Hello Ravi:
If you can help it, don't buy a new PC.
An old Pentium PC that is lying around or you can borrow from somebody will be
quite helpful.
Get yourself a nice keyboard and mouse if you don't have one, else finger's
hurt.
The best way to learn about Linux is to -
. try out stuff
. play with hardware
. manually adding settings for cards
. Learn about bash and various commmand line tools
. When installing Linux distro, click the [ ] minimal OS configuration button
. try to answer questions on the list and importantly ask questions.
(somehow the acknowledgement of not knowing a concept spurs learning faster).
Usually people who want to learn Linux fall into two categories -
a. POP
those who want to show that they know or heardof so and so tool, library
etc.
You know what, I betcha' Jython is so cool, my friend programs in it,
and I wear Penguin T-Shirt from the last event. See !
Fights opinion wars on mailing list.
b. TOP
those who want to understand the system.
I have reconfigured the device by correcting the IRQ settings.
I am trying to understand how signals get delivered to a process.
How to define listener's in JavaScript 7.
How does X damage extension work ? Can I optimize it ? Let me see.
Helps others understand the system and keep opinions to themselves.
To start in kernel programming, it is important to realize that all stuff
can neither be processed nor appreciated in a semester like mode.
If you are keen on external devices eg. USB device,
study about USB, the kernel interfaces, the underlying structure etc.
to gain a first hand understanding of the current thought and implementation.
If you are keen on network programming,
study the net_device, sk_buff etc. structures and also how they fit in the
context of the kernel proper.
If you are keen on device drivers,
study the serial interface (/dev/ttyS?) characteristics, line discipline,
the corresponding source code which maps the concept from a specification
to live code. Investigate terminfo, termcap, tty closely.
You must know what you would like to accomplish !
To build skills in kernel Programming, a discipline approach incorporating
. serious study
. persistent debugging of code
. conscious to attempt to read kernel source code is MUST.
If you think that you know all of the above, then consider joining
the kernel janitor's project. You get to analyze a lot of issues and do bug
fixes.
While working you can potentially pick on many valuable nuggets of info.
In the final analysis, if you don't have a machine as yet :-),
then just pick up the various pieces -
Intel P4 2.66GHz,
Intel D101 GGC Board,
1GB DDR2 Transcend
Seagate 80Gb (or 160Gb) IDE HDD
Realtek/Intel NIC,
standard PS/2 mouse
keyboard.
15" monitor
Sturdy iBox chassis with SMPS Powersupply
X cross screw driver
basic screw driver
Spike Guard
Take all this stuff your place of stay and try to assemble it !
The fun begins ...
Hope this helps.
thanks
Saifi.
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