Linux Shell
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This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Linux Shell Features
Objectives
After reading this chapter you should be able to:
List special characters and methods of preventing the shell from interpreting these characters
Describe a simple command
Understand command-line syntax and run commands that include options and arguments
Explain how the shell interprets the command line
Redirect output of a command to a file, overwriting the file or appending to it
Redirect input for a command so it comes from a file
Connect commands using a pipeline
Run commands in the background
Use special characters as wildcards to generate filenames
Explain the difference between a stand-alone utility and a shell builtin
This chapter takes a close look at the shell and explains how to use some of its features. It discusses command-line syntax and describes how the shell processes a command line and initiates execution of a program. This chapter also explains how to redirect input to and output from a command, construct pipelines and filters on the command line, and run a command in the background. The final section covers filename expansion and explains how you can use this feature in your everyday work.
Except as noted, everything in this chapter applies to the Bourne Again (bash) and TC (tcsh) Shells. The exact wording of the shell output differs from shell to shell: What the shell you are using displays might differ slightly from what appears in this book. For shell-specific information, refer to Chapters 8 (bash) and 9 (tcsh). Chapter 10 covers writing and executing bash shell scripts.