Announcing The Linux Command Line Seventh Internet Edition, Revision A

I have just uploaded a maintenance release of the Linux Command Line. This release fixes a few typos and corrects a couple of bugs but otherwise no significant changes. You can download the new release here. Details can be found in the release notes.

Enjoy.

The Linux Command Line, 7th Internet Edition Now Available in Swedish

Thanks to the efforts of Josef Andersson, there is now a Swedish translation of the The Linux Command Line available in both HTML and PDF formats. You can find links to both on the "Books" page.

 

Announcing The Linux Command Line Seventh Internet Edition and Third Print Edition

 

Good News Everyone!

I have just released the Seventh Internet Edition of my book. Along with the Internet Edition release, we're just days away from the general availability of the new print edition which is based on the aforementioned Internet Edition.

So what's new? The Seventh Internet Edition is an enhanced version of the previous release with numerous cleanups, fixed typos, and small clarifications throughout. For a detailed list of the changes, see the release notes available here.

The Third Print Edition has been significantly modernized and expanded and contains all the changes found in the Sixth and Seventh Internet editions (the previous print edition was based on the Fifth Internet Edition). You can get all the details at No Starch Press.

Enjoy! 

Announcing The Linux Command Line, 6th Internet Edition

After eighteen months of semi-serious effort, I am pleased to announce the release of the 6th Internet Edition. With nearly forty pages of new, additional content, it's perhaps the largest revision since the book's original release in 2009.

Highlights of the 6th Internet Edition include:

• Updated Package Management chapter.
• Extensive revision of the Storage Devices chapter.
• Coverage of additional shell builtins such as eval, getopts, and select.
• Expansion of the Arrays chapter including how to simulate multi-dimensional arrays.
• There is now a downloadable collection of example scripts appearing in the book.

And many more additions and improvements.

For a detailed list of changes, see the Release Notes.

The 6th Internet Edition is now available for free download at https://LinuxCommand.org/tlcl.php.

Enjoy!

Recent Change to Community Translation Policy

I recently added a paragraph to the Community Translation Policy for The Linux Command Line as follows:

Be aware that once you are approved for performing the translation I will add your name and email address to the "Books" page on LinuxCommand.org so that others can contact you regarding your progress and perhaps offer you assistance in the translation.

I am hoping that with change I can get some of the translations moving. Some of them have been "in progress" for more than 5 years and it would be great if they got finished.

I will be making the change to the "Books" page soon, so keep an eye out for your chance to contact one of the translation team to offer help or encouragement.

Adventures with the Linux Command Line, First Internet Edition

I've just released the first Internet edition of my new book, Adventures with the Linux Command Line. This 250+ page volume is a sequel/supplement to The Linux Command Line (TLCL).  With 14 action-packed chapters, it covers a variety of skill-enhancing topics intended for makers, students, and anyone who wants to take their knowledge of the command line and shell scripting to the next level. 

The First Internet Edition is available in two forms. First, as a series of web pages in the Adventures section of LinuxCommand.org and second, as a PDF book like the Internet edition of The Linux Command Line. The PDF book is released under the same Creative Commons license (BY-NC-ND) as TLCL.

The book is available now for free download. You can get it in the Books section of LinuxCommand.org.

Happy keyboarding!

ICYMI: The Linux Command Line: A Complete Introduction, 2nd Edition

In case you missed it, the second edition of The Linux Command Line: A Complete Introduction from No Starch Press is now available. This edition, based on the fifth Internet edition of TLCL contains many improvements and modernizations compared to the first edition.

If you're looking for a more "tangible" version of TLCL, pick up a copy of The Linux Command Line: A Complete Introduction, 2nd Edition wherever fine books are sold.

Announcing The Linux Command Line, Fourth Internet Edition

Good News Everyone!

I have just released the 4th Internet edition of my book, The Linux Command Line. This new edition contains a number of refinements and modernizations. In particular, the example scripts in Part 4 have been improved to increase the robustness of string handling and to serve as better examples of modern coding practice.

You can download the new version here:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/linuxcommand/files/TLCL/17.10/TLCL-17.10.pdf/download

Be sure to download the file named TLCL-17.10.pdf

Enjoy!

Translation Policy

I have received a number of requests from readers for permission to translate the LinuxCommand.org tutorials and/or The Linux Command Line (book) into various languages. I have been pondering this issue for some time and due to my indecision, I have neglected to respond to these requests while I come up with a policy. I apologize for the delay in getting back to those of you who have made requests.

LinuxCommand.org Tutorials

I grant permission to anyone interested in translating the tutorials Learning the Shell and Writing Shell Scripts. However I make the following requests:

1. You must translate the two tutorials in their entirety. This means every one of the files listed below must be translated.
2. You must not alter the contents of the tutorial. You may, however change the HTML markup to suit your needs.
3. You must include the copyright message found at the bottom of each page.
4. Please send me a link to the translated version so that I may include it on the LinuxCommand.org Resources page.

Learning the Shell
lc3_learning_the_shell.php
lc3_lts0010.php
lc3_lts0020.php
lc3_lts0030.php
lc3_lts0040.php
lc3_lts0050.php
lc3_lts0060.php
lc3_lts0070.php
lc3_lts0080.php
lc3_lts0090.php
lc3_lts0100.php

Writing Shell Scripts
lc3_writing_shell_scripts.php
lc3_wss0010.php
lc3_wss0020.php
lc3_wss0030.php
lc3_wss0040.php
lc3_wss0050.php
lc3_wss0060.php
lc3_wss0070.php
lc3_wss0080.php
lc3_wss0090.php
lc3_wss0100.php
lc3_wss0110.php
lc3_wss0120.php
lc3_wss0130.php
lc3_wss0140.php
lc3_wss0150.php

The Linux Command Line

At this time, I am not granting permission to translate the book. No Starch Press is arranging several translated editions. A Korean translation is available now. Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Serbian translations are being developed.

Announcing The Linux Command Line: Second Internet Edition

Tweaked, Tuned, and Updated!

After many months of delays and distractions, I have finally completed a much needed update of The Linux Command Line. Released under the same Creative Commons license as the original, it is now available in PDF format at linuxcommand.org.

What’s New

• Updated to bash version 4. New features discussed in my blog series on bash version 4 are now included in the text.
• Chapter numbers now align with the printed version of the book from No Starch Press.
• Minor formatting and editorial improvements.
• Numerous typos and various bugs fixed. Many thanks to those of you who reported issues in the first edition.
• Miscellaneous updates and content additions.

Enjoy!

Announcing The Linux Command Line from No Starch Press

Starting today, the printed version of The Linux Command Line will be published by No Starch Press. It is available now wherever fine books are sold, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

In October of 2010 I received an email from an editor at No Starch saying that they were impressed with my book and asked if I would be interested in commercially publishing it. This started a long negotiation with them over rights. I wasn't interested in a commercial version per se, rather I was interested in having greater reach. I know that readers outside the United States have difficulty purchasing the printed version from Lulu.com, and that I am unable to provide ePub and other e-reader formats. My publishing agreement with No Starch Press grants them exclusive rights to produce the printed version and all electronic versions except PDF and HTML. Those formats will remain mine. What's important here is that the freely distributable PDF will continue to be available, and I will continue to develop it. I plan to start work on the second edition this spring.  I'm also planning to rewrite the LinuxCommand.org tutorials based on the contents of the book which is, frankly, much more accurate and up-to-date.

So how is the No Starch Press version different from my version? It's about 99% the same. The chapter numbering is different, it's been copy edited to further improve my so-called English, and it's been reformatted to fit their typographical style. But in terms of content, it's virtually the same as the freely distributable version.

To celebrate the introduction of The Linux Command Line, No Starch Press is offering a limited time promotion when you buy the book directly from the No Starch website. Use the discount code GREPITGOOD to get 40% off The Linux Command Line. One week only! Free ebook with all print book purchases.

Further Reading

• Press release from No Starch Press
• Promotion Announcement

New Discount Offer For The Linux Command Line

I recently got a notice from Lulu stating that, for a limited time, you may receive a 10% discount when you order a printed copy of The Linux Command Line.  Details from the notice are as follows:

Disclaimer: Use coupon code SUMMERREAD305 at checkout and receive 10% off The Linux Command Line. Maximum savings with this promotion is $10. You can only use the code once per account, and you can't use this coupon in combination with other coupon codes.  This great offer ends on June 30, 2010 at 11:59 PM so try not to procrastinate! While very unlikely we do reserve the right to change or revoke this offer at anytime, and of course we cannot offer this coupon where it is against the law to do so.

The Linux Command Line - First Edition Is Now Available!

After a two year effort, I have released the first edition of "The Linux Command Line" in all of its 522 page glory!

I want to give special thanks to Mark Polesky for his extraordinary review and test of the book, as well as the rest of the review team: Jesse Becker, Tomasz Chrzczonowicz, Michael Levin, and Spence Miner.

Special thanks also go out to Karen Shotts for editing all of my so-called English.

To download the free PDF version of the book, go to https://sourceforge.net/projects/linuxcommand/files/ and get the file TLCL-09.12.pdf.

You may also purchase a printed version of the book in large, easy-to-read format (which is, in fact, very handy) by going to: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/the-linux-command-line/7594184

Enjoy!

The Linux Command Line - Fourth Draft Now Available

The fourth draft of the book is now available. This version contains almost all the the review feedback received so far and has been edited through the final chapter. This draft does not yet include an index, but is otherwise close to being finished.

The new draft, named TLCL-09.11.pdf, is available here.

Enjoy!

The Linux Command Line - Third Draft Now Available

The third draft is now available. This version features reformatted and captioned tables, some of the changes suggested by the review team (more to follow), and a number of small additions. It also includes the edited versions of the first 18 chapters.

If you are working on the review, please switch to this version. The new draft, named TLCL-09.10.pdf, is available here.

Thanks for your help!

The Linux Command Line - Second Draft Now Available

Hi Everyone,

I just posted the second draft of my book. This incorporates items from my "to do" list. It does not yet include any changes from the review team. Reviewers may switch to this version if they wish (just indicate that you are reviewing version 09.08 of the book) but may also continue with the first draft. The changes in this version are not extensive but it should read a little better. A few new items were added, and the table of contents now provides links to the individual chapters making navigation somewhat easier. Enjoy!

The new PDF is named TLCL-09.08.pdf and is available here.

I'm Looking For Reviewers

Sorry about my long absence, but as you will see, I have an excuse:

Hello All,

I have just finished the first draft of a book I'm writing titled, "The Linux Command Line" to be released under a Creative Commons license. With the initial writing completed, it's time for some editing and review. That means I'm looking for folks willing to perform some reviewing. In particular, I need technical reviewers who can gently point out my technical and historical errors, and I need less experienced users who can find areas where my explanations are unclear. Don't worry about grammar and spelling and such, I have a "real" editor for that. At this stage I need gurus and sample users to test this thing.

The book is fairly long (about 475 pages) so a good review will take some time and effort on the part of any volunteers. If you make a serious contribution, I will add your name to the list of contributors in the "Acknowledgments" section of the first chapter. Don't laugh, that's all I got for doing a technical review on O'Reilly's "Bash Cookbook."

Unlike Bash Cookbook however, my book will be freely distributable in PDF format but I am reserving the right to sell printed versions.

Please feel free to take a look at the draft. It can be downloaded from my Sourceforge site at:

http://downloads.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/linuxcommand/TLCL-09.07.pdf?use_mirror=master

If you decide that you'd like to help out with the review, let me know and I will provide further details.

Many thanks!