Top 10 Linux articles, top 5 tutorials

Starting with the most popular, here are the Linux articles and tutorials that developerWorks readers found most interesting in the past month.

1. Bash by example, Part 2

   You just can't shut down a good bash; Part 2 slides in at number 1 again! Learn to leverage your existing UNIX® expertise with knowledge of bash programming fundamentals like conditional (if-then) statements, looping constructs, and shell arithmetics. Remember — bash is already here, so don't get left behind. (See more in the Bash series.)

2. Common threads: Awk by example, Part 1

   Always a popular series, article number 1 shows you how awk handles multiple logical fields, what to do with C-like conditional/if statements, how to use regular expressions with code blocks, how to manipulate numeric and string variables, and how to pass external scripts to awk like a seasoned spy passes secrets. (See more in the Awk series.)

3. Bash by example, Part 1

   Repeat this mantra: "I will do bash, I will do bash." So do it! Part 1 goes well with with its companion article, number 1, by introducing bash and its environment variables and string handling. It also provides a mini-seminar on the if statement. (See more in the Bash series.)

4. SolarNetOne: Solar-powered networking for anyone

   Another of the hottest technology bandwagons, developerWorks introduces SolarNetOne — a turnkey Internet hotspot complete with power, computers, and satellite uplink that you can install virtually anywhere, for less than the cost of a subcompact car. Beat the problem of shoddy power grids and practically non-existent connectivity.

5. Visualize your data with gnuplot

   It's baa-ack! If a picture is worth a thousand lines of code and you need to make your charts and graphs and plots (oh my!) beautiful, you'll want to do it with Gnuplot 4.0, a freely distributed plotting tool.

6. Common threads: Sed by example, Part 1

   That sound of thundering hooves from yesteryear is just a smart reminder to resharpen your stream-editing sed skills. After all, remember how well sed works for batch-editing files or for creating shell scripts to modify existing files? (See more in the Sed series.)

7. Inside the Linux boot process

   You start with the initial bootstrap and learn all the way to the beginning of your first user-space application. Unveil other Linux boot process topics such as boot loaders, kernel decompression, and the initial RAM disk. Come see why the flow of booting a Linux system is remarkably similar whether you're booting a standard x86 desktop or a deeply embedded PowerPC® target.

8. Scripting the Vim editor, Part 1: Variables, values, and expressions

   Vimscript, the mechanism for reshaping and extending the Vim editor, lets you create new tools, simplify common tasks, and even redesign and replace existing editor features. Part 1 of this series introduces examples of the fundamental components of the Vimscript programming language — values, variables, expressions, statements, functions, and commands. (See more in the Vimscript series.)

9. Linux tip: Bash test and comparison functions

   It's another all-bash month. This tip guides you through the maze of testing and comparison options in the bash shell by demystifying the various types of file, arithmetic, and string tests, providing you with the knowledge to know when to use test, [ ], [[ ]], (( )), or if-then-else constructs. (See more in the bash series; see all Linux tips on developerWorks.)

10. Scripting the Vim editor, Part 2: User-defined functions

    You saw number 8; now the second in this series demonstrates how user-defined functions can be essential to decomposing applications into correct and maintainable components. Learn how (and why) to build and deploy new functions in the Vimscript language. (See more in the Vimscript series.)

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1. LPI exam 101 prep, Topic 101: Hardware and architecture

   Learn to configure your system hardware with Linux. By the end of this tutorial, you will know how Linux configures the hardware found on a modern PC and where to look if you have problems. (See more LPI exam prep tutorials.)

2. LPI exam 101 prep, Topic 102: Linux installation and package management

   Learn how Linux uses disk partitions, how Linux boots, and how to install and manage software packages. (See more LPI exam prep tutorials.)

3. LPI exam 101 prep, Topic 103: GNU and UNIX commands

   Get an introduction to common GNU and UNIX commands. By the end of this tutorial, you will know how to use commands in the bash shell, including how to use text processing commands and filters, how to search files and directories, and how to manage processes. (See more LPI exam prep tutorials.)

4. Build an embedded Linux distro from scratch

   Learn to build a custom Linux distribution for use in an embedded environment. Plumb the depths of cross-compiling, the boot loader, file systems, the root file system, disk images, and the boot process, all provided with commentary to help you tie general information about these components to the decisions you'll make as you build the system and create the distribution.

5. Hardening the Linux server

   GNU/Linux servers are primary targets for attack (as are all servers), but by taking the right precautions, you can harden your server from intrusions. This tutorial (along with its desktop companion number 3 in this list) will demonstrate how to secure SSH sessions, configure firewall rules, and set up intrusion detection. Written by an IT security specialist. (See both Hardening tutorials.)

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