Linux for Makers: Understanding the Operating System That Runs Raspberry Pi and Other Maker SBCs

by Aaron Newcomb

Linux is a powerful open-source operating system that has been around for many years and is widely used for running servers and websites. But most students and Makers encounter it for the first time when they are working on projects with their Raspberry Pi or similar single-board computers (SBCs) such as BeagleBone Black or Intel Galileo. Linux for Makers is the first book that explains the Linux operating system specifically for Makers, as opposed to programmers and administrators. By gaining a deeper understanding of Linux, Makers can add another useful tool to their kit that will help them build their projects more easily. Written with the Maker in mind, this book will focus mostly on Rasbian running on the Raspberry Pi as it is the most prolific in the ecosystem today. However most of the topics covered will apply broadly to other Linux distributions and will be called out when they may differ. Many times users cut and paste from a website tutorial into the Linux command line without understanding what they are actually doing only to be frustrated when they want to modify or tweak something to suit their needs. Also, many Makers shy away from using the Raspberry Pi or similar board because they feel Linux is too foreign and they think using a command line will be more difficult than using a GUI. This book aims to overcome those fears and provide a foundation for further learning and exploration. To that end, this book will focus on the basic principles that a Maker would need to know as opposed to other resources that go into detail that is not particularly relevant to building projects.

Genres: Technology

263 pages, Paperback

Published April 28, 2017

Reviews

[American Mensa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Linux OS is a free and easy to manipulate code system used on devices such as the Raspberry Pi (the computer, not the pastry), Arduino’s, and more. One of the greatest benefits of Linux is that it can be customized very easily. However, this comes with the downside of leaving nearly all aspects of the code to the user, which can be very confusing. Make: Linux for Makers attempts to ease the confusion while showing the power of the Linux kernel. I started this book with effectively no prior knowledge about Linux. The book was able to explain Linux to me in a way that even a novice could understand. Furthermore, the book is very, very helpful for setting up the Raspberry Pi, which can be confusing since by default the Pi uses settings based from the UK. From here, it provides recommendations and alternatives to many different software packages. One that was especially useful was the desktop, which does not come by default. I personally chose Raspbian for my desktop, though the book explains that, while useful, the desktop is often times simply a waste of resources. The book showcases many of the shortcuts developers have added to Linux over the years, such as: sudo apt-get upgrade, which updates all software to the current version. A major benefit of Linux is that it can be modified in pretty much any way you want. Want to play mp3’s? Done. Want to control a separate computer? There’s a module for that. Games? It has those too! This book is especially helpful since Linux can be daunting to those who don’t have experience with this system. You are dropped into a black screen with nothing but an empty line at first, and must build it from there. The terminal is the command center of Linux and with this book you can unleash its full potential! However, the book does have a few flaws. It does not explain how to set up the software after the download, how to connect the raspberry pi to a computer, or what hardware you will need. Thankfully, the internet has easy tutorials for each of these, so I feel these errors can be easily forgiven. Overall, if you have been avoiding trying a Raspberry Pi just because of Linux, this book will teach you how to tame and control this powerful system. The writer of the book has also made a Raspberry Pi emulator for those who want a kind of “trial version” of the Raspberry Pi on the internet. If you are still not sure about the Raspberry Pi, you should try it out! I give this book 5 binary stars!
Reviewed by Zander H., age 15, Gulf Coast Mensa

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for those who either currently run (or plan to run) a raspberry pi, especially if you're new to the whole DIY target market. If you're an experienced unix/linux user, you can basically skip the first 6 chapters, and skim over chapter 7 for some tips and tricks you may not have known about raspberry pi and raspbian os. The rest of the book is a pretty good primer on what you can do with the pi, and how to do it, which is something a lot of folks want to know, especially when it comes down to how can I use the pi to accomplish things. Ifyou're in that group, then I highly suggest this book as an information source, since it covers a lot of ground, and handles most topics with plenty of information. The GPIO pins chapter fails to mention tools built-in to the os for programming and testing the GPIO pins, but that's really the only major oversight I found in the book, it was otherwise very well done, and would be a great resource to anyone working with the pi on an ongoing basis, or someone who is just curious and wants to learn more about what it can do for them.

[John Haworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great intro for understanding the operation of Raspberry Pi’s and how the operating system works. Most examples assume little prior knowledge and do a good job of walking the reader through the examples. A few of the examples did not function correctly either due to a change in the reference or a change in the steps required for an operation. Highly recommend for those looking to get deeper into the Raspberry Pi.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid introduction to linux on raspberry pi. It is sometimes tricky with books like this because some of the examples may not use the links that they did at the time of publication, but most of the examples ported relatively painlessly. There are times later in the book that I wanted more information on why I would type the command I did, but that would make the book unwieldy.

[Don Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quick read and chock full of great scripts and ideas to try on your Raspberry Pi. It's also a great introductory text for Linux in general.