Chapter 33. Command-Line Master Class

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Some Basic Commands

• Combining Commands Together

Throughout this book, we've talked a lot about getting things done in both GUI and command-line environments. It's not difficult to understand that for most users (and that's probably an understatement), the point-and-click interface is the best and easiest way to use a computer. Graphical desktop environments represent the future of Linux as an everyday operating system. Yet, the shell still represents the fastest and most powerful way to use a Linux computer. Once you have mastered the shell and its available tools, there's an amazing amount of stuff you can do with just a few keystrokes.

The Linux shell can be a black box for the average user. Actually, in most cases, it is a black box with a white cursor unless you're running the rxvt X terminal, where the colors are reversed. But in the hands of an experienced Linux geek, pipes and redirects and regular expressions and all the things that make the shell special can fulfill the promise of personal computing in ways that just don't compare to the GUI experience.

In the early days of Linux, one of the taglines used to bring people over described that promise: "Put the power of a workstation in your PC." Before Linux matured, you had to spend tens of thousands of dollars to buy a machine that had enough resources to run a commercial Unix variant. Linux brought that power within reach of most users. And the seat of that power is in the command line.

This chapter aims to make you a master of shell arcana, at least on a small scale. There might be some repetition of earlier lessons, but repetition can be a good thing when learning something new. By the end, you'll be able to do a few amazing things, and perhaps acquire the taste to do more. Have fun !