Book Image

Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible - Third Edition

By : Richard Blum, Christine Bresnahan
Book Image

Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible - Third Edition

By: Richard Blum, Christine Bresnahan

Overview of this book

The Linux command line enables you to type specific shell commands directly into the system to manipulate files and query system resources. Command line statements can be combined into short programs called shell scripts, a practice increasing in popularity due to its usefulness in automation. Linux is a robust system with tremendous potential, and Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible opens the door to new possibilities. Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible is your essential Linux guide. It contains new functional examples that are fully updated to align with the latest Linux features. Beginning with command line fundamentals, the book moves into shell scripting and shows you the practical application of commands in automating frequently performed functions. This book is a complete guide providing detailed instruction and expert advice working within this aspect of Linux. Whether used as a tutorial or as a quick reference, this book contains information that every Linux user should know.
Table of Contents (34 chapters)
2
Part I: The Linux Command Line
13
Part II: Shell Scripting Basics
20
Part III: Advanced Shell Scripting
28
Part IV: Creating Practical Scripts
32
End User License Agreement

Starting the Shell

The GNU bash shell is a program that provides interactive access to the Linux system. It runs as a regular program and is normally started whenever a user logs in to a terminal. The shell that the system starts depends on your user ID configuration.

The /etc/passwd file contains a list of all the system user accounts, along with some basic configuration information about each user. Here's a sample entry from a /etc/passwd file:

christine:x:501:501:Christine Bresnahan:/home/christine:/bin/bash

Each entry has seven data fields, with fields separated by colons. The system uses the data in these fields to assign specific features for the user. Most of these entries are discussed in more detail in Chapter 7. For now, just pay attention to the last field, which specifies the user's shell program.