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The Ultimate Linux Shell Scripting Guide

The Ultimate Linux Shell Scripting Guide

By : Donald A. Tevault
4.9 (7)
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The Ultimate Linux Shell Scripting Guide

The Ultimate Linux Shell Scripting Guide

4.9 (7)
By: Donald A. Tevault

Overview of this book

Dive into the world of Linux shell scripting with this hands-on guide. If you’re comfortable using the command line on Unix or Linux but haven’t fully explored Bash, this book is for you. It’s designed for programmers familiar with languages like Python, JavaScript, or PHP who want to make the most of shell scripting. This isn’t just another theory-heavy book—you’ll learn by doing. Each chapter builds on the last, taking you from shell basics to writing practical scripts that solve real-world problems. With nearly a hundred interactive labs, you’ll gain hands-on experience in automation, system administration, and troubleshooting. While Bash is the primary focus, you'll also get a look at Z Shell and PowerShell, expanding your skills and adaptability. From mastering command redirection and pipelines to writing scripts that work across different Unix-like systems, this book equips you for real-world Linux challenges. By the end, you'll be equipped to write efficient shell scripts that streamline your workflow and improve system automation.
Table of Contents (26 chapters)
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24
Other Books You May Enjoy
25
Index

Understanding Environmental Variables

Environmental variables control the configuration and functioning of the operating system shell. When you install either a Linux or Unix/Unix-like operating system such as FreeBSD or OpenIndiana, you’ll find that a default set of environmental variables has already been defined at both the global and user levels.

To see the list of environmental variables and their settings, use the env command, like so:

[donnie@fedora ~]$ env
SHELL=/bin/bash
IMSETTINGS_INTEGRATE_DESKTOP=yes
COLORTERM=truecolor
XDG_CONFIG_DIRS=/etc/xdg/lxsession:/etc/xdg
HISTCONTROL=ignoredups
. . .
. . .
MAIL=/var/spool/mail/donnie
OLDPWD=/etc/profile.d
_=/bin/env
[donnie@fedora ~]$

The complete list of environmental variables is very extensive. Fortunately, you don’t need to memorize what each and every item does for you. Most of the ones that you do need to know are self-explanatory.

Instead of viewing the entire list, you can also view the value...

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