The Linux Documentation Project (LDP) is working on developing good, reliable documentation for the Linux operating system. The overall goal of the LDP is to collaborate in taking care of all of the issues of Linux documentation, ranging from online documentation (man pages, HTML, and so on) to printed manuals covering topics such as installing, using, and running Linux. Here is the Linux Documentation Project Manifesto and Copyright License for LDP works.
For translations of LDP works and documentation in languages other English, have a look at the !english links.
You can search the LDP documents with various search engines on the Search page.
Linux Documentation Project Guides:
Installation and Getting Started Guide, version
3.2 by Matt Welsh and others,
is available in HTML, HTML (tarred and gzipped, 840k),
HTML (zipped), DVI, LaTeX source, PDF (gzipped or zipped), and
PostScript (gzipped or zipped).
The Linux Kernel, version 0.8-3 by David A. Rusling is available in HTML, HTML (tarred and gzipped, 392k), DVI, LaTeX source, and PostScript.
The kernel is at the heart of the operating system. This book is a guide to how the kernel fits together, how it works; a tour of the kernel.
The Linux Kernel Module Programming Guide,
version 1.1.0 by Ori Pomerantz
is available in HTML, HTML (tarred and gzipped, 66k),
DVI, LaTeX source, PDF, and PostScript. Example
source code is also available.
This document is for people who want to write kernel modules.
The Linux Kernel Hackers' Guide, by Michael K. Johnson,
an archived instance of this document complete with discussion
threads (no posting or replying however) is available in
HTML, HTML (tarred and gzipped, 468k).
This guide supplements the System Administrators' Guide and cover all of the diverse issues of networking under Linux, from UUCP to serial connections to TCP/IP. Many Linux users won't have access to such a network, so this information is in a separate manual. It contains an intro to TCP/IP and UUCP (for those who have never used such networks before, lots of background information), TCP/IP, UUCP, SLIP, and DNS configuration, configuration of mail systems such as sendmail and Smail, setting up NNTP and news, and NFS.
The Linux Programmer's Guide, version 0.4 by B. Scott Burkett, Sven Goldt, John D. Harper, Sven van der Meer and Matt Welsh, is available in HTML, HTML (tarred and gzipped, 140k), DVI, LaTeX source, PDF and PostScript. Example source code is also available.
The Linux System Administrators' Guide, version
0.6.1 by Lars Wirzenius,
is available in HTML, HTML (tarred and gzipped, 128k),
LaTeX source, PDF, and PostScript.
Also visit the System Administrators' Guide Homepage.
This is the third book in the main LDP series, and assumes knowledge of everything in the Installation and Users' Guides. It will cover all of the aspects of keeping the system running, handling user accounts, backups, configuration of the system, installing and upgrading software, and more. Whereas some of this information is in the Installation Guide (just to get the system off the ground) this book should be much more complete.
The Linux Users' Guide, version beta-1 by Larry
Greenfield,
is available in
DVI, LaTeX source, PDF (gzipped or zipped), and PostScript (gzipped
or zipped).
This book covers all of the user-end aspects of Linux, from sitting down at the first login session to using complex tools such as gcc, emacs, and so on. It assumes no previous Unix experience, so not only will it serve as an introduction to Linux, but to Unix in general as well. This manual won't cover system administrator tasks (i.e. anything that needs to be done as root) - it's for the J. Random User who has a working Linux system sitting in front of them.
The Linux HOWTOs and mini-HOWTOs are detailed "how to" documents on specific subjects. The HOWTO INDEX lists all HOWTOs and mini-HOWTOs along with short descriptions. The HOWTOs are written in SGML, and translated to different output formats using SGML-Tools. Join the LDP Announcements List for news on HOWTO updates.
You can get HOWTOs in:
The mini-HOWTOs are available in:
There are also a few special HOWTOs which are available in HTML only.
Things provided by other people:
The Linux man Pages (version 1.24) for sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 9 are available here (with some translations). Section 1 and 8 man pages (i.e., user commands) are available with the corresponding software packages. You can also get the latest man pages information, including links to translations. You can email Andries Brouwer (aeb@cwi.nl) if you would like to help with, or have comments on the man pages.
Various FAQs can be found in HTML , plain text, DVI, and PostScript , including the Linux FAQ .
Linux Gazette Issue 43 (July) , an online magazine providing many Linux tips and tricks. You can get back issues as well.