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GNU/Linux Command−Line Tools Summary
Gareth Anderson
<somecsstudent(at)gmail.com>
Chris Karakas − Conversion from LyX to DocBook SGML, Index generation
Revision History
Revision 1.2
15th April 2006
Revised by: GA
Corrected typing errors, generated new, much smaller index (more accurate in my opinion). Updated errors in
document for TLDP.
Revision 1.1
28th February 2006
Revised by: CK
Corrected typos, generated new index (9000 index entries!).
Revision 1.0
6th February 2006
Revised by: GA
Major restructuring, now in a docbook book format. Removed large chunks of content and revised other parts (removed chapters and sectioned some areas more). This is likely the final release by the author, I hope that someone finds this guide useful as I do not intend to continue work on this guide.
Revision 0.7.1
25th February 2005
Revised by: CK
Set special characters in math mode, produced PDF and PS with Computer Modern fonts in OT1 encoding
and created correct SGML for key combinations.
Revision 0.7
5th December 2004
Revised by: GA
Updated document with new grammatical review. Re−ordered the entire Text section. Removed a fair
amount of content.
Revision v0.6
20th April 2004
Revised by: GA
Attempted to fix document according to TLDP criticisms. Added notes and tips more sectioning. Now
complying to the open group standards for the UNIX
system trademark. Document should be ready for TLDP site.
Revision v0.5
6th October 2003
Revised by: GA
Fixed a variety of errors as according to the review and made some consistency improvements to the
document.
Revision v0.4
15th July 2003
Revised by: GA
Made small improvements to the document as suggested (so far) by the thorough TLDP review, improved
consistency of document and made small content additions.
Revision v0.3
26th June 2003
Revised by: GA
Minor errors fixed, updated the appendix with information for finding where a tool is from. Fixed
referencing/citation problems and improved further reading and intro sections, added an audio section.
Revision v0.2
20th April 2003
Revised by: GA
This is the initial public release. Added more code−style then before, broke text−section into more
subsections. Improved consistency of document and fixed various index entries.
Revision v0.1
27th March 2003
Revised by: GA
This is the initial draft release (the first release to be converted from LyX to DocBook SGML).
This document is an attempt to provide a summary of useful command−line tools available to a GNU/Linux
based operating system, the tools listed are designed to benefit the majority of users and have being chosen at
the authors discretion. This document is not a comprehensive list ofevery existent tool available to a
GNU/Linux based system, nor does it have in−depth explanations of how things work. It is a summary which
can be used to learn about and how to use many of the tools available to a GNU/Linux based operating
system.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
1.1. Who would want to read this guide?.................................................................................................1 1.2. Who would not want to read this guide?..........................................................................................2 1.3. Availability of sources......................................................................................................................2 1.4. Conventions used in this guide.........................................................................................................2 1.5. Resources used to create this document............................................................................................4 1.6. Feedback...........................................................................................................................................4 1.7. Contributors......................................................................................................................................5
Chapter 2. Legal..................................................................................................................................................7
2.1. Disclaimer.........................................................................................................................................7
2.2. License..............................................................................................................................................7
Chapter 3. The Unix Tools Philosophy.............................................................................................................8
Chapter 4. Shell Tips..........................................................................................................................................9
4.1. General Shell Tips.............................................................................................................................9 4.2. The command−line history.............................................................................................................12 4.3. Other Key combinations.................................................................................................................13 4.4. Virtual Terminals and screen..........................................................................................................13
Chapter 5. Help.................................................................................................................................................15
Chapter 6. Directing Input/Output.................................................................................................................17
6.1. Concept Definitions........................................................................................................................17 6.2. Usage...............................................................................................................................................17 6.3. Command Substitution...................................................................................................................19 6.4. Performing more than one command..............................................................................................19
Chapter 7. Working with the file−system.......................................................................................................21
7.1. Moving around the filesystem........................................................................................................21
7.1.1. Finding files...........................................................................................................................23
7.2. Working with files and folders.......................................................................................................24
7.3. Mass Rename/copy/link Tools........................................................................................................29
Chapter 8. Finding information about the system.........................................................................................32
8.1. Date/Time/Calendars......................................................................................................................35
8.2. Finding information about partitions..............................................................................................36
Chapter 9. Controlling the system...................................................................................................................37
9.1. Mounting and Unmounting (Floppy/CDROM/Hard−drive Partitions)..........................................37 9.2. Shutting Down/Rebooting the System............................................................................................38 9.3. Controlling Processes.....................................................................................................................40 9.4. Controlling services........................................................................................................................44
Chapter 10. Managing users............................................................................................................................45
10.1. Users/Groups.................................................................................................................................45
GNU/Linux Command−Line Tools Summary
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