Basic Linux OS: Chapter6: Finding Linux Documentation

Linux: Chapter6: Finding Linux Documentation

SECTION 1 Documentation Sources

1. The man pages (short for manual pages)
2. GNU Info
3. The help command and --help option
4. Other Documentation Sources, e.g. https://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/, http://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Main_Page

                     man –f ~= whatis                short description what it does, -f = fast (how to remember)
                   man –k ~= apropos             lists all things related to specific topic. -k = king (the king is a man who holds all things. technique to remember for me )

SECTION 2 GNU info

To install this command: sudo apt-get install info (You may use apt instead)

          After go into info grep document, above pictures show you when pressing "N" or "Next". It means, go to next "Node"

          Notice: Next, Prev and Up at the top line of the console. I mean, we can press N, P and U as it mentioned.

SECTION 3 help command: -h or --help

SECTION 4 Other Documentation Sources

     In addition to the man pages, the GNU Info System, and the help command, there are other sources of Linux documentation, some examples of which are shown here.

Desktop Help Systems

        All Linux desktop systems have a graphical help application. This application is usually displayed as a question-mark icon or an image of a ship’s life-preserver. These programs usually contain custom help for the desktop itself and some of its applications, and will often also include graphically rendered info and man pages.

Warning: Sometimes sources might make a mistake. You have to work around and I found that Debian-based might use khelpcenter NOT gnome-help as shown below.

You can also start the graphical help system from a graphical terminal using the following commands:

• GNOME: gnome-help 
• KDE: khelpcenter

↞ Summary ↠

• The main sources of Linux documentation are the man pages, GNU Info, the help options and command, and a rich variety of online documentation sources. 
• The man utility searches, formats, and displays man pages.
• The man pages provide in-depth documentation about programs and other topics about the system including configuration files, system calls, library routines, and the kernel.
• The GNU Info System was created by the GNU project as its standard documentation. It is robust and is accessible via command line, web, and graphical tools using info.
• Short descriptions for commands are usually displayed with the -h or --help argument.
• You can type help at the command line to display a synopsis of built-in commands.
• There are many other help resources both on your system and on the Internet.

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Reference:

https://www.linuxfoundation.org