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General discussion

Command Line Linux

by xarzu May 7, 2007 9:34AM PDT

I have started out on a Linux journey. I have a very old ChemBook laptop computer that had had Windows 95 on it. The world (the on-line world, in particular) had advanced to the point where this laptop was really no longer useful. So I had been thinking that this was a good chance to start learning Linux.

Then a project had developed at work where some other programmers had decided to start using Debian. So I started attempting to install Debian. This did not go very smoothly.

The latest version of Debian (Etch) did not agree immediately with my video hardware. I struggled with this for a while and eventually decided to give Mepis a shot. This worked.

Now I am thinking that once I get some other hardware issue resolved I might switch again after I learn more about Linux.

So this is where I am now. Any suggestions?

I think that my next step should be to become familiar with the command-line level of Linux. Does anyone have any suggestions for tutorials, ebooks, etc.?

Discussion is locked

2 Posts

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Not to pick nits but there is no command line "Linux".

by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 7, 2007 9:52AM PDT

There is however "shells" that run on Linux such as BASH or C-shell and others. This could send a new Linux or UNIX user down in virtual flames when they discover there is no such such as you asked.

However many Linux distros seem to pick BASH (the Bourne Again SHell). Here's a tutorial on BASH.

http://www.hypexr.org/bash_tutorial.php

Bob

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Another tutorial

by 3rdalbum May 8, 2007 6:32PM PDT

www.linuxcommand.org

There's a really good command-line shell called Fish. It might be in Mepis' repositories; if so you can run the following command as root:

apt-get install fish

When you've installed it, typing "fish" at the command-line will start it.

Fish offers code colouring, advanced autocompletion, command history based on what part of the command you've already typed, and more. It's great for "regular" command-line usage, but can't run existing Bash or .sh scripts and some more advanced commands won't actually work. But I still recommend it for "everyday" use as it has those nice features.

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