6. The Console | Learning Raspbian

Sign In Start Free Trial

Book Overview & Buying
Table Of Contents

Learning Raspbian

By : Harrington

4 (14)

Learning Raspbian

4 (14)

By: Harrington

Overview of this book

This book is intended for developers who have worked with the Raspberry Pi and who want to learn how to make the most of the Raspbian operating system and their Raspberry Pi. Whether you are a beginner to the Raspberry Pi or a seasoned expert, this book will make you familiar with the Raspbian operating system and teach you how to get your Raspberry Pi up and running.

Preface

Preface

What this book covers

What you need for this book

Who this book is for

Conventions

Reader feedback

Customer support

Free Chapter

1. The Raspberry Pi and Raspbian

1. The Raspberry Pi and Raspbian

The Raspberry Pi

History of the Raspberry Pi

The Raspberry Pi hardware

Raspbian

Raspbian components

Summary

2. Getting Started with Raspbian

2. Getting Started with Raspbian

SD card specifications

Downloading Raspbian

Imaging Raspbian onto your SD card

Summary

3. Starting Raspbian

3. Starting Raspbian

Raspberry Pi Model A and Raspberry Pi Model B

Raspberry Pi A+

Raspberry Pi B+

Plugging in your Raspberry Pi

Booting your Raspberry Pi for the first time

The Raspberry Pi Software Configuration Tool

Finishing up

Common problems

Summary

4. An Introduction to the Raspbian Desktop

4. An Introduction to the Raspbian Desktop

The Raspbian desktop

The Raspbian filesystem

A tour of the Raspbian desktop

Virtual desktops

Network management with Raspbian

Customizing your Raspbian desktop

Preinstalled software

File management in Xfce

Summary

5. Installing Software on Raspbian

5. Installing Software on Raspbian

Package management in Linux

Methods of installing software

Using the console

Synaptic GUI Package Manager

The Pi Store

Installing software from source

Installing updates

Other software that you can install

Summary

6. The Console

6. The Console

Bash

Launching the bash command interpreter

Basic bash commands

The autocompletion of commands

Running commands as root

Moving around the filesystem using bash

Manipulating files

Redirection in bash

Environmental variables

Basic scripting

Text editors

Summary

7. Other Linux Distributions Based on Raspbian

7. Other Linux Distributions Based on Raspbian

Raspbmc

Volumio

ThinBox

PiPlay

Torberry

Kali

Summary

A. References

Chapter 1, The Raspberry Pi and Raspbian

Chapter 2, Getting Started with Raspbian

Chapter 4, An Introduction to the Raspbian Desktop

Chapter 5, Installing Software on Raspbian

Chapter 6, The Console

Chapter 7, Other Linux Distributions Based on Raspbian

Index

Index

Environmental variables

Another powerful feature of bash is the use of environmental variables. Environmental variables are values that are stored in memory and can be used to temporarily store information and settings. One example of this is the PATH variable. The PATH variable tells bash where to look for any programs if they aren't in the current directory.

All the current environmental variables set can be displayed using the printenv command. They are loaded into memory automatically when your Raspberry Pi boots up.

Some of the environmental variables set up by default in Raspbian

You can define your own environmental variables easily in bash. By convention, in bash, all environmental variables are defined using capital letters.

To define an environmental variable, you can do as shown in the following screenshot:

Defining the MY_VARIABLE environmental value

Environmental variables can be used just as easily. To use an environmental variable, simply add $ before it.

Using the MY_VARIABLE environmental...

CONTINUE READING

83

Tech Concepts

36

Programming languages

73

Tech Tools

Unlimited access to the largest independent learning library in tech of over 8,000 expert-authored tech books and videos.

Innovative learning tools, including AI book assistants, code context explainers, and text-to-speech.

50+ new titles added per month and exclusive early access to books as they are being written.

Learning Raspbian

Search

Your notes and bookmarks