[burnsey]

i'm soon to be switcher (waiting for the new pb), check most of these forums everday. i spend a lot of time in my school's library reading all the panther books. i don't really want to buy one seeing how they will soon become obselete.

so my question is, whats the best beginning unix book out there? unix isn't changing nearly as quickly as os x, and i figured if i really want to learn the operating system, i need to know unix, and it will especially help with upcoming classes. i'm a biomed engineering major, and i'd really like to develop for mac.

any suggestions are greatly appreciated

[PBG4 User]

If you're looking to learn the BSD underpinnings as it relates to OS X coding, then you should take a look at Core Mac OS X and UNIX Programming from http://www.bignerdranch.com/products/core.shtml:




Also, you can google for *NIX tutorials. They are everywhere online. Probably every college with a CS major has some kind of *NIX tutorial.

[Gavin]

The best book is the one whose style you like. Totally subjective.

The only real way to learn something is to do it.

Set up a project and go for it.

You could set up a database driven web site with a virtual host and something that involves hooking up with a command line tool like graphics manipulation using image magick. That will mean adding a user to the system, compiling software, networking, server configuration, reading the fm, etc. And there are lots of people doing the same thing so you can find plenty of help if you get stuck.

Better yet, install X Windows and do it all in gnome.

for programming check this site out:
stepwise.com

they have lots of articles and tutorials.