I have compiled a list of what I believe to be the best web resources for the Linux operating system. I have used all of these sites, or projects from these sites, over the years in my Linux ventures and continue to use some of them on daily basis.
Best Application Site:
http://www.freshmeat.net
Freshmeat is the webs largest index of Unix/Linux related software. There are a ton of Linux application sites out there, but nothing as well established as Freshmeat. There are also a good deal of articles on software applications and book reviews that I enjoy reading from time to time. If your looking for a software application for your Linux desktop, server, or router, chances are it is listed on Freshmeat.
Best Linux Chat Community:
http://www.freenode.net
Freenode is a IRC (Internet Relay Chat) server that hosts a ton of open source and Linux communities. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of help channels related to anything and everything Linux and open source. I can not stress how many times I have had a question and been able to hop on IRC and ask a chat room full of Linux geeks, while actually receiving a straightforward answer.
Best Linux Development Site:
http://www.sourceforge.net
Source Forge is the largest open source software development site on the web. Freshmeat, mentioned above, usually links to the Source Forge page of the application you are searching for. Open Source developers all around the world use Source Forge to host their applications and source code free of charge. If you are a open source software developer, Source Forge is a vital asset to you and your application.
Best Linux Document Site:
http://www.tldp.org
The Linux Documentation Project is a great resource for HOWTO’s, in-depth books, man pages, and frequently asked questions. Usually, if I have questions on a particular subject in Linux, the first thing I do is visit TLDP and search for any guides and HOWTOs.
Best Linux Help Site:
http://www.linuxquestions.org
LinuxQuestions is a very valuable resource for newbies and long time Linux users. There are thousands of users that hang around the forums waiting to answer questions and help users in the Linux community. I have received a handful of answers from this site over the years as well as given back to the site by helping users that have questions. After all, thats what makes a community strong.
Best Linux Laptop Help Site:
http://www.linux-laptop.net/
If you have a laptop, and you run the Linux operating system on that laptop, you should be visiting the Linux Laptop web site. There are thousands of entries from users that have documented their experiences setting up and running Linux on their laptop. There are categories for just about every laptop out there, so if you are having issues getting Linux running smoothly on your laptop, this site should be your first stop. I also like to check out this site before I purchase a laptop to make sure I won’t run into any compatibility issues when installing Linux.
Best Linux Security Mailing List:
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/91
Security Focus has a mailing list that focuses strictly on Linux. I recommend subscribing to this list and taking part in the discussions. There are a ton of highly intelligent users that subscribe to this list, and if you have any security related questions, this should be one of the places you ask.
Best Linux Mailing List(s):
http://www.linux.org/docs/lists.html
There are a ton of Linux specific mailing lists out there, and it all really depends on your distribution of choice which determines the best. So instead of choosing a best, here is a link of a list of popular mailing lists that Linux.org put together.
Best Linux Publication:
http://www.linuxjournal.com
I’ve been a Linux Journal subscriber for quiet some time, and their articles have always taught me something. The subscription cost is fairly cheap for the quality of content, so I would recommend subscribing and reading what the columnist have to say. There hasn’t been a monthly release yet where I haven’t learned something new in the Linux world.
Best Linux Radio Show:
http://www.tllts.org/
The guys over at The Linux Link Tech Show do an excellent job every week interviewing popular figures in the Linux community, discussing hot topics and explaining new trends. I recommend that every Linux enthusiast listen to this show, as I have learned a lot from TLLTS.
Best Linux Search Engine:
http://www.google.com/linux
Of course Google is the best search engine! Not many people are aware that Google offers a Linux specific search. So go check it out!
Best Linux Security Site:
http://www.securityfocus.com/unix
Security Focus is a great resource all-around. I use the RSS feeds to stay up to date on the security vulnerabilities in Linux as well as the frequent, in depth articles that are published by the security experts. You can find just about anything related to Linux security on this web site.
Best Linux User Group:
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.os.linux
This user group is a great resource for asking questions and learning about other users experiences. The archive dates back pretty far and it’s run by Google, so you already know that you’ll be able to search for topics of interest without any problems.
If you have anything you wish to contribute please feel free to leave a comment. Again, these are in my opinion the best resources on the web for the Linux operating system only because I myself have used them time and time again. If there are resources out there that I left out and you find yourself using time and time again, please let me know, I’m interested in checking them out!
