A Practical Guide to Linux Commands - Editors and Shell Programming - Third Edition

Nov 2, 2026

Uploaded by awa

A Practical Guide to Linux Commands, Editors and Shell Programming, Third Edition by Mark G. Sobell, presents a structured learning path through Linux fundamentals, command-line workflows, and practical administration concepts. It covers core utilities, filesystem and permissions, and the shell as a command interpreter and programming language. The book then guides readers through the vim and emacs editors, multiple shell environments (bash and tcsh), and scripting with bash, Perl, Python, AWK, plus secure networking tools like rsync and OpenSSH. It concludes with a command reference, appendixes on patterns, help resources, system updates, and Mac OS X notes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages1169

Reading Time49 h 6 min

AccessFree to download

Preface

Chapter 1: Welcome to Linux and Mac OS X

Chapter 2: Getting Started

Chapter 3: The Utilities

Chapter 4: The Filesystem

Chapter 6: The vim Editor

Chapter 7: The emacs Editor

Chapter 8: The Bourne Again Shell (bash)

Chapter 9: The TC Shell (tcsh)

Chapter 10: Programming the Bourne Again Shell (bash)

Chapter 11: The Perl Scripting Language

Chapter 12: The Python Programming Language

Chapter 13: The MySQL Database Management System

Chapter 14: The AWK Pattern Processing Language

Chapter 15: The sed Editor

Chapter 16: The rsync Secure Copy Utility

Chapter 17: The OpenSSH Secure Communication Utilities

Command Reference

Appendixes

A Practical Guide to Linux Commands, Editors and Shell Programming THIRD EDITION Mark G. Sobell Visit us on the Web: [informit.com/ph](informit.com/ph) Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Sobell, Mark G. A practical guide to Linux commands, editors, and shell programming / Mark G. Sobell.—3rd ed. [p. cm](p. cm). Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-13-308504-4 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Linux. 2. Operating systems (Computers) I. Title. QA76.76.O63S59483 2012 005.4'32—dc23 2012028015 Copyright © 2013 Mark G. Sobell ISBN-13: 978-0-13-308504-4 ISBN-10: 0-13-308504-X Text printed in the United States at Edwards Brothers Malloy in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Fourth printing, September 2014 Brief Contents Contents xvi Preface xxxvii 1 Welcome to Linux and Mac OS X 1 PART I The Linux and Mac OS X Operating Systems 21 2 Getting Started 23 3 The Utilities 49 4 The Filesystem 81 5 The Shell 125 PART II The Editors 157 6 The vim Editor 159 7 The emacs Editor 213 PART III The Shells 273 8 The Bourne Again Shell (bash) 275 9 The TC Shell (tcsh) 369 PART IV Programming Tools 415 10 Programming the Bourne Again Shell (bash) 417 11 The Perl Scripting Language 517 12 The Python Programming Language 563 13 The MySQL Database Management System 595 14 The AWK Pattern Processing Language 619 15 The sed Editor 653 PART V Secure Network Utilities 671 16 The rsync Secure Copy Utility 673 17 The OpenSSH Secure Communication Utilities 687 PART VI Command Reference 711 Command Reference 713 PART VII Appendixes 1009 A Regular Expressions 1011 B Help 1021 C Keeping the System Up-to-Date 1027 D Mac OS X Notes 1041 Glossary 1053 File Tree Index 1105 Utility Index 1107 Main Index 1111 Contents Preface xxxvi Chapter 1: Welcome to Linux and Mac OS X 1 The History of UNIX and GNU–Linux 3 The Heritage of Linux: UNIX 3 Fade to 1983 3 Next Scene, 1991 4 The Code Is Free 5 Have Fun! 6 What Is So Good About Linux? 6 Why Linux Is Popular with Hardware Companies and Developers 9 Linux Is Portable 10 The C Programming Language 10 Overview of Linux 11 Linux Has a Kernel Programming Interface 12 Linux Can Support Many Users 12 Linux Can Run Many Tasks 12 Linux Provides a Secure Hierarchical Filesystem 12 The Shell: Command Interpreter and Programming Language 14 A Large Collection of Useful Utilities 15 Interprocess Communication 16 System Administration 16 Additional Features of Linux 16 GUIs: Graphical User Interfaces 16 (Inter)Networking Utilities 17 Software Development 18 Chapter Summary 18 Exercises 18 PART I The Linux and Mac OS X Operating Systems 21 Chapter 2: Getting Started 23 Conventions Used in This Book 24 Logging In from a Terminal (Emulator) 26 Working from the Command Line 28 Which Shell Are You Running? 29 Correcting Mistakes 29 Repeating/Editing Command Lines 31 su/sudo: Curbing Your Power (root Privileges) 32 Where to Find Documentation 33 man: Displays the System Manual 33 apropos: Searches for a Keyword 35 info: Displays Information About Utilities 36 The ––help Option 38 The bash help Command 39 Getting Help 39 More About Logging In and Passwords 42 What to Do If You Cannot Log In 42 Logging In Remotely: Terminal Emulators, ssh, and Dial-Up Connections 43 Using Virtual Consoles 43 Logging Out 43 Changing Your Password 44 Chapter Summary 46 Exercises 46 Advanced Exercises 47 Chapter 3: The Utilities 49 Special Characters 50 Basic Utilities 51 ls: Lists the Names of Files 52 cat: Displays a Text File 52 rm: Deletes a File 52 less Is more: Display a Text File One Screen at a Time 53 hostname: Displays the System Name 53 Working with Files 53 cp: Copies a File 53 mv: Changes the Name of a File 54 lpr: Prints a File 55 grep: Searches for a String 56 head: Displays the Beginning of a File 56 tail: Displays the End of a File 57 sort: D

FAQs

What topics are covered in the beginning chapters of this guide?

The early chapters introduce Linux and Mac OS X context, command-line conventions, logging in, finding help (man/info/--help), and practical shell usage. They also cover utilities and the hierarchical filesystem basics.

Which editors and shells does the book teach?

The guide covers the vim editor and the emacs editor, and it explains shell environments including the Bourne Again Shell (bash) and the TC Shell (tcsh).

Does the book include scripting and secure networking utilities?

Yes. It includes programming and scripting in bash, Perl, Python, and AWK, along with secure networking utilities such as rsync and OpenSSH. It also provides a command reference and supporting appendixes (regular expressions, help, system updates, and Mac OS X notes).

Nov 2, 2026

Uploaded by awa