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Ask HN: Best Open Source Beginners Book for learning Shell

2 points by jalan 13y ago

Hello, I am just a beginner when it comes to shell programming. So, which is the best open source book out there for Shell Beginners. Thanks.

a3n 13y ago
Don't know if these are "best," but they're good and available: Complete Reference: Bash Reference Manual: http://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/bashref.html http://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/bashref.html Complete Reference: Harder to find things but you should know your way around it: $ man bash Intro, Fundamentals: BASH Programming - Introduction HOW-TO: http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Bash-Prog-Intro-HOWTO.html http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Bash-Prog-Intro-HOWTO.html You'll get here soon enough: Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide: http://www.tldp.org/LDP/abs/html/ http://www.tldp.org/LDP/abs/html/ Ideas: http://www.bashoneliners.com/ http://www.bashoneliners.com/ http://www.commandlinefu.com/commands/browse http://www.commandlinefu.com/commands/browse http://www.catonmat.net/sitemap/ http://www.catonmat.net/sitemap/
heldrida 13y ago
Hi, I'd like to mention this one because it's a very good technical book http://linuxcommand.org http://linuxcommand.org You can either buy the Book or read it for free digitally! Back a few years or months ago, I tried the most popular books, from Bash Reference Manual that you can find at gnu.org, to other titles available for free at tldp.org, etc and plenty other websites! In my opinion linuxcommand.org is very easy to read and easier to understand! Also, a few days ago this came up ( explainshell.com ), what this basically does is letting you write a command and it tries to explain it by pointing you the lines from the manual. Finally, I think what also helps is installing a virtual machine, choose your favourite linux distro, follow tutorials and try to customize it! It takes years to become an expert, so I see nothing wrong if you're ok reading manuals and following tutorials. Hope this helps!
Gyy0 13y ago
I love Paul Sheer's "LINUX: Rute User's Tutorial and Exposition" [1] It is about much more than just the shell, but you can stop whenever you want. That was my "free" book recommendation, if you want to buy a "regular" book, then "The Unix Programming Environment" [2] can't be beat. You can find a dirt cheap "low cost edition", or buy it second hand online. [1] http://rute.2038bug.com/index.html.gz http://rute.2038bug.com/index.html.gz [2] http://cm.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/upe/ http://cm.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/upe/

2 points by jalan 13y ago

Hello, I am just a beginner when it comes to shell programming. So, which is the best open source book out there for Shell Beginners. Thanks.

a3n 13y ago

Don't know if these are "best," but they're good and available: Complete Reference: Bash Reference Manual: http://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/bashref.html http://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/bashref.html Complete Reference: Harder to find things but you should know your way around it: $ man bash Intro, Fundamentals: BASH Programming - Introduction HOW-TO: http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Bash-Prog-Intro-HOWTO.html http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Bash-Prog-Intro-HOWTO.html You'll get here soon enough: Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide: http://www.tldp.org/LDP/abs/html/ http://www.tldp.org/LDP/abs/html/ Ideas: http://www.bashoneliners.com/ http://www.bashoneliners.com/ http://www.commandlinefu.com/commands/browse http://www.commandlinefu.com/commands/browse http://www.catonmat.net/sitemap/ http://www.catonmat.net/sitemap/

heldrida 13y ago

Hi, I'd like to mention this one because it's a very good technical book http://linuxcommand.org http://linuxcommand.org You can either buy the Book or read it for free digitally! Back a few years or months ago, I tried the most popular books, from Bash Reference Manual that you can find at gnu.org, to other titles available for free at tldp.org, etc and plenty other websites! In my opinion linuxcommand.org is very easy to read and easier to understand! Also, a few days ago this came up ( explainshell.com ), what this basically does is letting you write a command and it tries to explain it by pointing you the lines from the manual. Finally, I think what also helps is installing a virtual machine, choose your favourite linux distro, follow tutorials and try to customize it! It takes years to become an expert, so I see nothing wrong if you're ok reading manuals and following tutorials. Hope this helps!

Gyy0 13y ago

I love Paul Sheer's "LINUX: Rute User's Tutorial and Exposition" [1] It is about much more than just the shell, but you can stop whenever you want. That was my "free" book recommendation, if you want to buy a "regular" book, then "The Unix Programming Environment" [2] can't be beat. You can find a dirt cheap "low cost edition", or buy it second hand online. [1] http://rute.2038bug.com/index.html.gz http://rute.2038bug.com/index.html.gz [2] http://cm.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/upe/ http://cm.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/upe/