O'Reilly's bestselling book on Linux's bash shell is at it again. Now that Linux is an established player both as a server and on the desktop Learning the bash Shell has been updated and refreshed to account for all the latest changes. Indeed, this third edition serves as the most valuable guide yet to the bash shell. As any good programmer knows, the first thing users of the Linux operating system come face to face with is the shell the UNIX term for a user interface to the system. In other words, it's what lets you communicate with the computer via the keyboard and display. Mastering the bash shell might sound fairly simple but it isn't. In truth, there are many complexities that need careful explanation, which is just what Learning the bash Shell provides. If you are new to shell programming, the book provides an excellent introduction, covering everything from the most basic to the most advanced features. And if you've been writing shell scripts for years, it offers a great way to find out what the new shell offers. Learning the bash Shell is also full of practical examples of shell commands and programs that will make everyday use of Linux that much easier. With this book, programmers will learn:

• How to install bash as your login shell

• The basics of interactive shell use, including UNIX file and directory structures, standard I/O, and background jobs

• Command line editing, history substitution, and key bindings

• How to customize your shell environment without programming

• The nuts and bolts of basic shell programming, flow control structures, command-line options and typed variables

• Process handling, from job control to processes, coroutines and subshells

• Debugging techniques, such as trace and verbose modes

• Techniques for implementing system-wide shell customization and features related to system security

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 33 Ratings

Outstanding in every way - 2008-06-14
Reviewer Rating:
I first bought this book over 12 years ago, and I still use it as the standard by which other books are measured. It must be one of my top 5 favorite computer books, ever.

The author clearly understands the material, and makes it approachable, direct, and easy to learn without being too light or condescending. I wish the same could be said of Java books.

"Learning the bash Shell" is the right size and right price, too. Perfect in every way.

O'Reilly kind of took a turn for the worse in the late '90s / early 2000s, but this was originally published back when they were good the first time. (They've since recovered, IMO)

If you have need to learn the bash shell, you can't go wrong with this one.

Very nice introduction to the bash shell - 2009-06-18
Reviewer Rating:
It feels so anachronistic to be learning the bash shell in 2009, but I want to broaden my understanding of Linux and bash is a component part.

For the beginner, like myself, this is an easy introduction. It begins with the purpose and nature of the shell, moves you into basic concepts of using the shell and then takes you into the more complex area of shell programming. Unlike a number of "Learning" books from O'Reilly, this one is very well written for its target audience, which is beginners.

The approach is gradual, in small chunks, with lots of explanation. This is not a reference or tutorial for Linux, per se. It is about the bash shell and the Linux commands encountered are incidental to that goal. (The book, actually, is a survivor of the UNIX era.)

Because of the author's approach, picking up knowledge of the fundamentals of the bash shell is (thankfully) a quick process. The more advanced lessons on scripting are somewhat lost on me because I don't operate in a server environment and, as a result, don't have a real world context for some of the examples. Some of the chapter exercises, however, are quite challenging and will keep me busy for a while.

I am learning Linux and bash out of personal curiosity, so I don't know how much of this newly acquired knowledge I will use on anything resembling a regular basis, but the cool thing is that the book is obviously useful as a reference for those like me who will probably stay close to the beginner level.

Overall, a very nice way to learn the bash shell.

Jerry

So much good here - 2009-06-02
Reviewer Rating:
There's a lot to love about this book, the way it helps the reader / programmer navigate the differences in the the different shell scripting settings.

There's a lot to be desired, too. I too often felt the author believed I was an old hand at shell scripting, and he was offering some shortcuts.

Why not assume I was a novice? Sure, some shell scripters would have howled; so what? Better too much exposition than not enough. I'd have appreciated more explanation of some of the tasks the author was accomplishing.

Not bad, but could have been better.

Very useful - 2008-06-26
Reviewer Rating:
This book provided a solid resource to start writing shell scripts in bash. It is well written, and also provides understanding into some bash features that go beyond just a reference book.

Exelent Book!! - 2008-03-31
Reviewer Rating:
shipping fast!! =D nice comunication and information :D
sorry for later review:)
-]Raul[-

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