Unix Made Easy - Softcover

John Muster

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0078815762 ISBN 13: 9780078815768

Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill Osborne Media, 1990

Synopsis

The step-by-step format of this text quickly demystifies UNIX and gives users the skills needed to put UNIX to work immediately. Includes an overview of the system, basic system administration tasks, basic UNIX programming, and more.

About this title

Review:

Some software publishers endeavor to make their operating systems as easy to learn as possible. Not so for the (various) developers of Unix and Linux. They've optimized the Unix-style environments to ensure maximum productivity for users who know what they're doing, and top performance for the processes those users work with. The flip side of this design decision is a steep learning curve. Unix and its variants can seem highly obtuse to the uninitiated, which is where the third edition of Unix Made Easy comes in. It's a remarkable book, not because it teaches novices how to get around in Unix--plenty of books teach you that ls in Unix is like dir in MS-DOS, and that the vi editor has a million weird commands--but because it teaches its readers how Unix works and why it's more powerful than easier-to-learn environments.

For example, this book devotes a full chapter (one of significant size) to the subject of file permissions. Rather than just spew forth a series of "do this for this, do that for that" steps, the author takes time to explain what happens when you issue a chmod command with a series of parameters. Nicely rendered conceptual diagrams help a lot with this potentially confusing subject. Scores of examples, with instructions explicitly stated, also help the cause. Chapters conclude with exercises you can try in order to prove you know what you're doing. Author John Muster focuses on the Bourne, Korn, and C shells. More coverage of bash, the most popular Linux shell, would make this book better. --David Wall

Topics covered: How to get around in Linux and Unix, mainly at the command line interface. Sections deal with file management, the vi editor, shell scripting, working with users and processes, and doing editing work with sed, and to a lesser extent, awk.

From the Back Cover:

Learn UNIX--the Easy Way!

Discover first-hand why thousands of people rely on John Muster's clearly written, step-by-step guide to UNIX and Linux -- now updated in a brand-new third edition. In no time you'll master this ultra-capable operating system using Muster's skill-building exercises, hands-on tutorials, and clear explanations. This informative and instructive guide shows you how to use the power of UNIX and Linux like a pro--from basic jobs such as creating and editing files and connecting to the Internet to customizing the user environment, using advanced tools, and shell programming. Beginners love the easy-to-follow format and practical examples. Intermediate and advanced users benefit from the in-depth coverage of complex utilities and features. Filled with expert tips for maximizing efficiency, conceptual images, handy reference tables, and much more, this is the ultimate instructional guide for every UNIX user!

• Use the power of the Linux Desktop--including KDE and GNOME
• Edit files and use basic desktop utilities
• Create and change directories
• Set file and directory permissions
• Communicate with the shell
• Utilize online resources--including locating Internet help
• Compress, archive, and split files
• Use advanced shell features--including file completion, history, and functions
• Manage and access relational data
• Communicate with other users and systems
• Write interactive scripts and program in the shells

About this edition

• Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill Osborne Media
• Publication date: 1990
• ISBN 10: 0078815762
• ISBN 13: 9780078815768
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 650