Chapter 1. Absolute Basics

There's stuff you just have to know. Chapter 1 has ten projects to get you started in Unix. Whereas Chapters 2 to 11 are practical exercises focused on specific tasks, "Absolute Basics" covers basic commands and theory, including the following essential topics:

The Terminal application and the command line. These, and the shell, form your day-to-day working environment, so it's good to get to know them well.

Basic Unix commands and concepts. The essentials are covered to get you started.

The Unix manual. All commands are documented in the manual, albeit in a rather terse manner.

Bash and other shells. You'll be talking to the shell more than anything else, so learn its language and take advantage of what the various shells have to offer.

Redirection and pipelining. Two of the cornerstones of Unix power, these concepts are used extensively throughout the projects in this book.

Users, groups, and permissions. Understand and maintain the Unix file system security model.

Shell scripting. Learn to flex your Unix muscle by mastering shell scripting.

Complete these projects if you are new to Unix or do not feel comfortable working at the command line. They guide you through your first encounters, starting from the absolute basics, and arm you with the necessary skills to tackle projects in the remaining chapters. Although subsequent projects don't assume prior knowledge of the subject area they cover, they do assume competence in basic command-line skills: Refer back to this chapter if you get into difficulties completing a project.

"Absolute Basics" has many references to other projects that make practical use of the theory being taught. So as well as teaching the basics, it acts as a road map, or springboard, to the practical use of Unix"to boldly go beyond the theory."

Now, lose the mouse . . .