HPC/Linux Guides

Beginners

The Linux Command Line – A Complete Introduction

• By William E. Shotts Jr.; No Starch Press, January 2012; about $30 – $40 in print or as ebook.

Fairly gentle tutorial introducing Linux in general and command line usage in particular. --stern

Introduction to the Linux Command Shell For Beginners (pdf)

Provides a "fast and simple introduction to using the Linux command shell and some of its basic utilities. Assumes very little or even no prior exposure to the Linux command prompt. References to DOS commands are made where appropriate. This document was meant to accompany an instructor-led tutorial on this subject, and therefore some details have been left out."

Very short, but does cover the basics of managing files and directories, and key concepts like pipes and redirections. --stern

Bash Reference Manual

"A brief introduction to features found in Bash." For a definitive reference on shell behavior please review the Bash manual page.

The Bash Guide for Beginners

"Gets you started with Bash scripting and bridges the gap between the Bash HOWTO and the Advanced Bash Scripting Guide. Everybody who wants to make life easier on themselves, power users and sysadmins alike, can benefit from reading this practical course. The guide contains lots of examples and exercises at the end of each chapter, demonstrating the theory and helping you practice. Bash is available on a wide variety of UNIX, Linux, MS Windows and other systems."

Advanced

man bash

The Bash manual page is the definitive resource on capabilities and syntax. Covers all details of bash precisely and concisely.

Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide

"This document is both a tutorial and a reference on shell scripting with Bash. It assumes no previous knowledge of scripting or programming, but progresses rapidly toward an intermediate/advanced level of instruction. The exercises and heavily-commented examples invite active reader participation."

Unix Power Tools, Third Edition

• By Jerry Peek, Shelley Powers, Tim O'Reilly, Mike Loukides; O'Reilly, 2002. About $40–$70 in print or as ebook.