Bash in easy steps

The "Bourne Again SHell" (Bash) is a powerful command-line shell interface that lets you communicate directly with the kernel at the heart of a computer’s operating system for total control. Bash is the default shell for Unix-based operating systems Linux, Mac OS X, and Raspbian on Raspberry Pi devices, and is also available to Windows users on the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) .

This book will show you how to use the Bash command-line interface and how to employ Bash's programming abilities. Complete examples illustrate each aspect with colorized source code and full-color screenshots depict the actual output.

Bash in easy steps begins by demonstrating Bash commands for system navigation and file manipulation so you will quickly become familiar with the command-line interface. It explains all the BASH basics before moving on to describe advanced features such as command history, command-line editing, and environment customization. The book then introduces Bash programming with examples of flow control, command switches, input/output, and debugging - allowing you to create your own executable programs by copying the examples.

Bash in easy steps has an easy-to-follow style that will appeal to:


• Users who are completely new to Unix-based operating systems
• Casual users who wish to expand their knowledge of their computer system
• Those who would like to learn coding skills by writing useful shell scripts
• The student who is studying programming at school or college
• Those seeking a career in computing and need a fundamental understanding of the BASH interpreter on Unix-based operating systems

Table of Contents:

1. Getting Started
2. Managing Files
3. Handling Text
4. Editing Commands
5. Customizing Environment
6. Controlling Behavior
7. Performing Operations
8. Directing Flow
9. Employing Functions
10. Handy Reference