What You Will Not Learn

---

After you've been using your Linux-based system for a while, you'll inevitably encounter something that this book doesn't prepare you for. (For example, you may want to install TrueType fonts on a Slackware Linux system, which is not explicitly discussed in this book.) There is, of course, no way for a single book to cover every possible scenario; however, we all know that up-front. For that reason, this book doesn't focus on being an encyclopedic reference (which I've already said), but instead tries to provide you with the basic skills you need to be self-sufficient. So, when you encounter your next thorny obstacle, draw on the general techniques and approaches in this book, rather than specific examples. With this knowledge and a little experience, you'll master your system in no time!

Here's a bit of advice, though. Some people say that it's better to know what every tool in your toolbox is used for, rather than mastering just a few; you can learn what you need to know about each tool as you need to know it. Each Linux system has its own toolbox of software, patterns, and techniques for doing things, and so it helps to know this toolbox well. (For example, Red Hat's chkconfig and service tools, which are discussed in Chapter 4, are very convenient, but if you don't know about them you'll never use them.)

In other words, it pays to know your distribution; know what tools are provided and what they do. That's really the guiding philosophy of this book: Know your toolbox. The most important thing you can do is have is the courage to explore your tools and your Linux system!

---