.

... Distributions

... Steve Litt's Linux Contributions		Steve Litt's GPL projects and audience presentations.

... Editorial and Advocacy		Materials concerning a better portrayal of Linux, your LUG, your community, and yourself.

... Other Linux Info		Various other information.

... Steve's BSD Resources		BSD isn't Linux, but the usages and problem domains of Linux and BSD often overlap. Here's where you can learn a little more about BSD.

Linux Library -> Email [TopPage] Email
Email Articles and Technology		Articles about email technology, plus a little bit on making the most of email

Troubleshooting IMAP Problems		A thorough treatment of how to troubleshoot IMAP problems, using tools like openssl and IMAP commands

Spamassassin		Published in Linux Productivity Magazine. Besides details of spamassassin, this document also gives a simple explanation of email theory -- MUA, MTA, POP, POP3, SMTP

... Email Clients

... Email Servers

Netiquette		Don't Let Your Career Go Down In Flames: The Linux world is inseparable from the Internet. Bad email manners can destroy everything you've worked to accomplish.

Killfile and Move On		Trolls have no life, so they entertain themselves by starting conflict. In doing so, they stop progress and occasionally render whole mailing lists useless. But the trolls can't do it without our help.

Linux Library -> Linux Internals [TopPage] Linux Internals
... DIY

... Init

... Virtual Machines

Linux Library -> Linux Desktop [TopPage] Linux Desktop
Dmenu		Dmenu is a productivity fountain easy to install on any distro with any window manager or desktop environment. Here's how to get it producing for you.

... Outlining		Outline processors, especially VimOutliner

... VI and Vim		Information about the most ubiquitous and keyboarder friendly editor in the Linux world.

... Office Apps

... Internet Apps

... Graphics and Sound

... GOSFUIs and menus

... Linux Desktop Computers

... Printing

... CD, DVD and Blu-Ray Reading and Writing

... Remote Desktop

... Postscript, Ghostscript and PDFs

Troubleshooting IMAP Problems		A thorough treatment of how to troubleshoot IMAP problems, using tools like openssl and IMAP commands

Linux Library -> Linux Laptop Adventures [TopPage] Linux Laptop Adventures
EFI Dual Booting Void Linux With Windows On a Dell Inspiron 15 5570

Steve Litt's HP 14-cm0xxx Installation

Putting New Life In Your Old Laptop		Don't give up on that slow CPU, low memory laptop. Linux plus a lean window manager like Xfce can give it a new lease on life.

Wifi Tips and Tricks

Travel Routers: The Ultimate Plan B for Linux Wifi		If your laptop's built in wifi doesn't support Linux, and you can't get a USB wifi dongle to work, and there's no wired Internet available, Travel Routers can still get you on the net. It's not easy, but this article shows you how.

Linux Library -> Linux Terminal Emulators [TopPage] Linux Terminal Emulators
Tilda		Tilda is a nice, simple yet full featured dropdown terminal.

Sakura		Sakura is a full featured terminal, reliable emulator configurable with a file and not beholden to any desktop environment.

Changing a Terminal's Icon in IceWM		When running a specific application in a terminal, you want the terminal's icon to reflect that specific use. Here's how to do it in IceWM.

Changing a Terminal's Fonts		You change a terminal's size by changing its fonts. It's tricky and arcane. Here's how to do it:

Linux Library -> Configuration and Administration [TopPage] Configuration and Administration
... Data admin and security

... Hardware Configuration and Administration

... OS Configuration and Administration

... Server Configuration and Administration		Configuring your server software.

... Other Configuration and Administration

Linux Library -> Linux Programming [TopPage] Linux Programming
... Bash/shellscript

... C and C++

... Perl

... Python

... PHP

... Java

... Coding Style

... Data/Database/XML/Web

... System/lowlevel

... Misc

... User Interface

... HTML

Linux Library -> Learning Linux [TopPage] Learning Linux
The info Command		How to use this great help system.

Litt's Linux Links		Links to fine Linux information outside of Troubleshooters.Com.

... Book Reviews

Linux Library -> Distributions [TopPage] Distributions
... Void Linux

Knoppix		Knoppix is a powerful Debian-based Linux on a CD, excellent for diagnostics, testing, rescue, and just plain computing. It is meant to be used from the CD, but is installable on the hard disk.

DSL (Damn Small Linux)		DSL is a 50MB distribution created especially for underpowered machines. Debian based, it uses the fluxbox window manager. It is a bootable CD distribution, but is easily installed on the CD. DSL is unusual, with lots of gotchas. These articles get you past those gotchas.

Yoper		Yoper is a lightning fast distro designed to run on underpowered hardware.

Linux Library -> Steve Litt's Linux Contributions [TopPage] Steve Litt's Linux Contributions
... Steve Litt's Open Source Projects

... Steve Litt's Presentations

Linux Library -> Editorial and Advocacy [TopPage] Editorial and Advocacy
GOSFUI		GOSFUI is a word designed to stop silly Linux arguments in their tracks.

What is Free Software?		This is a series of links to articles to facilitate an understanding of free software -- it's profit motive, and its persistence.

Litt's Linux Blog		This is a more day to day replacement of the old Linux Productivity Magazine.

... Linux's Competitive Edge

... Linux is a wishing well		I've written several articles comparing a Linux install CD to the wishing well in the back yard of my childhood home. If there's something you want, it's probably on your distribution CD. If it's not there, it's probably a download away.

... Windows to Linux Migration Links

... Free Software Community Citizenship

Knoppix Knowhow		How to use Knoppix for advocacy, computer selection, configuration, and rescue.

The Politics of Dependency		When is new too new?

... Advocacy

A Free Software Project Moves On		The VimOutliner project's founder had a choice: pass the project on to a capable successor, or let it die. A must read for anyone interested in free software and open source.

Corporationally Incorrect: Character I/O		A pointed discussion of the marketing hype and hoopla surrounding GUI and "user friendliness", and how Linux's command line is superior.

The Education Revolution		Linux has greatly expanded opportunites for education. Read all about it.

Where Have All The Heroes Gone?		A history of the heroes of the computer age, culminating with the GNU/Linux heroes. In its time, this was the single most read Troubleshooters.Com web page.

Linux Log: The Unexpected Security Hole		From the Security issue of Troubleshooting Professional Magazine, this article details how Microsoft's policies put your data at risk.

More Corporationally Incorrect Software		Comparisons of software available from Microsoft and the free software community.

Linux Outlawed!		A frank discussion of how that powers that be are buying legislation to make Linux illegal. Centers on the old SSSCA bill, which became CBDTPA, and will continue to rear its ugly manditory copy protection head as long as the monied software and content houses can afford lobbyists.

Birth of a Book		This Troubleshooting Professional Magazine issue discusses the challenges I faced writing books in Linux, the decision to go with LyX, the challenges, and the outcome.

... Linux Shows		This section is devoted to articles written about Linux shows, and articles about how to run a Linux show.

Linux Library -> Other Linux Info [TopPage] Other Linux Info
Linux Quick Hacks		Ascii Character Lister, Man pages formatted as text, Man pages formatted as html, Shellscript File Tests, Directory Size Lister/Sorter, CUPS Tips, Mouse: Fast and Accurate Mousing Under Linux, Smoothwall Tips, Recording, Playing and Converting sounds, Finding Who Has a File Open, Modem init strings, other stuff

Litt's Linux Links

... Book Reviews

... Secret Driverr Locations

Upcoming Linux Events

Linux Library -> Steve's BSD Resources [TopPage] Steve's BSD Resources
FreeBSD: Initial Lessons Learned		These are some generic lessons I learned about FreeBSD during the day I fooled around with it at the GoLUG/Familab Buildfest. It makes a good quickstart for FreeBSD on the desktop.

OpenBSD/pf Firewalling For the Less Gifted		This is a thorough, step by step instruction set for creating a two zone firewall/router from OpenBSD and the pf firewalling software, which in my opinion is vastly easier to use than Linux's IPTables software. If you're a mere mortal who wants complete, editor based control of your firewall, the OpenBSD/pf combination is what you want. The reason for the "For the Less Gifted" slogan is that this document thoroughly explains each step, leaving nothing taken for granted.

BSD Resources page

Linux Library -> Email -> Email Clients [TopPage] Email Clients
Claws-Mail

Alpine email client

Linux Library -> Email -> Email Servers [TopPage] Email Servers
Nullmailer		nullmailer is a simple MTA (Mail Transfer Agent) whose only function is to transfer an email composed on the local host to an SMTP server elsewhere. It enables use of mutt or of the mail and nail executables.

Nullmailer Landmine Map		Nullmailer can be very hard to troubleshoot. When it has you tearing your hear out, refer to this page.

IMAP Dovecot Troubleshooting		How to peer inside the twin black boxes of your email client and your Dovecot IMAP server to fix problems.

Linux Library -> Linux Internals -> DIY [TopPage] DIY
DIY Linux

VirtualBox

Qemu

How Linux Boots

Why use Linux for DIY?

DIY Continuing Education: Installing Plop Linux

Installing Suckless Init/Felker Init Plus Daemontools-Encore on Plop Linux

Running Daemontools-Encore On Top Of Systemd

Linux Library -> Linux Internals -> Init [TopPage] Init
Init System Choices

The Manjaro Experiments

Comparison of Init System Features and Benefits

... Daemontools

The Problems With Systemd

Process Supervisor Rosetta Stone

Linux Library -> Linux Internals -> Virtual Machines [TopPage] Virtual Machines
DIY Linux

VirtualBox

Qemu

Linux Library -> Linux Desktop -> Outlining [TopPage] Outlining
Outlining in Vim6		This was the prerequisite to VimOutliner. Looking for a good Linux outliner? Know VI? Look no further than version 6 of Vim (VI Improved, a VI clone). This page tells you how to set it up and the commands you need to know.

VimOutliner		This is a GPL project consisting of scripts and configurations to turn Vim, version 6 or better, into an extremely productive fledged outliner.

Original VimOutliner site (unmaintained)

A Free Software Project Moves On		The VimOutliner project's founder had a choice: pass the project on to a capable successor, or let it die. A must read for anyone interested in free software and open source.

Linux Library -> Linux Desktop -> VI and Vim [TopPage] VI and Vim
Outlining in Vim6		This is superceded by VimOutliner, and shows the genesis of VimOutliner.

Permanently Changing your gvim Font		Using the gvim menu changes the font, but it reverts with the next session. Here's a procedure to change the font permanently.

VI quickstart		VI is on every Unix machine, so sooner or later you'll need it. Here are the few commands you need.

VI and Vim in Linux Productivity Magazine		Detailed and authoritative Vim reference.

Regex Lifeboat and Speedboat presentation		First presented by Steve Litt at LEAP-CF 7/19/2001. There's also a .tgz downloadable versionof this slide show.

Steve Litt's vi Editor Presentation		First presented at LEAP-CF 3/16/2000.

Linux Library -> Linux Desktop -> Office Apps [TopPage] Office Apps
... LyX		LyX is a styles-based typesetting program suitable for professionally writing and laying out entire books. It is not easy, but this website's LyX content makes it doable.

... Gnumeric (spreadsheet)		Gnumeric is a robust, easy to use spreadsheet that keeps its data in easy to parse XML.

Bluefish		Bluefish is the premier HTML tag editor, with syntax coloring, autocompletion, and much more to make for fast editing. Available on major distros since 1997.

Linux Library -> Linux Desktop -> Internet Apps [TopPage] Internet Apps
... Browsers

Linux Library -> Linux Desktop -> Graphics and Sound [TopPage] Graphics and Sound
Inkscape and SVG		The Inkscape vector graphics program and the SVGs it creates.

Gimp (In Linux Productivity Magazine)		A detailed reference suited to the beginner and intermediate Gimp user.

Gimp for the Artistically Challenged		If you want to use Gimp to make minor tweaks on your .jpg or .png files, see this.

The Lazy Mans Way to Linux Screenshots		A description of several methods for creating screenshots on Linux boxes.

Converting .ra Files to .ogg		Ogg files aren't patented. Therefore, many see conversion to .ogg as the best way to guarantee future playability. This document gives the bloody details of RealAudio to Ogg Vorbis conversion.

T.C Linux Sound Studio

Troubleshooting Linux Audio

Internet Radio Stations and Rhythmbox		Have you noticed it can be murder to get Internet Radio Stations on your Rhythmbox list of radio stations? The web has a lot of documentation on how to do it, but some of those docs are incomplete, and most are one-trick-ponies. This document shows you several ways to do it.

Gphoto2 tips		Gphoto2 is the command prompt way you interact with a digital camera. This page explains how use Gphoto2 to download files, erase files off the camera, and several other tricks.

Linux Library -> Linux Desktop -> GOSFUIs and menus [TopPage] GOSFUIs and menus
GOSFUI		GOSFUI is a word designed to stop silly Linux arguments in their tracks.

LXQt		How to run LXQt from the startx command. It's more complicated than you thought.

Openbox		All you see is desktop. The cost: a loss of mental context and decreased value of the mouse, as well as the loss of a system tray with its at-your-fingertips info and config. The benefit: more screen real estate, less mouse reliance, faster for the touch typist.

Xfce		In these days of "Easter Egg Hunt" desktop environments like Windows 7, Windows 8, Gnome 3 and Unity, Xfce is an intuitive, productive, full featured desktop environment.

Using IceWM		IceWM is a robust, keyboard friendly, configurable lightweight window manager with a Windows-like taskbar and menu.

... UMENU (Text based system menu)		UMENU is a text based windowing system that runs on a terminal emulator, an actual command line interface (Ctrl+Alt+F2, for instance), or even a teletype terminal. It can serve as a front end to a complex command, as a Linux user shell, or as a start menu. These articles describe its use in detail.

Linux Library -> Linux Desktop -> Linux Desktop Computers [TopPage] Linux Desktop Computers
The Linux Desktop (In Linux Productivity Magazine)

The Hand Me Down Linux Box

Your New Linux Box

Knoppix Knowhow

Linux Library -> Linux Desktop -> Printing [TopPage] Printing
Make Yourself an Envelope Printer		Printing envelopes is surprisingly hard in Linux. Go figure. Here's how to do it.

Setting Up the HP 4050 Printer in CUPS

Linux Library -> Linux Desktop -> CD, DVD and Blu-Ray Reading and Writing [TopPage] CD, DVD and Blu-Ray Reading and Writing
Backing Up to Blu-Ray		This is how you back up to Blu-Ray.

Installing Your ATAPI CDRW Drive in Linux

Coasterless CD Burning		This document contains the secrets to allow you to burn good CD's every time, readable on every box. It also has the secrets enabling you to accurately read CD's as devices.

Coasterless DVD Burning		If you think DVD burning will be just like CD burning, you have another thought coming. Free software that isn't so free, hoards of media formats, different apps, different devices. This document serves as a machete to cut through the underbrush.

Making a bootable CD		Making a bootable CD from a bootable floppy image. This shows the tips and terrors of creating a CD mimic of a bootable floppy.

Linux Library -> Linux Desktop -> Remote Desktop [TopPage] Remote Desktop
... VNC

Linux Library -> Linux Desktop -> Postscript, Ghostscript and PDFs [TopPage] Postscript, Ghostscript and PDFs
Ghostscript to make PDFs

Filling Out PDF Forms With Gimp		There are a million ways to fill out PDF forms. The simplest is with modern versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader, if you don't mind the inability to save. Trouble is, most PDF forms are important enough to require more than one sitting, so saving is a necessity. There are also various PDF tweaks you can use if you want to learn them. Then there's Gimp. You can convert the PDF to a high quality .ppm file, edit it in Gimp, save as Gimp native .xcf, and when you're done, print it to Gimp's PDF printer as a file. If you want to make changes later, use Gimp to make them in the .xcf file and then just reprint to Gimps PDF printer. No muss, no fuss, no bother, and anyone can do it.

Scanning to PNM, then Concatenating to PDF		When you multipage scan using Xsane, Xsane does each scan as a .pnm file. Sometimes you want to modify the .pnm files and manually reconcatenate to a .pdf. This is how you do it.

Linux Library -> Configuration and Administration -> Data admin and security [TopPage] Data admin and security
Spamassassin		Published in Linux Productivity Magazine. Besides details of spamassassin, this document also gives a simple explanation of email theory -- MUA, MTA, POP, POP3, SMTP

Tripwire		Published in Linux Productivity Magazine. Tripwire is an intrusion detection system.

IPTables		In Linux Productivity Magazine. How to configure your firewall.

DBD-Pg bug		Fix the dreaded "$POSTGRES_HOME not defined" problem

OpenBSD/pf Firewalling For the Less Gifted		This is a thorough, step by step instruction set for creating a two zone firewall/router from OpenBSD and the pf firewalling software, which in my opinion is vastly easier to use than Linux's IPTables software. If you're a mere mortal who wants complete, editor based control of your firewall, the OpenBSD/pf combination is what you want. The reason for the "For the Less Gifted" slogan is that this document thoroughly explains each step, leaving nothing taken for granted.

Linux Library -> Configuration and Administration -> Hardware Configuration and Administration [TopPage] Hardware Configuration and Administration
The Lazy Man's Way to Configuring a Video Card

Mouse Setup Tips

Linux Library -> Configuration and Administration -> OS Configuration and Administration [TopPage] OS Configuration and Administration
Parted Cheatsheet		Parted can be confusing and risky, but you can run it anywhere you can find a command prompt. This is how you do it.

Pacman Basic Essentials Cheatsheet

... Grub		The Grub subsite gives a clear explanation of what grub is, what it does, and how to configure it. It also discusses various special boot configurations.

Litt's LILO Lessons

Pre and Post Installation Hints

Creating a bootable "floppy" CD		Making a bootable CD from a bootable floppy image. This shows the tips and terrors of creating a CD mimic of a bootable floppy.

Big Honkin Linux Tutorial		From Troubleshooting Professional Magazine. It's from 1998 so you must update some of the examples, but still a good resource for beginners.

Linux Library -> Configuration and Administration -> Server Configuration and Administration [TopPage] Server Configuration and Administration
Tinc VPN

Tinc Peer to Peer Hello World

Newbie's Overview of Docker

... Network Configuration

Fixing Win 9x/ME Failures After Samba Upgrades		Your Windows 9x and ME users start telling you they can no longer connect to Samba. They're getting the infamous request for the IPC$ password, and no password will satisfy it. You may or may not remember a recent upgrade, but your last Samba upgrade, especially if it crossed the 3.2.0 threshold, almost certainly caused it. This document explains how to fix it, and if you're still below Samba 3.2.0, how to prevent it.

... Samba

... Email Servers

Linux Library -> Configuration and Administration -> Other Configuration and Administration [TopPage] Other Configuration and Administration
Make a bootable CD "floppy"		Making a bootable CD from a bootable floppy image. This shows the tips and terrors of creating a CD mimic of a bootable floppy.

DBD-Pg bug		Fix the dreaded "$POSTGRES_HOME not defined" problem

Linux Quick Hacks		Includes various coding hacks, and also non-coding hacks

Fixing those unreadable cookie crumb fonts		(Especially Mandrake 8 / XFree86-4). If your fonts look crumbly, give this a try.

Converting Ext2 to Ext3

Knoppix Knowhow		A significant reference on Knoppix, including using it for advocacy, pre-purchase testing, as a configuration tool, a rescue CD, forensics, and even how to permanently install Knoppix on your hard disk.

Adding to the Path		How to add a directory to your executable path, for one user or for all.

Setting Your System Time

Troubleshooting Linux		Detailed Troubleshooting tools and methodologies from the July 2000 Troubleshooting Professional Magazine.

Introduction to Security		The October 2000 Troubleshooting Professional Magazine details lessons learned from ITSA day in Gainsville. This issue also contains the Linux advocacy piece called "Linux Log: The Unexpected Security Hole".

Linux Library -> Linux Programming -> Bash/shellscript [TopPage] Bash/shellscript
Steve's Shellscript Subset

Troubleshooters.Com xargs Guide

Linux Library -> Linux Programming -> C and C++ [TopPage] C and C++
Socket Programming with C		Still works, implementing sockets in C.

Linux Library -> Linux Programming -> Perl [TopPage] Perl
Perl in Linux Productivity Magazine

Perl Tk, Part 1

Perl Tk, Part 2, The Picklist

Node.pm		Node.pm is a tool that makes handling complex hierarchies a breeze. It's used extensively in UMENU, EMDL and VimOutliner converters.

Steve Litt's Perls of Wisdom		Huge Perl reference. The 10% you need to know for 90% of your work.

... Steve Litt's Projects Written in Perl

Linux Library -> Linux Programming -> Python [TopPage] Python
Python Patrol

Linux Library -> Linux Programming -> PHP [TopPage] PHP
Big Honkin PHP/Postgres Tutorial		In Troubleshooting Professional Magazine. Everything from from hello world to a fully functional data aware web app, and phplib installation.

Linux Library -> Linux Programming -> Java [TopPage] Java
Big Honkin XML Tutorial:		In Troubleshooting Professional Magazine. Everything from from hello world, through DOM, SAX, DTD's and validation. Code examples in Java using Xerces. DOM walkers, SAX explorers, XML writers, and much more.

Linux Library -> Linux Programming -> Coding Style [TopPage] Coding Style
Self-Documenting Code		Published in Troubleshooting Professional Magazine, this has become popular in the world of literate programming.

Linux Library -> Linux Programming -> Data/Database/XML/Web [TopPage] Data/Database/XML/Web
Node.pm

Zope: Quick and Simple		Zope is a powerful portal server with built in security and separation of authoring functions. This document gives you a good jumpstart into the world of Zope.

Postgres Power		Troubleshooters.Com's umbrella page for Postgres

The PostgreSQL Professional Database		PostgreSQL (Postgres for short) is a highly capable and professional DBMS (DataBase Management System) that is free software bundled with most Linux distributions. This document covers installation, setup, and use of Postgres, well up to the intermediate level.

DBD-Pg bug		Fix the dreaded "$POSTGRES_HOME not defined" problem

Big Honkin Linux Tutorial		virtual hosting, DNS, PostGreSQL, DBI::DBD, build a data aware web app.

Big Honkin XML Tutorial:		In Troubleshooting Professional Magazine. Everything from from hello world, through DOM, SAX, DTD's and validation. Code examples in Java using Xerces. DOM walkers, SAX explorers, XML writers, and much more.

Big Honkin PHP/Postgres Tutorial		In Troubleshooting Professional Magazine. Everything from from hello world to a fully functional data aware web app, and phplib installation.

Presentation: Introduction to Practical XML

Troubleshooting Ladder and Tree: Static Web Pages

Linux Library -> Linux Programming -> System/lowlevel [TopPage] System/lowlevel
Socket Programming		This web page continues to gain popularity as a simple introduction into the world of socket programming. Some parts obsolete.

Socket Programming with C		Still works, implementing sockets in C.

Linux Library -> Linux Programming -> Misc [TopPage] Misc
Linux Quick Hacks		Includes various coding hacks, and also non-coding hacks

Linux Library -> Linux Programming -> User Interface [TopPage] User Interface
Perl Tk, Part 1

Perl Tk, Part 2, The Picklist

Curses, Part 1

Curses, Part 2

Linux Library -> Linux Programming -> HTML [TopPage] HTML
Bluefish		Bluefish is the premier HTML tag editor, with syntax coloring, autocompletion, and much more to make for fast editing. Available on major distros since 1997.

Linux Library -> Learning Linux -> Book Reviews [TopPage] Book Reviews
Linux in Small Business: A Practical User's Guide

Linux Library -> Distributions -> Void Linux [TopPage] Void Linux
Void Linux Tips		I switched to Void Linux on my Daily Driver Desktop and laptops in early October 2015. Void Linux inits with the runit init system. It's is light, simple, robust, and does the expected, but it's underdocumented, so I've started documenting it.

T.C Void Linux Subsite		Root of my Void documentation

Why Use Void Linux?

Void Linux quick and easy install

Linux Library -> Steve Litt's Linux Contributions -> Steve Litt's Open Source Projects [TopPage] Steve Litt's Open Source Projects
Node.rb		Object oriented Ruby tool for hierarchy manipulation, with parser and tree walker. Brand new and pre-alpha as of December 2005.

Node.pm		Object oriented Perl tool for hierarchy manipulation, with parser and tree walker. Node.pm is a component used by EMDL, UMENU, and some utilities in VimOutliner.

EMDL		Easy Menu Definition Language is an outline based language specification that can be authored with any autoindenting editor -- VimOutliner is ideal. It is 100% keyboardable, and includes an EMDL to UMENU conversion program

UMENU		Menu for arbitrary Linux commands and programs. It can be used in text mode or a gui terminal emulator. It's 100% keyboardable and licensed with the GNU GPL.

Picker		This includes a filepicker and a recordpicker, both coded in C, intended to be part of a suite of small executables from which to assemble an application.

VimOutliner		This is a professional grade outline processor (outliner). It uses Vim 6 as its engine, and can be used in either text or gui mode. It's 100% keyboardable and licensed with the GNU GPL.

HtmlSlides		This is an authoring tool to create HTML format presentations. The resulting presentations need only a browser to display, and are totally portable Long "slides" can be scrolled in the browser. GNU GPL license.

logeval		This is a log analysis tool that lists results by day. For each day, you get the top 10 visited url's, total visits, Distinct IP's, a summary of all .html sorted by visits, plus special flagged URL's. It has the ability to flag specific URL's for closer study, and works with standard UNIX web log files.

tslips		This is a simple client/task time tracking tool. It appends to a text file. It survives reboots and long powerdowns. It is easily front ended by any menu program including UMENU. Data can be parsed for summary reports and bills

Linux Library -> Steve Litt's Linux Contributions -> Steve Litt's Presentations [TopPage] Steve Litt's Presentations
Ruby Programming		Given 3/2/2006 at Greater Orlando Linux User Group (GoLUG). Why Ruby rocks, how oop is Ruby?, Ruby, python and perl, hello world, looping, arrays, hashes, branching, strings, file and terminal io, subroutines, and oop

Bash Programming		Given 6/2/2005 at Greater Orlando Linux User Group (GoLUG). Advantages and disadvantages of bash programming, syntax gotchas, and then instruction/examples of Outputting to Stdout and Stderr, User Input, handling environment variables, arguments and return values, if statements, the test command, relational, boolean and file operators, short circuit logic, looping, subroutines, and string manipulation. You can get a tarball of this presentation at http://www.troubleshooters.com/linux/presentations/golug_bash_programming/toc.htm.

Using Hierarchies for Data and Content		Given 11/4/2004 at Greater Orlando Linux User Group (GoLUG). Starts with the premise that one has a "need for speed", it shows how to quickly construct a hierarchy with VimOutliner, and then manipulate and output it with Node.pm based programs.

Regex: Why and How		Given 3/3/2005 at Greater Orlando Linux User Group

Regex: Lifeboat and Speedboat		Given 7/19/2001 at Linux Enthusiasts and Professionals.

VimOutliner		Given in mid 2003 at Linux Enthusiasts and Professionals

Introduction to Practical XML		Given 12/14/2000 at Linux Enthusasts and Professionals

Linux Introduction		Given 10/20/2001 at Devry University in Orlando. The complete title is "Linux Intro: Filesystems, Net Config, DNS Setup, DHCP Setup, Samba and Apache Heads-ups".

LyX: Lifeboat, Speedboat and Yacht		Given 10/17/2002 at Linux Enthusiasts and Professionals. This is an extremely comprehensive presentation on the LyX typesetting program, moving from raw beginner to advanced craftsman.

Converting your business to Linux		Presented 5/16/2002 at the Orlando CTS show. Also presented 6/13/2001 at ITEC in Jacksonville, FL. Using the March 2001 Troubleshooters.Com Windows to Linux conversion as a case history, discusses the benefits, pitfalls and strategy in converting to Linux.

Vi Lifeboat and Speedboat		Presented 3/16/2000 at Linux Enthusiasts and Professionals. Shows some handy productivity boosting commands, and then gets into some pretty heavy Vim operations.

Linux Library -> Editorial and Advocacy -> Linux's Competitive Edge [TopPage] Linux's Competitive Edge
The first known prediction of Microsoft's demise		This appeared in the May, 1998 issue of Troubleshooting Professional Magazine. Though it hasn't come to pass yet, there's no doubt that Microsoft is worried about Linux.

Open Source as Consumer Revolt		This October 2001 Troubleshooting Professional Magazine article discusses Linux's genesis, rise to power and ultimate threat to Microsoft as a biology analogy.

... The Economics of Linux

Linux Library -> Editorial and Advocacy -> Linux is a wishing well [TopPage] Linux is a wishing well
October 1999 Editors Desk

Linux Log: The High Quality OS

Life After Windows: Linux is a Wishing Well

Linux Library -> Editorial and Advocacy -> Windows to Linux Migration Links [TopPage] Windows to Linux Migration Links
Windows to Linux Migration Stories

Making it in a Post-Microsoft World		The June 2000 issue of Troubleshooting Professional Magazine was my plan for converting my business to Linux. It also includes the announcement of Judge Jackson busting up Microsoft, and the world-famous poem "I'm Bringin My Box".

Linux Library -> Editorial and Advocacy -> Free Software Community Citizenship [TopPage] Free Software Community Citizenship
Netiquette		Don't Let Your Career Go Down In Flames: The Linux world is inseparable from the Internet. Bad email manners can destroy everything you've worked to accomplish.

Killfile and Move On		Trolls have no life, so they entertain themselves by starting conflict. In doing so, they stop progress and occasionally render whole mailing lists useless. But the trolls can't do it without our help.

BSD, Linux and Snarfs

Quick Setup at LUG Meetings

Linux Library -> Editorial and Advocacy -> Advocacy [TopPage] Advocacy
Bye, Bye Bye		A parody of the N'Sync song, containing Steve Litt's message to Bill Gates.

Shamelessly Inflammatory Free Software Advocacy		Appears in Troubleshooting Professional Magazine. If you like Microsoft, you'll hate this.

Linux Library -> Editorial and Advocacy -> Linux Shows [TopPage] Linux Shows
More Heroes, and a Trip to Linux Expo		Read about the very last Linux Expo in May 1999. If you're new to Linux, find out what it was like in the good old days.

Apache, Apachecon and PHP		A review of the fantastic Apachecon 2000 in Orlando, Florida. Also contains an extensive PHP tutorial.

Annual Linux Showcase!		A review of the very last Atlanta based Atlanta Linux Showcase, which then became "Annual Linux Showcase" and went to Oakland, California for a year before disbanding. These articles contain extensive discussion of Jon "maddog" Hall's "Value Added Model" theory of free software profit.

Grassroots Linux		The July 2001 Troubleshooting Professional Magazine covers the rise of Grassroots Linux after the retreat of the commercial Linux shows. Details Orlando CTS, Clearwater CTS, and Jacksonville ITEC shows, which replaced megashows like Linux Expo and ALS. Includes the famous skirmishes between Microsoft and the Tampa area Suncoast LUG. Contains the "Rolling Your Own Linux Event" Linux Show Howto.

Grassroots Linux Moves Mainstream		The entire June 2002 Troubleshooting Professional Magazine is devoted to the Linux Enthusiasts And Professionals presence at Orlando CTS show. Especially important is the "LEAP and Orlando CTS: The Inside Scoop" article, which refines the howto in the July 2001 "Rolling Your Own Linux Event" article.

... Linux Show Howtos

Linux Library -> Other Linux Info -> Book Reviews [TopPage] Book Reviews
Linux in Small Business: A Practical User's Guide

Linux Library -> Other Linux Info -> Secret Driverr Locations [TopPage] Secret Driverr Locations
RealPlayer drivers for Linux		Where you go for the "community supported" RealPlayer drivers. Note that the folks from Real make it as difficult as possible to find this page.

Linux Library -> Linux Internals -> Init -> Daemontools [TopPage] Daemontools
Daemontools Intro

Troubleshooting djbdns (with Daemontools)

Linux Library -> Linux Desktop -> Office Apps -> LyX [TopPage] LyX
Litt's LyX Library		This is the starting point for all LyX, LaTeX and TeX information on Troubleshooters.Com.

Using Lyx to Write Self-Published Books		(2001) Lyx requires a tough committment and may not be right for you. But some folks wouldn't write a book using any other software.

The Best and Worst of LyX		(2001) Face it, LyX outputs professional books, but it also has some problems. Forewarned is forearmed.

LyX Quickstart		(2002) Gets you started quickly with LyX, and also serves as a great reference. Detailed listing of LyX and LaTeX commands.

LyX Lifeboat, Speedboat and Yacht presentation		(2002)First presented by Steve Litt at LEAP-CF 10/17/2002. There's also a .tgz downloadable version of this slideshow.

LyX Lifeboat etc, Downloadable version		(2002)

Birth of a Book		(2002) This Troubleshooting Professional Magazine issue discusses the challenges I faced writing books in Linux, the decision to go with LyX, the challenges, and the outcome.

Litt's LaTeX Laboratory		(2005) For the most part, this is superceded by LyX, LaTeX and TeX. However, it has a nice compile script. Unless you want to accept your document class's styles in toto, you need LaTeX expertise to create your own styles. Here a few basic tips. See also LyX, LaTeX and TeX.

LyX Gotchas		(2005) Here are some LyX Landmines, and how to avoid them.

Lyx, LaTeX and TeX		(2007) To make the most of LyX, you need to know LaTeX. To really understand LaTeX, you need to know TeX.

Making Your Own Lists in LaTeX and LyX		(2007) If you need something not offered by the itemize, enumerate or description environments, this is how you roll your own lists.

Compiling LyX 1.5x: Avoiding the Landmines		(2008) LyX 1.5 drops support for xforms and Qt 3. On certain distros in certain circumstances this can cause great frustration while compiling. This page also contains info on configuring LyX 1.5 for a look and feel similar to earlier LyX versions, and running 1.5 in parallel to your existing 1.4.

makeindex Options, Including Minimum Range Sizes		(2008) Read this before you start indexing! If an index range is 18-19, do you want it listed as a range, or just page 18? You can do either. Do you want to change the delimiters between page numbers or the dash in ranges? No problem. This page shows you how to make the makeindex program do whatever you want.

Steve Litt's Sure Fire Way to Create LyX Layouts		(2009) For various reasons discussed in this document, some people using some LyX versions tear their hair out trying to get new LyX layouts to work with their documents. I was one of the hair-ripped people until I discovered the secrets in this document.

Linux Library -> Linux Desktop -> Office Apps -> Gnumeric (spreadsheet) [TopPage] Gnumeric (spreadsheet)
Introduction to Gnumeric		Learn all the intro and intermediate Gnumeric tips and tricks, and start using it today. Linux Productivity Magazine.

Linux Library -> Linux Desktop -> Internet Apps -> Browsers [TopPage] Browsers
... Luakit Quickstart for Civilians

Linux Library -> Linux Desktop -> GOSFUIs and menus -> UMENU (Text based system menu) [TopPage] UMENU (Text based system menu)
UMENU (Linux Productivity Magazine)

UMENU project website

Connecting UMENU to various window managers

EMDL project website		EMDL is Easy Menu Definition Language, and is used to quickly construct complext UMENU systems.

Linux Library -> Linux Desktop -> Remote Desktop -> VNC [TopPage] VNC
Litt's VNC Vestibule

Installing tightvnc on Win98

Linux Library -> Configuration and Administration -> OS Configuration and Administration -> Grub [TopPage] Grub
Grub Grotto		Troubleshooters.Com's grub subsite.

Grub From the Ground Up		This page gives a clear explanation of what grub is, what it does, and how to configure it. If other grub documentation has failed you, this is what you need. It's also a prerequisite to all other grub documentation on Troubleshooters.Com.

Grub Special Boots and Other Tips		This is how you set up grub for dual booting between Windows and Linux. As time goes on we'll continually add more boot strategies and tips.

Linux Library -> Configuration and Administration -> Server Configuration and Administration -> Network Configuration [TopPage] Network Configuration
CIDR Network Calculator (downloadable)a		Downloadable CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing) subnet calculator good for calculation and experimental trial and error.

Unbound		Unbound is a secure, high quality caching DNS server used by more and more admins every day.

Nginx Essentials		Documents explaining the configuration and use of web server nginx.

djbdns		djbdns is secure, modular, and generally a very nice replacement for named/bind.

IP Forwarding Hints

IP Renumbering Hints

IP Alias Configuration: The New Way

DNS via BIND

DHCP Server Configuration Instructions

Troubleshooting Static Websites, Ladder and Tree

Networking Diagnostic (pre-defined)

NFS: Overview and Gotchas

Installing Linux over NFS: the How's and Why's

Linux Library -> Configuration and Administration -> Server Configuration and Administration -> Samba [TopPage] Samba
Samba Configuration Instructions

Steve Litt's Samba Presentation		First given at SGI Linux University on 4/26/2000

Steve Litt's "Troubleshooting Samba" Presentation		First presented at LEAP-CF 9/16/1999.

Linux Library -> Configuration and Administration -> Server Configuration and Administration -> Email Servers [TopPage] Email Servers
Nullmailer		nullmailer is a simple MTA (Mail Transfer Agent) whose only function is to transfer an email composed on the local host to an SMTP server elsewhere. It enables use of mutt or of the mail and nail executables.

Nullmailer Landmine Map		Nullmailer can be very hard to troubleshoot. When it has you tearing your hear out, refer to this page.

IMAP Dovecot Troubleshooting		How to peer inside the twin black boxes of your email client and your Dovecot IMAP server to fix problems.

Linux Library -> Linux Programming -> Perl -> Steve Litt's Projects Written in Perl [TopPage] Steve Litt's Projects Written in Perl
Node.pm

EMDL

UMENU

VimOutliner

HtmlSlides

logeval

tslips

Linux Library -> Editorial and Advocacy -> Linux's Competitive Edge -> The Economics of Linux [TopPage] The Economics of Linux
Jon "maddog" Hall		An interview with Jon "maddog" Hall, in which he described the "value added model" of making money with Linux.

Further Thoughts on the Value Added Model		Steve Litt gives some thought to "maddog"'s value added model.

Google, the Perfect Value Added Example		This article explains why Google is a perfect example of Jon "maddog" Hall's value added model. Interestingly, this article was written more than 2 years before Google's multibillion dollar IPO.

Yet Another Smooth Example		This article discusses Smoothwall as another example of "maddog"'s value added model. Smoothwall was the predecessor of IPCOP, a firewall distro used far and wide.

The Natural Resource View of Open Source Profit		After over a year of mulling over Jon "maddog" Hall's value added model, I came up with what I call the "Natural Resource View" of free software profit. This view is a little different from, though I believe completely compatible with, maddog's Value Added Model.

Linux Library -> Editorial and Advocacy -> Linux Shows -> Linux Show Howtos [TopPage] Linux Show Howtos
Rolling Your Own Linux Event		A detailed checklist of the process of planning and executing a Linux show.

LEAP and Orlando CTS: The Inside Scoop		A refinement of the "Rolling Your Own Linux Event" article.

Linux Library -> Linux Desktop -> Internet Apps -> Browsers -> Luakit Quickstart for Civilians [TopPage]

Luakit Quickstart for Civilians

How to use this web page

Linux Library is 80+ local web pages and growing, making it impractical to continue maintaining a static main page. We've therefore switched main page maintenance to an outline, which can then be run through a process to create a highly organized hierarchy of links and sublinks.

This gives you several navigation methods:

Drilling down by clicking links
Coming back up with the back button
Coming back up by clicking header links
Searching for text

Drilling down by clicking links

Linux Library is organized as a hierarchy of links to categories and subcategories. Thus our organization is kept clear, so articles are easy to find.

You'll notice that this organization occasionally violates the "three click rule", which says that every point on a website must be accessible within three mouse clicks. With the huge amount of varied content available, we felt it better to present you with a logical hierarchy than to contrive three layer structures. To make navigation lightning fast, we've made all navigation links on-page links, meaning that no new page needs load until the actual desired content is loaded.

So you always know where you are, each submenu's header contains the complete path from Linux Library down to the submenu, as well as containing a large title for the submenu. For further navigational convenience, each point on the full path is a clickable link to get you back to its level.

Coming back up with the back button

When you drill down with links, you can come back up by pressing the browser's back button. This is often the fastest and most intuitive way.

Coming back up by clicking header links

Sometimes you want to emerge several levels at once. To facilitate this, the full path in each submenu's title bar contains clickable links for each level. By clicking one of these links, you emerge to the clicked submenu. This provide a lightning fast way to traverse and re-traverse the menu's hierarchy.

Searching for text

We've taken every effort to make the hierarchy clear, obvious, and easy to use. Occasionally, however, the hierarchy may not help you find what you're looking for. In that case, try searching for a word on the Linux Library main page, and when found, click the link it belongs to or describes. Because the entire Linux Library menu structure is contained on this one page, searching is very fast.

We need feedback!

We need feedback on this new interface. Please email me with feedback on this new interface.

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No warranty: material provide as-is

All materials in Linux Library are provided AS IS. By reading the materials in Linux Library you are agreeing to assume all risks involved in the use of the materials, and you are agreeing to absolve the authors, owners, and anyone else involved with Linux Library of any responsibility for the outcome of any use of these materials, even in the case of errors and/or omissions in the materials. If you do not agree to this, you must not read these materials.

To the 99.9% of you honest readers who take responsibility for your own actions, I'm truly sorry it is necessary to subject all readers to the above disclaimer.

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Copyright (C) 1999-2021 by Steve Litt