This tutorial will show you how to use Samba to share a directory on your Linux machine across your network, accessible by Windows, Linux, and Mac machines.

The process takes less than five minutes, and by the end you should immediately see the file server through browsing your Windows network. (This and more at http://www.linuxhaxor.net)

This is not the most secure way to share files via Linux (but you can configure Samba for greater security), and is suitable for a home network without unwanted guests.