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Eric Raymond's FAQ collection

Hacker History And Culture

How To Become A Hacker

Because I maintain the Jargon File, I am often asked this question by eager network newbies.

A Brief History of Hackerdom

A companion document to "How To Become A Hacker". A historical overview of hacker culture and how it got that way.

So You Want To Be A Wizard? (The Loginataka)

A Dialogue between a Guru and a Newbie, including Much that is Good to Know concerning the Path to Wizardhood. Includes numerous references to books valuable to the aspirant. A single HTML file, easy to download.

Some people consider the Jargon File a huge hacker-culture FAQ.

Technical FAQs:

PC-Clone UNIX Hardware Buyer's Guide

The hacker's guide to putting together powerful UNIX machines from cheap PC-clone hardware. You can also download a text snapshot of the Guide. Note: this FAQ is out of date and is not likely to get a serious resynch with reality soon.

I maintain some Linux Documentation Project HOWTO documents:
The Linux Installation HOWTO
How to get and install Linux software. The first HOWTO every Linux novice must read.

The Linux Distributions HOWTO
A comparison-shopper's guide to the various Linux distributions. Includes summaries of features, prices, ordering information and contact addresses.

The XFree86 HOWTO
How to configure, install, and run XFree86 under Linux.

XFree86 Video Timings HOWTO
(Formerly The Hitchhiker's Guide to X386 Video Timings) Everything you always wanted to know about configuring video timings for XFree86.

Linux Reading List HOWTO
Your guide to essential book-length resources on Linux and Unix.

The Rampantly Unofficial Linus Torvalds FAQ
Everything you always wanted to know about Linus, but were afraid to ask.

The Unix and Internet Fundamentals HOWTO
An explanation of some Unix and Internet basics.

Software Release Practice HOWTO
A checklist of useful conventions to follow in shipping open-source software; also, tips on how to launch a successful open-source project.

Non-Technical FAQs I Maintain:

The Libertarianism FAQ

An introduction to the theory, practice, and consequences of libertarianism. A single HTML file, easy to download.

The Neopaganism FAQ

An introduction to neopaganism and Wicca. Developed independently of the alt.pagan FAQ. A plain text file, easy to download.

FAQs I Contribute To:

The Internet Access Provider FAQ

Everything you always wanted to know about running a small Internet Service Provider.

I am a credited contributor to Steve Summit's C FAQ. I have also contributed to the sci.skeptic FAQ.

FAQs I No Longer Maintain

PC-clone UNIX Software Buyer's Guide

(Final archival version) My FAQ on the various UNIXes now available for clone boxes. Mostly concerned with commercial versions; since I run Linux at home now, I don't maintain it any more, and it's not HTMLized. If you want to take this over, you're welcome to.

Known Bugs in the USL UNIX Distribution

(Final archival version) My attempt to keep USL honest. Since I run Linux at home now, I don't maintain it any more, and it's not HTMLized. If you want to take this FAQ over, you're welcome to.

The Telebit FAQ

(Final archival version) This FAQ was rendered mostly obsolete when Telebit incorporated much of it into the on-line documentation available from them.

The Java-On-Linux HOWTO

(Final archival version) How to get started using Java under Linux. Includes technical background, downloading information, tips, and solutions for common problems. This FAQ was withdrawn at the request of the Java-on-Linux project, which now maintains its own independently of the LDP.

Other Writings

You can go to an index of my other writings from here.


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Eric S. Raymond