Linux: The Ultimate Guide

306 Pages·2023·4.717 MB·English

by  Sufyan bin Uzayr

Linux
Linux is one of the most widely used operating systems. It was created to
provide a free or low-cost operating system for personal computer users.
Linus Torvalds published Linux on September 17, 1991, and it was writ-
ten in the C programming language. It has since earned a reputation for
being a high-performing and efficient system. This is a fairly comprehen-
sive operating system that includes a graphical user interface (GUI), TCP/
IP, the Emacs editor, and the X Window System, among other features.
Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Red Hat Linux, SUSE Linux, Gentoo, Kali
Linux, and Linux Mint are some of the finest Linux distributions. Linux is a
very popular operating system today because of features such as multiuser
operating system management, multitasking paradigm, multiprogram-
ming concepts, and virtual memory. Many corporations and individuals,
as well as firms such as Canonical, use Linux for their servers because of
security concerns and positive feedback from the user community. Linux
is also used in mobile devices, smart TVs, and so on.
Key Features:
• A step-by-step approach to problem solving and skill development
• A quick run-through of the basic concepts, in the form of a “crash
course”
• An advanced, hands-on core concepts, with a focus on real-world
problems
• An industry-level coding paradigm, practice-oriented explanatory
approach
• A special emphasis on writing clean and optimized code, with addi-
tional chapters focused on coding methodology

Linux
The Ultimate Guide
Sufyan bin Uzayr
First edition published 2023
by CRC Press
6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
and by CRC Press
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
© 2023 Sufyan bin Uzayr
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Bin Uzayr, Sufyan, author.
Title: Linux : the ultimate guide / Sufyan bin Uzayr.
Description: First edition. | Boca Raton : CRC Press, 2023. | Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2022025683 (print) | LCCN 2022025684 (ebook) | ISBN
9781032312255 (hardback) | ISBN 9781032312248 (paperback) | ISBN
9781003308676 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Linux. | Operating systems (Computers)
Classification: LCC QA76.774.L46 B56 2023 (print) | LCC QA76.774.L46
(ebook) | DDC 005.4/46--dc23/eng/20220920
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022025683
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022025684
ISBN: 9781032312255 (hbk)
ISBN: 9781032312248 (pbk)
ISBN: 9781003308676 (ebk)
DOI: 10.1201/9781003308676
Typeset in Minion
by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Chennai, India
Contents
Acknowledgments, xxv
Author, xxvii
Chapter 1 ◾ D esktop Environments for Linux 1
DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT INTRODUCTION 1
LINUX 2
Components of Linux Application 2
THE DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT IN LINUX 3
Graphical User Interface 3
Examples 4
Parts of the Graphical User Interface 6
Post-WIMP Interface 7
List of Graphical User Interface 7
STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS OF DE 7
Window 7
Thumbnails (icon) 8
Controls (or Widgets) 8
Tabs 9
Menu 9
OTHER COLLABORATIVE ELEMENTS 10
Cursor 10
Identifier 10
Input Point 10
Choice 10
v
vi ◾ Contents
Repair Handle 10
HISTORY OF DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT 11
Desktop Environment for the X Window System 11
X Window System 12
X Window System Software Architecture 12
User Interface 13
HISTORY OF X WINDOW SYSTEM 13
Competitors 14
X Window System 14
Examples of Desktop Environments 14
VARIOUS DESKTOP ENVIRONMENTS 15
Ambient 15
Features 15
Bugie Desktop 16
CDE 16
Cinnamon 16
Enlightenment 17
MATE 17
KDE Plasma 5 17
LXDE 17
CHAPTER SUMMARY 18
Chapter 2 ◾ KDE Plasma Desktop Environment 19
INTRODUCTION 19
What Is Distribution? 20
Open-Source Linux Desktop Environment 20
Free Software 20
Key Points 20
GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE 21
Features of Linux GUI 21
Features of a GUI 21
Benefits of GUI 22
Command-Line Interface 22
Terminal User Interface 23
Contents   ◾   vii
KDE PLASMA 23
Getting KDE Software 24
KDE HISTORY 24
KDE Projects 25
Various Parts of the KDE Platform 26
KDE CORE PROJECTS 27
Plasma Workspaces 27
Features 28
KWin – Window Manager 29
Accessibility 29
Appearance 29
Window Management 30
KHTML – HTML Rendering Engine, Installed on WebKit in
2004 30
KJS – JavaScript Engine 31
KIO – Expandable Network File Access 31
KParts – Frame Part of an Image within a Lightweight Process 32
XML GUI 32
Phonon – Multimedia Framework 32
Solid – Device Assembly Frame 32
Sonnet 33
ThreadWeaver 33
KDE APPLICATIONS 33
Editors 33
Education 33
Games 34
Photos 34
Theme-related Application Groups 35
Other Projects 35
System 36
KDE DEVELOPMENT 36
Source Code 36
License 36
Implementation 37
viii ◾ Contents
KDE VERSION HISTORY 37
K DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT 1 37
K Desktop Environment 1.0 38
K Desktop Environment 1.1 38
K DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT 2 39
Big Updates 39
DCOP Model 39
Default Environment 40
System Settings 41
Features 41
K Desktop Environment 2.0 42
Konqueror 42
Largely Supported Protocols 42
Konqueror User Interface 43
Konqueror Web Browser 43
K Desktop Environment 2.1 43
K Desktop Environment 2.2 43
K DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT 3 44
K Desktop Environment 3.0 44
K Desktop Environment 3.1 44
K Desktop Environment 3.2 45
NEW APPLICATIONS INSTALLED 45
JukeBox 45
Kopete 46
Features 46
KWallet 47
Kontact 47
Other KDE Applications 47
K Desktop Environment 3.3 47
New Applications Included 47
K Desktop Environment 3.4 48
K Desktop Environment 3.5 48
The Trinity Desktop Environment 48
KDE SOFTWARE COMPILATION 4 (KDE SC 4) 49
Contents   ◾   ix
KDE 4.0 49
Release 50
Major Updates of KDE 4 50
Pre-releases 51
KDE 4.1 52
KDE 4.2 52
KDE Workspace Improvements 52
KDE 4.3 53
KDE SC 4.4 53
KDE SC 4.5 54
KDE SC 4.6 54
KDE SC 4.7 54
KDE SC 4.8 54
Plasma Workspaces 54
Applications 55
KDE SC 4.9 55
KDE SC 4.10 55
KDE SC 4.11 55
KDE SC 4.12 55
KDE SC 4.13 55
KDE SC 4.14 55
KDE PLASMA 5 56
Software Architecture 56
Development 56
Workspaces 56
Desktop Features 57
LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS USING PLASMA 58
History 58
Releases 59
KDE 5.0 59
KDE Plasma 5.1 59
Changes Made in the Plasma 5.1 Version 60
Visual 60
New and Old Features 60