Glossary and Links

Just add a term (or one you wish explained) in alphabetical order please

ash The simplified bash shell Puppy uses from BusyBox. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BusyBox∞ http://www.busybox.net/∞
bash The GNU bash shell used by default in Puppy Linux 1.0.5 and 1.0.6.

BASIC ProgrammingLanguage
Bash
BIOS
Bootloader - when you start ('boot') your computer, a bootloader will let you choose which operating system you want to use.
Buffer

Command line
Command line prompt
CPU - Central Processing Unit. The main chip in your computer, by Intel, AMD, PowerPC etc.

cramfs FileSystem Special compressed read-only?

Directory/filesystem tree
Disc Wipe
Download Manager
Driver - a piece of software that allows your operating system and hardware to work together. You need one for each piece of equipment inside or connected to your computer. Puppy comes with many drivers already.
Dual boot - Having more than one operating system installed on your computer, e.g. Windows AND Puppy.

ext2 FileSystem Default partition type used by Puppy
ext3 FileSystem More advanced version of ext2. (how?) Journalling. (what is it??)

FAT16
FAT32 - File system used by Windows 98; files on a FAT32 file system can be used by both Windows and Linux operating systems.
File name extensions
FileTypeAssociation (Windows works this way, but Linux mostly does not use File Type Association based on file name extensions.)
Format
FTP - File Transfer Protocol. A way of downloading or uploading files.

GNU
GRUB GRand Unified Bootloader, a multiboot bootloader that is easy to install and configure. It can boot from the Master Boot Record on a hard drive or from a CD. Especially easy to set up for Puppy. http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/GRUB∞
GUI (Graphical User Interface)
Hash = #
Home
Html - (Hyper Text Markup Language) - the code to create a webpage.

Iso / CD image - A way of saving/sharing a software CD in one single file, e.g. puppylinux.iso. Then you need to to know the BurningLinuxIsoBasics

kernel
kernel panic

LILO (short for Linux Loader) is a boot loader. Its main purpose is to set up a hard drive (or drives) to boot one or more operating systems. It is most commonly used in conjunction with Linux, but it can boot most operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows. See htt://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/LILO.

MBR = Master Boot Record
Mdsum
*'Mounting and Unmounting:* drives, partitions, devices and filesystems' For a start, look about an eighth of the way down this page: http://www.goosee.com/linux/ch03/index.html∞

'MS' or 'Ms' = Multi-Session
'Ms Puppy' = Multi-Session Puppy, a special format of Bootable CD with tracks added after each usage session, to save accumulating changes.
MsPuppy MS-Puppy
Muli-boot
MultiSession Puppy

NTFS - the filesystem used by Windows XP, Vista and 2000.

Open source
Operating System

Partition
ProgrammingLanguage -- Puppy has a few built-in, and more can be added
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programming_language∞
prompt

'''ramdisk'''∞ A virtual disk simulated in the computer's RAM, not a physical device; so called because it exists only in the computer's memory for the duration of a session. It is the basis for all Live CD operating systems. Anything important you do should be saved to some nonvolatile media [floppy, CD, or a permanent partition] because when you shut down, all your hard work will be GONE.

reiser file system
Root
Root access
Running as root

Script
Scroll
SheBang = #! (also called hash-bang) special code at beginning of executable script text files
shell ash or bash in Puppy (others exist, such as Korn and C shells)
ShellScripts
Swap
Swap file
Swap Partition

Terminal - a special window where you can type commands and make the computer do certain tasks.

'''Wiki'''∞ Editable web site (this page is part of the Puppy Wiki). Comes from the Hawaiin meaning quick. Wiki-wiki means very quick.
Window Manager

Wipe (disc)

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CategoryDocumentation