Refreshing Drink of Ideas

This article is a list of notes I've collected to help me with Linux and/or Unix.  Please don't consider this a comprehensive reference.  I'm not a Linux or Unix expert.  These notes are just some things I've had to remember but always seem to forget when I've had to log onto a Linux or Unix machine for the following:

• Setting up a website.  I think Linux is the easiest platform and has the most tools, free and open, readily available.
• Attempting to develop an application for my Android phone (which uses a form a Unix) and experimenting with root access with a command prompt.
• Hacking my older Directv Tivo DVR

I've never tried or even had much interest in using Linux and X11 windows as an alternative to MS Windows for my desktop.  So there won't be any notes about that in this article.

There are certainly more comprehensive and accessible Linux/Unix references out there on other websites.  However, because there were some things I couldn't find quickly enough or expressed simply enough or whatever, I found I needed to write my own notes.  These notes are now here where I can find them no matter where I am.  They are also for anybody else, due to being in the same situation for frame of mind as me, has Googled here for the quickest answer.

Wherever I list a shell command, the shell will most likely be Bash with a prompt of "$".   The commands can be used interactively from a terminal or from within a shell script.  Here are the notes below.

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Display which shell processor is being used to interpret your commands at the command line:

$ echo $0

The above will echo out the name of the shell.  For example the output may be:

-bash

Alternatively to get the full path to the shell processor, do the following:

$ echo $SHELL

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Listing the contents of a directory

$ ls

List each item with full attributes

$ ls -l

To list even files that begin with "." because these are normally hidden

$ ls -l -a

To list files that begin with "." but excluding the implied directory names of "." (current) or ".." (parent)

$ ls -l -A

A file name or directory name, with or without wildcards ('*" or "?"), may be be provided to get directory limited to files or directories that match. 

$ ls -l -A <filename>
 

If shell is set up for it (Bash usually is), then the easier to remember "dir" command can be used

$ dir -l -A

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For quick help on any command, try including "--help" option:

$ dir --help

For extensive help (when available) use the "man" command:

$ man set

The above command will list out a manual article on the "set" command

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Displaying the current directory (or working directory):

$ pwd

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Changing the current directory - for example, to a directory called "public_html" under the current:

$ cd  public_html

A wildcard will make this quicker and easier to type if "public_html" is the only directory that begins with "pub"

$ cd pub*

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To make a new subdirectory:

$mkdir <directory name>

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The Bash shell can show the host name and current directory in each prompt.  This is the default on many Linux systems.  Set variable PS1 as follows:

$ PS1="\u@\h:\w\$"

Variable PS1 defines the prompt string for Bash.  With special escape character "\" commands cause system values to be inserted.  A good explanation for this was found at on the web here.

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Changing the terminal type that system expects you to have

Just set the TERM variable

$ TERM=vt100

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Listing all variables with their values

$ set

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Exporting variables to sub-processes:

The first command will cause all subsequently created or modified variables to be exported

$ set -a

The next command will specify a list of names to export

$ export <names>

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Start a background process

In the below example, the "&" indicates that the given command has a requirement for terminal access

$ <command> &

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List running processes

The following will list all processes user is allowed to view based on authorization level

$ ps -e

A root user would be able to see all processes running on the system with the above.  A non-privileged user would only be able to see his own.

Use --help to see more options.

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Execute a command as another user

This is may be allowed only if a privileged user.  Also may prompt for password. 

su -c "<command>" <userid>
 

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Sending the output of one command to be processed by another, use the pipe character "|".   The standard output of 1st (normally printed on terminal display) of will be sent as the standard input (normally from terminal keyboard) to the 2nd.

Example using grep processor to list out any running process that contains a certain string ("bash") in its name

$ ps -e | grep "bash"

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To control flow of output to the screen

Pipe output to "more" processor

$ set | more

The above list all variables ("set") by sending one page of output to the terminal at a time.  Key "q" or cntrl-c to stop.  Any other key will go to next page.

A better processor to use is "less"

$ set  | less

The above will list all variables by 1st sending 1st page of output to the terminal.  The "q"  key will stop.  Keyboard up and down arrow keys will allow navigating up and down one line at a time.  Space key will move a page at a time.  Other keys may do other things so look this up in "man" or use

$ less --help

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