What are environment variables in Bash?
Learn about environment variables in our miniseries: Variables in shells.
View ArticleVariables in PowerShell
In our miniseries Variables in Shells, learn how to handle local variables in PowerShell.
View ArticleThe birth of the Bash shell
Shell scripting is an essential discipline for anyone in a sysadmin type of role, and the predominant shell in which people write scripts today is Bash. Bash comes as default on nearly all Linux...
View ArticleEnvironment variables in PowerShell
Environment variables are global settings for your Linux, Mac, or Windows computer, stored for the system shell to use when executing commands. Many are set by default during installation or user...
View ArticleHone advanced Bash skills by building Minesweeper
I am no expert on teaching programming, but when I want to get better at something, I try to find a way to have fun with it. For example, when I wanted to get better at shell scripting, I decided to...
View Article7 Bash history shortcuts you will actually use
Most guides to Bash history shortcuts exhaustively list every single one available. The problem with that is I would use a shortcut once, then glaze over as I tried out all the possibilities. Then I'd...
View Article3 command line games for learning Bash the fun way
Learning is hard work, and nobody likes work. That means no matter how easy it is to learn Bash, it still might feel like work to you. Unless, of course, you learn through gaming.
View ArticleHow to program with Bash: Syntax and tools
Learn basic Bash programming syntax and tools, as well as how to use variables and control operators, in the first article in this three-part series.
View ArticleHow to program with Bash: Logical operators and shell expansions
Learn about logical operators and shell expansions, in the second article in this three-part series on programming with Bash.
View ArticleHow to program with Bash: Loops
Bash is a powerful programming language, one perfectly designed for use on the command line and in shell scripts. This three-part series, based on my three-volume Linux self-study course, explores...
View ArticleGenerate random passwords with this Bash script
Periodically, I need to come up with new passwords, some of which need to be more secure than others. My mind often seems to draw a blank when I have to create a new login, and this short Bash script...
View ArticleBash cheat sheet: Key combos and special syntax
The Bourne Again Shell (Bash) is a text interface to POSIX computers. A shell, Bash or otherwise, provides a way for you to talk directly to your computer without roundabout interfaces: you type the...
View ArticleIntroduction to automation with Bash scripts
Sysadmins, those of us who run and manage Linux computers most closely, have direct access to tools that help us work more efficiently. To help you use these tools to their maximum benefit to make your...
View ArticleCreating a Bash script template
In the first article in this series, you created a very small, one-line Bash script and explored the reasons for creating shell scripts and why they are the most efficient option for the system...
View ArticleHow to add a Help facility to your Bash program
In the first article in this series, you created a very small, one-line Bash script and explored the reasons for creating shell scripts and why they are the most efficient option for the system...
View ArticleTesting your Bash script
In the first article in this series, you created your first, very small, one-line Bash script and explored the reasons for creating shell scripts. In the second article, you began creating a fairly...
View Article10 resources to become a better Bash user
As another great year wraps up at Opensource.com, my fascination with all things Bash has me looking back at the top 10 Bash articles we published in 2019. These articles include basic how-to articles,...
View Article5 ways to improve your Bash scripts
A system admin often writes Bash scripts, some short and some quite lengthy, to accomplish various tasks.Have you ever looked at an installation script provided by a software vendor? They often add a...
View ArticleMy favorite Bash hacks
When you work with computers all day, it's fantastic to find repeatable commands and tag them for easy use later on. They all sit there, tucked away in ~/.bashrc (or ~/.zshrc for Zsh users), waiting to...
View ArticlesetV: A Bash function to maintain Python virtual environments
For more than a year, setV has been hidden away within my bash_scripts project, but it's time for it to become public. setV is a Bash function I use as an alternative to virtualenvwrapper. It provides...
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