Annual Linux Showcase offers up free training for Linux newbies

Anyone who has ever helped a friend install Linux has probably heard these words: “Thanks! Now what?” The Fifth Annual Linux Showcase and Conference has experts on hand to answer that question, and tapping the font of wisdom won’t set you back a single penny.
ALS organizers decreed that admission to this year’s event should be free of charge. While the pay-to-play tutorials have been going on since Monday, the free technical sessions and exhibitions start Thursday morning and run through Saturday afternoon.

There are two free hands-on introductory Linux classes being offered this year. The first half of the all-day session focuses on the basic commands anyone will need to know in order to find their way around Linux from the command line. The second class gets graphical, showing newcomers how to configure and use the X Window System.

The classes cover areas of Linux that newcomers have the most questions about, but it’s likely that more help will be available outside of the available topics. As USENIX tutorial coordinator Dan Klein mentioned earlier, the community aspect of ALS makes it easy to find additional help from spontaneous “hall talks” before and after presentations.

Linux in Action classes take place on Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Although the sessions are free, class size is limited, so it’s first come, first served.

The Fifth Annual Linux Showcase and Conference is taking place through this Saturday at the Marriott City Center at 1001 Broadway in Oakland, Calif. Registration is free.

BART is probably the easiest way to get to the conference from most Bay Area locations. Exit at 12th St. Oakland City Center station; walk one block to 11th Street and Broadway.

NewsForge parent OSDN is a major sponsor of the Fifth Annual Linux Showcase and Conference.