The /usr/share/doc directory

The /usr/share/doc directory is another excellent place to look for help in Linux. This directory has very intensive documentation; it doesn't just show you how to use a command; sometimes, it will even show the name and contact information of the authors who developed the command. Moreover, it may also include a TODO file that contains a list of unfinished tasks/features; contributors usually check the TODO files to help fix bugs and develop new features.

To demonstrate, let's go to the nano documentation directory:

elliot@ubuntu-linux:~$ cd /usr/share/doc/nano 
elliot@ubuntu-linux:/usr/share/doc/nano$ pwd
/usr/share/doc/nano

Now list the contents of the directory to see what's inside:

elliot@ubuntu-linux:/usr/share/doc/nano$ ls
AUTHORS               copyright faq.html        nano.html   README    TODO 
changelog.Debian.gz   examples  IMPROVEMENTS.gz NEWS.gz     THANKS.gz

Cool! You can view the AUTHORS file to see the team of developers who contributed to the nano editor program. You can also view the TODO file if you are eager to know if there is anything left for you to do! You can also check the README file for a general description of the nano editor. There is even a link faq.html that contains frequently asked questions.

As you saw in this chapter, Linux has a variety of helpful tools available at your disposal; so make sure you utilize them!