FTLinuxCourse: The Project ... now Complete!

by Dr. Giovanni A. Orlando
 

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible"
                                                                                                        -- Walt Disney

                                                                            "A work of art is never finished, only abandoned"
                                                                                                         -- Anonymous

                                                                                                "Doumentation is like sex:
                                                                                         when is good, it is very very good,
                                                                                and when it is bad, it is better than nothing"
                                                                                                       -- Dick Brandon

                                                                      "If one studies too zealously, one easily loses his pants"
                                                                                                       -- Albert Einstein
 

                                                                        "The secret to success in life is to make your vocation
                                                                                                        your vacation."
                                                                                                         -- Mark Twain

... Just a long way!


After more than seven years from its first designing days and with a sucessfully classification between Penguin-Playoffs Finalist at Comdex Fall 1999, the "FTLinuxCourse" project is now complete. The product as the market knows in these years, is a Web-based Linux Training Course. It is used as training reference in different colleges and training facilities in the US and the rest of the world.

Historically, the product become available in italian for the Italian market covering Caldera in Dec 1998. Then, was introduced in the US, at LinuxWorldExpo 1999  in San Jose - Silicon Valley. The same year the product enter in LinuxMall.com and other channels. Future Technologies introduce the spanish version at LinuxExpo Madrid in 2000, as result the product become available in Spain and Mexico. For the french market the product was introduced in LinuxExpo Paris - Jan 2000, and for the german market with some advertising in german computer magazines (iX).

Basically, never in UNIX/Linux history a similar and complete training product had been released. "FTLinuxCourse Complete" resume all the Linux subjects ... all. Here we explain how we cover all these "dynamic" subjects, organized in six courses.
 

Introduction

FTLinuxCourse ideas start from my first days in ®UNIX, working on a Sun Sparcstation 1+, in 1989, as a Motif programmer. Honestly, the idea weak up in 1991, when I design a security system to grant/deny access to users using shared memory. Was really in those days when I interact and work with about five different UNIX OS, everyday: IBM AIX, Digital Ultrix, UNIX Interactive, HP UX, that I get the idea to capture all the UNIX topics in a single product.

Everyone that I comment that idea, said that was impossible, but for someone that enter in a Mathematics faculty at sixteen, was probably a little more easy.

Without to explain that Linux changes everyday and the changes basically does not respect any standard, but are a mere "developer" implementation, the level of difficulty is still more complicated.  Of course some Linux componets are developed by companies, like for example, Troll Qt in Norway. But, also in this case releases are available frequently, and neither in this case the documentation is effective to support and understand, the latest versions.

So, neither serious and professional companies have time to offer "fresh and updated" documentation for its software.

Probably the reason for this fact, is that generally programmers like to write software, while they generally does not like to write documentation about the software they writes or develop. In Linux and Opensource, this imcompletness, may create a jungle of "excellent" software where no ones may knows or take advantage, and while the word "Certification" sounds strange.

While, on Microsoft world, is a single company to fix rules and behaviour, in Linux  ... "Certification" is equivalent to capture a wave in a bottle.

FTLinuxCourse, is probably this bottle. In an incredible effort, what takes about seven years, me, realize an order for all Linux subjects in a sistematic and organized form.

This effort, that is a product, is fundamental for the Linux Operating system, because is clear that people likes "liberty" to develop and use, and also to changes software as they prefer.

This document describe, how I encapsulate all the Linux subjects, in a well organized order, in 100 chapters in six courses: Base, WebMaster, X Window, Networking, System Administration and Programming.

At first, Linux is not a new Operating System, but simply a modern UNIX implementation. Therefore, Linux is basically UNIX, where compilers and Utilities are the same.

The first primary difference is the kernel. Both kernels are coded in C, but while UNIX kernel includes a semi-sophisticated and closed approach, the Linux kernel offers a new approach, basically invented by Mr. Linus Torvalds, studiyng the MINIX flavor. This is an incredible effort, fundamental in the OpenSource software chain always available for free, where the GNU Utilities, TeX, X Window System are components and the kernel is the conclusive link.

Therefore, UNIX is the subject. UNIX is not new. Companies like IBM, HP, Digital (then Compaq and now HP) and Silicon Graphics use UNIX for long time. As you probably remember, Jurasic Park, the movie was realized using Silicon Graphics on IRIX a AT & T UNIX implementation.

Linux, is also an incredible release of excellent projects, some called with strange names like: SAMBA (The possibility to access MS Windows System from Linux and share resource each other, like printer and disks), KDE (The incredible Graphical interface based on Troll Qt), PHP, a modern mode to access Database from HTML pages, SANE, the standard mode to scan documents on Linux systems, etc.

Of course all these subjects changes almost everyday. Consider, for example the following standards:

and also: While, was probably a "blasphemy" in 1991, comment the possibility to run an Operating System binary, like DOS, or MS Windows inside UNIX, like Prof. Babaoglu, comment to me in those days, today thanks to Linux, these and other features are quite simple.
 

How FTLinuxCourse covers ALL subjects.

As introduced, all these subject are probably more biological (because they have its own life) than about software and computer science. They changes daily.

How we can capture in a single project all these subjects?

The question is really interesting, but not new. Large ammount of information may be handled in different modes. Me, before to found my company, works covering almost all the possible figures in an IT department: C Programmer, X Window programmer, sales manager, professor, manager for technical support, etc.

If you know something, you simply answer immediately. If you don't know because is new, you need to investigate (there are a lot of adjectives instead of "investigate" ... to "hack" is a valid choice).

The mode I approach to "investigate" is to formulate questions and answer it.

Note the following figure.

Now become clear to explain, how I wrote a chapter, like "how to develop graphical applications, with Qt 3.0.4, that is a graphical front-end to a MySQL Database". This is the result, that we call Chapter X12. KDE Rapid Application Development, in FTLinuxCourse Complete. X stand for X Window Course, and 12, means chapter 12.

Probably the reader, does not know that version Qt 3.0.3, crash if you try to use the Database dialogs in the Qt designer; neither that the Troll Qt manual about this matter is a simple (and incomplete page), nor that the updated page at Troll website, solve or offer sufficient document or guidelines to write applications with these source.

Without to comment that Qt 3.0.4 was released by Troll, on May 2, and that generally we work with RPM SPEC files, we can formulate the following question?

How will be possible to control more than 1,000 Linux subjects ?

The answer is always the same, formulating questions for the minimal or normal level, answer it and develop a fresh training.

Because well organized in chapters, with Internet links, because written in HTML, FTLinuxCourse is an incredible product and source for "what is necessary to know, to work, or what is necessary to know to use and develop in Linux" today.

At the end of each chapter, we offers the original and new questions, used in the design of the chapter, as well links to the original source in the Web.

Another excellent FTLinuxCourse consequence, is that the product offers a clear strategy to "survive" in the daily release of innovative software.

Again, because changes from version PHP 3.0 to PHP 4.1, or KDE 2.X to KDE 3.0, are not radical. Someone that knows or capture a software version, generally is capable to update byself to the next version. FTLinuxCourse however, includes an update to all subjects, about 1,000 subjects.

Therefore, in this mode, FTLinuxCourse encapsulate all Linux subjects.

All subjects organized in six courses

Following my experience in computers, I realize that the better mode to organize a similar project is to write the material in function of the company figure that will use.

And, so from its first public announce in 1998, the product was announced in a Linux Journal ad, it presents the following organization:
 

Now we will describe shortly each course.
 
BASE WebMaster
From 1998 ... until 2002

The BASE course is a step-to-step training product to know Linux from a Basic point of view.

The BASE product from 1998 to 2000, was develop to offer training on Caldera, SuSE, RedHat and Linux PPC, in english, italian, french, german and spanish. Actually we offers the product only in US English. Non-English will be supported as soon the market in that country generate a sufficient request.

The course starts from simple question like "What is Linux ?" and then start the travel "from the graphical Installation" step-by-step to the X Window System, the Graphical Interfaces, the Multi-User, etc.

The main goal of FTLinuxCourse BASE is to offers an introduction to new Linux customers about the Linux power. It also is a reference for daily use.


Originally the course includes only 20 chapters (1998), actually it includes 30 chapters supporting also Database, Linux Multimedia, how to use Linux at home, etc.

The course has been written in a simple, clear and orthodox manner. Every chapter explains a particular subject. At the beginning of each chapter we include a list of the rpm packages that the chapter will be covered in the chapter.

At the end of each chapter some exercises and questions for tests are included. All the the answers are listed in Appendix P.

At the end of each chapter there is a list of links to get full advantage of the latest enhanced for the topics covered in the book.

The BASE course includes the following software and commercial demos:

From 2002, was introduced a new section called: FTeBooks.


This new educational component, includes more than 10 books, that other authors offers for free.

We can list the following titles:


The BASE course is a complete tour on Linux that shows all the flavors and components.

To know more about the BASE course you can read the Index: BASE
 

WebMaster

The WebMaster course covers all the necessary background that any WebMaster must know. It covers not only WebServer installation and service configuartion like Apache, DNS, sendmail and others, but also programming languages like HTML, PHP, MySQL, PERL, CCS, etc.

We list here some components covered by WebMaster Course:

All the FTLinuxCourses includes full source and material for any programming language covered: PERL, PHP, JavaScript, etc.

We present here an example on PHP:

To know more about the WebMaster course you can read the Index: WebMasters
 
 
 

X Window System

The X-Window Course: Use and Programming is a millestone in the training and documentation for Computer Sciences, covering all the historical components in the X Window System: X, twm, mwm, CDE, KDE ... and teaching how to customize or to get these results using development inC or C++.

We here list the most important elements and notions we can read.

Of course, all the source is included. For example, the next figure presents a graphical front-end to a MySQL database.
 

 
FTLinuxCourse covers about eight directories that offers a tour on the development, from the Database design back-end, up to the graphical design using Qt designer as well C++ code to get the right results.

... and of course all the source for C development with Xt, Xlib, Motif, GNOME and Qt, or Tcl/Tk is included in the product.

To know more about the X-Window course you can read the Index: X Window System

Programming

The Programming course is a jewel in semplicity and effectiveness.

Do you suppose that a normal person may become a "Super" Programming, with a sufficient know-how in C, C++, Python, FORTRAN and Network Programming in about 10 days ?

FTLinuxCourse for Programmers covers all these topics and more. Not only the previous programming language are covered but also RPM package development.

Here we list some of the important topics that will be resolved:

Note how to debug programs with xxgdb.


If you want to know more about the course you can read the Index: Programming

System Integrator

The System Integrator course is a complete reference and guide to integrate Linux with other Operating Systems, locally.

We here list the most important results and taks we can cover:
 

It covers past "inetd" configutation files as well modern system, like "xinted". Automatic FTP without to use external programs, etc are explained.

All configuration files, like ".netrc" or "xinetd.conf" configuration are included.

We present here for example a mode to browse MS Windows from a Linux box.
 



All mode to integrate more than five operating system and share disks and printers are covered.

If you want to know more about the course you can read the Index: System Integrator
 
 
 

System Administrator

The System Administrator course is dedicated to System Administrators.

Every chapter is a jewel on clarity, semplicity and effectiveness.

This course includes only 10 Chapters, that we list here:

The System Administrator course is equivalent to about 20 books on System Administration techniques and tools, including the excellent and millenary Expect book by Don Libes or the Tcl Programming Language by John Ousterhout, as well as 10 books or guides on Shell Programming that may ever read.

Also an elementary approach to develop your own kernel module is included.

Here we present the interaction between the user "root" and the user "orlando" using the Expect program called: "kibitz".
 

This is the situation after both users log on 
Here the "root" users contact the user orlando, for a dialogue. Note the message that the user orlando launch and the message that the user orlando receive.
The user orlando, accept to speak and the dialogue is open.
... the dialogue is open ... and any character each users write will appears on the other scree ... including "\n" until the user that open the session close its session.

If you want to know more about the course you can read the Index: System Administration
 
 

Some statistics

BASE
WebMaster
X Window System
Programming
System Integrator
System Administrator
Base
WebMaster
X Window
Programming
 Networking
System Administrator
  • 30 Chapters
  • 330 Question with answer, listed at the end of any chapter.
  • 25 Interactive Exam Cram (250 Quiz)
  • 26 Appendixs
  • Appendi T includes 50 Test with more than 500 questions with answers for a toral of more than 700 questions with answer.
  • 22 Chapters
  • 230 Questions with answer
  • 15 Exam Cram (150 Quiz)
  • 7 Appendixs
  • 16 Chapters
  • 320 Question with answer, listed at the end of any chapter.
  • 15 Exam Cram (15 Quiz)
  • 12 Chapters
  • 301 Question with answer, listed at the end of any chapter.
  • 15 Exams Cram (150 Quiz)
  • 10 Chapters
  • 200 Questions with answer, listed at the end of any chapter.
  • 15 Exams Cram (150 Quiz)
  • 10 Chapters
  • 300 Question with answer, listed at the end of any chapter.
  • 15 Exams Cram (150 Quiz)

Complete Courses:

On thePress

Basically everyone loves FTLinuxCourse ... in any place.

We here list some articles speaking about it:

WebSites and On-Site Certification

Future Technologies dedicate an entire Website for this project: http://www.FTLinuxCourse.com, as well as a Website for Linux Certification: http://www.LinuxWebCampus.com/

Actually, Future Technologies offer certification only person-to-person, with its On-Site Certification program. Future Technologies start to reclute companies that one to become a LinuxWebCampus Academy Center.
 


© FTLinuxCourse, the penguin with the blackboard, Future Technologies are trademark by Future Technologies Inc.
Microsoft, UNIX and other are trademark by its respective owners.