LINUX CLASSES - LINUX BASICS

What Is the Linux Shell?

To use Linux--or any Unix-like system, for that matter--you need to know a few things about shells. A shell is a program that acts as an intermediary between you and the guts of the operating system. In a DOS environment, command.com acts as your shell. Linux shells have more interesting names (like bash, pdksh, and tcsh), but they do pretty much the same thing. In addition to translating your commands into something the kernel can understand and act upon, the shell adds some important functions that the base operating system doesn't supply.

Using a Linux shell means working with a command line, which is much like working from a DOS prompt. Modern version of Linux come with graphical user interface (GUI) but some Linux tasks can only be done from the command line. The knowledge of how Linux works that you'll gain in this section will provide the foundation you need to use Linux successfully and efficiently. Here's a description of the basic features of all Linux shells, a preview of the functions they perform, and a rundown of what you'll learn in this section.

Prompts A prompt is a character or string of characters (such as $ or #) that the shell displays when it is ready to receive a new command. You'll learn about the different types of prompts and how to customize them to suit you and the way you work.

Command resolution When you enter a command, the shell must determine which program to run in order to perform that command. You'll learn how shells do this and how to change the command resolution process to suit your needs.

Job control Linux lets you multitask (run more than one command at a time). You'll learn how to start, list, and stop tasks; you'll also learn the difference between foreground and background task execution.

Command history and completion When you're entering lots of commands, sometimes you want to repeat the previous command or issue a similar one. You'll learn how to recall and modify previously entered commands, as well as find out about some keyboard shortcuts that can automatically complete your commands for you.

Wildcards and aliases Wildcards let you process a whole bunch of files at once, instead of having to repeat the same command for each file. You'll learn how to use two types of wildcards and how to create aliases for commonly used commands.

Piping and I/O redirection Sending the output of one program directly to another program or to a file can save you time and keystrokes. You'll learn how to pipe program output (connect programs together) and how to make a program get its input from a file instead of the keyboard.

This section will look at each of these functions in detail and teach you how to use them to your advantage. But first--a few shell preliminaries.

For more information on the bash shell, see the bash manual.

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Comments (most recent first)

Robert (01 Sep 2010, 22:20)

SWEET!!..This site needs to go viral ;)

Rohit mahadik (24 Aug 2010, 01:03)

This is very easy language for understanding!!!
Linux is my Heart@@@@@@@@
Thank u so much again#########

Satish (15 Aug 2010, 12:02)

This site contain everything user need to plan.

wajahat (14 Jul 2010, 06:36)

how to create keyboard shortcut in LINUX?

Arvind Gautam (26 Jun 2010, 19:11)

tahnk u sir ggggggggggggg(Mr.BOB)
its very intersting site for learning Linux........
its very easy language

xxx (24 Jun 2010, 04:14)

It was very useful! thanks a lot! :)

to aviveki (27 May 2010, 11:27)

@vivek.. Are you thinking of writing an advanced and comprehensive linux networking tutorial. if If so please post a link here so we can all see.Make sure you dont miss anything or I might leave a nasty thankless comment, like yourself

vivek (25 Feb 2010, 03:01)
pretty good for beginners
need much more regarding linux networking

Joe (04 Apr 2010, 11:50)

great site !! thanks a lot !!!

Bala Kishore (11 Mar 2010, 21:35)

I have forgot my zip password, how to extract it using terminal

Bob Rankin (04 Mar 2010, 12:01)

Teach you EVERYTHING? I'm gonna need more than gratefulness to fill that order. How about we make a deal? You READ and STUDY everything I've written on this site, and I won't send you a bill. Sound good? :-)

Cynthia Dipuo Nshimane (04 Mar 2010, 08:39)

i am studying software engineering in NIIT i want to learn more about everything in linux and java pliz help diz iz mae email addres.teach me everything and i will be grateful.thanks 4 welcoming me

vivek (25 Feb 2010, 03:01)

pretty good for beginners
need much more regarding linux networking

mary (16 Feb 2010, 22:47)

am a beginner in LINUX and the tutorial has been so helpful. thank u BOB

sowmya (07 Feb 2010, 22:57)

this site was very useful for the beginners
easy to understand
thank u very much

shahidhusain (26 Jan 2010, 06:02)

Thanks: very easy & understanding language you have put in, as it is of more useful to a very newbie or the 1 who wants get true understanding in details to LINUX, Thanks Tutor Respectable BOB

sailesh bajracharya (21 Jan 2010, 07:37)

this is a great place for learning linux. thanks Mr.BOB


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