Chapter 3: Interface Basics

Overview

Using Linux has become an almost intuitive process, with easy-to-use interfaces like graphical logins and graphical user interfaces (GUIs) like GNOME and KDE. Even the standard Linux command line interface has become more user-friendly with editable commands, history lists, and cursor-based tools. To start using Linux, you have to know how to access your Linux system and, once you are on the system, how to execute commands and run applications. Access is supported through either the default graphical login or a command line login. For the graphical login, a simple window appears with menus for selecting login options and text boxes for entering your username and password. Once you access your system, you can then interact with it using either a command line interface or a graphical user interface (GUI). With GUI interfaces like GNOME and KDE, you can use windows, menus, and icons to interact with your system. Red Hat has integrated the look and feel of both to provide one standard GUI interface called Bluecurve, making their use less confusing.

Linux is noted for providing easy access to extensive help documentation. It's easy to obtain information quickly about any Linux command and utility while logged in to the system. You can access an online manual that describes each command or obtain help that provides more detailed explanations of different Linux features. A complete set of manuals provided by the Linux Documentation Project is on your system and available for you to browse through or print. Both the GNOME and KDE desktops provide help systems that give you easy access to desktop, system, and application help files.

Tip

The Red Hat Linux Getting Started Guide provides a detailed tutorial on using your Red Hat Linux system for the first time. Check the Reference, Customization, and Security guides for specialized tasks.