[Speakers] Presentations

[Bruce Smith]

> I would like to see 2 presentations.

OK.

> I don't know how to think in terms of what the shell commands can do for
> me or what a standard set of rules or commands are that govern it. 

A typical Linux system can easily have well over 3000 commands available
at the command line (give or take, depending on what software is
installed).  I have 3080 on mine, not counting builtin shell commands.

There obviously is not enough time in a decade worth of weekly
presentations to go deeply into all of these commands, and I don't claim
to be familiar with all the commands either.

What I do know how to do is find commands that do what I need, and learn
how to use the commands that I'm not familiar with.

What I propose for a presentation is this:  (off the top of my head)

1)  Introduction to the command line with a few basic commands.
2)  A few tricks/shortcuts on navigating the command line.
3)  How to search for the commands you need.
4)  How to learn the details/options of new commands (to you).
5)  The shell(s) and builtin commands.
6)  Other miscellaneous useful things, such as the environment.

There is no way I can really teach you to be good at the command line in
a presentation.  The best I can hope for is to teach you the basics, and
teach you how to teach yourself the command line.  The only way to get
good at it is to spend a LOT of time using and learning it by yourself.

> Remember, us newbies are point and shoot guys.

Remember I've been using the command line in Unix (very similar to
Linux) since the mid 80's, and Linux since 1994.  Much of this was
before any GUI existed to point and click on.

So, it's very easy for me to overlook very basic things that come as
second nature to me.  And the more detail you can give me on how you'd
like to see this presented would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!  :-)

> After those last conversations on the novice list, I think I know less
> that I thought I know about installing and removing software.

As I pointed out above, it can be overwhelming due just to the sheer
number of commands.  But once you learn the basics, things make a lot
more sense (IMO).

 - BS