The Linux Command Line: A Complete Guide. 2nd Int. Ed.

The international bestseller The Linux Command Line will take you from your first timid keystrokes to confidently writing full-fledged programs for the latest version of bash, the most popular Linux shell.

This second edition introduces the new features of bash 4.x, such as the new redirection operators and substitution operations. The section on shell scripting covers modern, robust programming techniques and how to avoid common mistakes and potentially dangerous situations.

You'll master timeless command-line skills: navigating the file system, setting up the environment, chaining commands, and matching with regular expressions. You'll understand the philosophy behind many command-line tools, understand the rich heritage of Unix supercomputers, and tap into the knowledge accumulated by generations of gurus who have ditched the mouse.

In short, easy-to-follow chapters, you'll learn how to:

∙ create and delete files, directories, and symbolic links;

∙ Administer your system, from networking to installing packages and managing processes;

∙ Use standard input and output, redirection, and pipes;

∙ Edit files with vi, the world's most popular text editor;

∙ Write shell scripts to automate routine tasks;

∙ Manipulate the contents of text files with cut, paste, grep, patch, and sed.

Once you get over the initial "shell shock," you'll realize how natural and logical this way of interacting with a computer is.