
The first thing users of the Linux operating system come face to face
with is the shell. "Shell" is the UNIX term for a user interface to the
system -- something that lets you communicate with the computer via the
keyboard and display.
Bash, the Free Software Foundation's
"Bourne Again Shell," is the default shell for Linux, the popular free
UNIX-like operating system. It's also a replacement for the standard
UNIX Bourne shell, which serves both as a user interface and as a
programming language. Like the FSF's other tools,
bash is more
than a mere replacement: it extends the Bourne shell in many ways.
Features include command line editing, key bindings, integrated
programming features, command completion, control structures
(especially the select construct, which enables you to create menus
easily), and new ways to customize your environment.
Whether you want to use
bash for its user interface or its programming features you will find
Learning the bash Shell a valuable guide. The book covers all of
bash's features, both for interactive use and programming. If you are new to shell programming,
Learning the bash Shell
provides an excellent introduction, covering everything from the most
basic to the most advanced features, like signal handling and command
line processing. If you've been writing shell scripts for years, it
offers a great way to find out what the new shell offers. The book is
full of examples of shell commands and programs that are designed to be
useful in your everyday life as a user, not just to illustrate the
feature being explained. All of these examples are freely available to
you online on the Internet.