[mdlug-newbie] Hello LUGgers!

[Robert Meier]

Brandon,

Welcome.

> ... I ... installed Linux Mint 5 Elyssa.

I'm using SuSE-10.1 at home and CentOS-5 at work, so I'm more familiar
with them.

> I'm looking for more information ...

I can strongly recommend reading "The Art of Unix Programming" by
Eric Raymond (ISBN 0-13-142901-9, http://www.faqs.org/docs/artu/)

I recommend always loading the docs that come with any package (some distros
routinely install the docs only on request).

Read man pages.  (man(1) is an executable that provides online documentation
in a "technical spec" format.  You'll see references cited as
<executable>(<section-number>) like ls(1), passwd(5), mount(8) for 'list
directory contents', 'password file', and 'mount a file system'.
You can nominally read a man page (e.g. description of section 5) from
the terminal with ('bash>' indicates your prompt.  Like a stage direction,
you don't actually type it, only what follows.)

bash> man 5 intro 

You can also search the man pages by finding words in the 'NAME' portion

bash> man -k hostname

Documentation, especially tutorials, faqs, ... is usually available in
hypertext (linked) formats like info, and html.



> ... I've been slowly learning the way around my system and the terminal.

Good.

Be aware that while to unix, "everything is a file".  Unix executables
nearly universally split into an "engine" (which operates via file,
i.e. config file, script, command-line-interface), and a "front-end"
(which presents the file via a graphical-user-interface).

There are many styles of "front-end"s adapted to user tastes, and
usage scenarios.  Most distros (e.g. Mint 5, SuSE, Mepis, RedHat, ...)
differ in their default choice of "front-end"s.

Consequently, when you ask questions, expect to get answers in terms
of cli and config file, but if desired, you can use the gui tools
provided by your distro (or added by you).

If a gui is not already available (and not worth installing for something
you don't plan to do often), you can always fall back on the command line.

People have strong opinions regarding choice of gui tools (and distros),
but I recommend you listen for the pros and cons of each, try several
(e.g. Mint 5, SuSE, RedHat, Ubuntu, Gentoo), and gravitate toward those
which suit you best.

> My next project for is to try and get MythTV up and running ...

I'm hoping to do the same soon.

> Anyway, ... please be patient if I ask a really simple questions.

That's what the mdlug-newbie list is for.

Welcome,
-- 
Bob

 "Destruction is *easy*. Even stupid people and weather formations can
    do it. If you think you're so cool, try *improving* something."
	      -- Ray Ingles 1997