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PODCAST · technology

Linux for the Layman: the Joy of Computing.

by Mark Richter

Enjoy using your computer easily, securely and for less money. You can achieve this goal with free, open-source software (FOSS), like Linux. Anyone can learn to use FOSS and Linux. Feel free to contact me at [email protected]. Questions and constructive feedback are always welcome. Here's to your joy with computing!

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Episodes

  1. Episode 47 - Starting Out Commands for beginners

    I cover some of the most basic Linux commands a new user is likely to want to learn and play with. This includes pwd, cd, ls, echo, cat, cp, mv, rm, and touch. We're just scratching the surface here...

  2. Episode 46 - cd and select aliases

    We go through the 'cd' command, its options, and some useful aliases. We also cover some of the "universal" options for most Linux commands.

  3. Episode 45: which and tldr

    Discussion of the 'which' and 'tlrd' commands. Thank you for the comments.

  4. Episode 44: I'm back, and 'grep'

    You get to find out why I've been absent for so long. Also, we'll take a mild dive into the grep command. Cheers!

  5. Five basic Linux commands

    New: Subscription information included.

  6. Episode 41 - Virtual Machines, CLI Functions, tldr

    What Virtual Machines are good for (evaluating Linux distros) and which ones to use. An example of how and why to use a Bash function. Overview of manual pages and the tldr command.

  7. Episode 40 - Bash Aliases vs. Functions

    What is an alias? How to create them. What is a function? How to create them. Some miscellany along the way... :-)

  8. Episode 39 - Command Line Pipes and other useful info

    We will go through a detailed example of how to string commands together on the command line using pipes.

  9. Episode 38 - Shell Variables

    This continues from Episode 37 on the terminal shell

  10. Episode 37 - Linux File System Paths, Mount Points and Links

    I also briefly touch on shell variables - more in the next episode coming soon I hope...

  11. Episode 34: Bash shortcuts

    Today I cover the idea of bash shortcuts, including scripts, aliases and functions. I also go over a couple of short answers to listener questiosn and praise for ffmpeg.

  12. E[isode 33 - More on shell variables and tab completion

    In this episode we cover more on how to ues the tab key for command and variable name completion; we also cover some accounting information.

  13. Episode 32 - Shell Variables - Basics

    This episode covers some of the basics about Linux Shell variables.

  14. Episode 31 - Command Line, Windows and Shell Functions continued

    Feel free to let me know if you like this, if you have questions, even if you hated it - I'm hre to serve you. [email protected]

  15. Episode 30 - Bash Shell Functions and why

    All mentions of the word "bracket" or "brackets" should be read/heard as "brace" and "braces" - these { } instead of these [ ]. My goof, correction at the end of the episode.

  16. Brief Message of Thanksgiving

    I am grateful to all my listeners, contributors, questioners and feedback-senders. More to come soon...

  17. Episode 29 - More on the Command Line - Options

    More information about command line options, and also help/man pages.

  18. Episode 28 - Variety of Subjects

    I misspoke in the audio - RAID is Redundant Array of Independent Devices. There, now you can have an extra laugh at me. Invite your friends to have one too, or more than one! :-)

  19. Recovering from Disaster

    A tale of woe and triumph.

  20. Episode 24 - bash variables, aliases and functions

    I also explain my long gap between episode 23 and now.

  21. Episode 22 - What are folders, directories, files, and how do we use them

    Based on this artivle in the Verge, https://www.theverge.com/22684730/students-file-folder-directory-structure-education-gen-z, I decided to take a side trip and discuss what kinds of storage there are on a computer and how file systems, files and folders/directories (same thing) are set up and…

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  22. Episode 21 - More special characters, file naming conventions and file organization

    We go into a few more bits about shell special characters, then discuss good Linux file naming conventions and a brief sketch of how to organize your files. Feel free to let me know what you like, don't like, want to know - anything.

  23. Episode 20 - Special characters to the shell

    Today we'll cover a few more of the characters that the bash shell, your command line interpreter, treats as something other than what they look like - wildcards and more.

  24. Episode 19 - More about the command shell, special characters and a little bit about variables

    This is scratching the surface of some of the flexibility of the terminal interface, the command shell (bash) and ways to use it.

  25. Episode 18 - File Permissions and More on the "Dreaded" Command Line Interface

    Come with me to understand more about how little there is to dread in the Command Line (or Terminal) Interface to your computer in Linux.

  26. Episode 17 - the "Dreaded" Terminal Interface

    This is the first of several episodes where I discuss the terminal interface, or command line interface, and it's command shell, bash. We start simple and move on to progress to some of the more powerful commands. Today, it's just some basics.

  27. Task scheduling with cron and crontab commands

    We also cover briefly zeit and at/batch. Command line oriented material.

  28. Episode 14: A few new keyboard and mouse opinions, and more

    Tell me what you'd like to hear about in the podcast. This is a service for you - help me out. Gie a listen and see what else you want to hear about. My office is open! :-)

  29. The command line makes this easy

    I'll explain one of the ways in which the command line can do things simply that might otherwise be more complex in a GUI.

  30. The keyboard and the mouse

    I'm an old keyboard hack, so I love the keyboard, possibly more than the mouse. However, there are many good uses for the mouse as well where the keyboard may be inadequate. Tell me what you think...

  31. Episode 11 - The Keyboard and the Mouse

    This is a love story - ways in which the keyboard and the mouse can do for each other (and you) some of the things you may have thought only one or the other can do. Enjoy!

  32. Episode 10 - Graphics User Interface and Terminal (Command-line) Interface

    In this episode I discuss what's good about both interfaces and some contrasting features of both. Al though I profess to be far more proficient with the terminal, which is decades older than the GUI, I enjoy using both. Each has their high points.

  33. Episode 9 - An effective way to use Linux apps to replace your old Windows apps

    Most Windows apps don't run on Linux. Options after upgrading include using a Windows virtual machine on top of your Linux installation, using the interfface layer known as WINE, or finding native Linux apps to substitute - and how to find them.

  34. Episode 8 - Installing Ubuntu alongside Windows

    This episode also gives a brief introduction to hard disk formats and how this affects your installation. We also explore briefly two other options for installing Linux on your Windows machine.

  35. Episode 7: How to convert from Windows 10 to Ubuntu (or any Linux distro)

    This is the first of two episodes on this subject. In this episode, I'll discuss how to prepare for the conversion and then how to replace Windows with Ubuntu (specifically, though most Linux distro installs are pretty much the same for the whole desktop version). In the next episode, I'll…

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  36. Episode 6 - What I love about computers

    I actually enjoy working and playing on my computer, and you can too. This is alittle about what there is to love about working or playing on your computer.

  37. Linux File System Layout and Terms

    In this episode I describe how files are mapped in a Linux file system in a simple, consistent access scheme, with contrast to how Windows is different in a few ways.

  38. Episode 3 - GUIs, mouse and keyboard

    Dispelling the myths about how Linux has no GUI or an unfriendly one.

  39. What drew me into taking Linux home

    I've been asked this question many times - why do you use Linux at home? In this episode I'll talk about what drew me to Linux, and it is all in terms that anyone today, even technophobes, can follow with ease. As always, you can email me with questions or constructive feedback at...

  40. What Linux is and how it can help you.

    In this episode, I go through a description of what Linux is, a brief history of Linux, what Linux can do for you and why not to get Linux. I describe operating systems and kernels, distributions and interfaces and three reasons not to use Linux depending on your needs. I give short previews of...

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Enjoy using your computer easily, securely and for less money. You can achieve this goal with free, open-source software (FOSS), like Linux. Anyone can learn to use FOSS and Linux. Feel free to contact me at [email protected]. Questions and constructive feedback are always welcome. Here's to your joy with computing!

HOSTED BY

Mark Richter

CATEGORIES

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Linux for the Layman: the Joy of Computing. have?

Linux for the Layman: the Joy of Computing. currently has 43 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Linux for the Layman: the Joy of Computing. about?

Enjoy using your computer easily, securely and for less money. You can achieve this goal with free, open-source software (FOSS), like Linux. Anyone can learn to use FOSS and Linux. Feel free to contact me at [email protected]. Questions and constructive feedback are always welcome. Here's...

How often does Linux for the Layman: the Joy of Computing. release new episodes?

Linux for the Layman: the Joy of Computing. has 43 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

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Who hosts Linux for the Layman: the Joy of Computing.?

Linux for the Layman: the Joy of Computing. is created and hosted by Mark Richter.
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