recommendations for a book on bash scripting?

ssl6 · 2010-08-29 14:15:52

i keep thinking lately, how usefull it would be if i could do even a bare minimal amount of scripting. i've been using linux for 6 years now, and i have those moments when i'm trying to do something and think to myself, a simple bash script could speed things up....

now i know i can read a lot online and probably learn it that way, but some things i just prefer to have a hard copy, i just find it easier that way. though not all of them seem to specify scipting at all...

so this is the list of books easily available to me locally with a simple walk around the corner

if someone could recommend any particular one from that list it would make my life easy, but if there's something better that i would have to buy online i can do that too, but personally i don't like buying online, i much prefer walking into a store and picking something up

Last edited by ssl6 (2010-08-29 14:18:01)

Allan · 2010-08-29 14:35:59

I know you want a hard copy but....

http://tldp.org/LDP/abs/

Well, grab the PDF a print it.

falconindy · 2010-08-29 14:38:33

How about free online? I'm a firm believer that the BashGuide and the close relative BashFAQ are the finest available references for learning Bash. The wiki at bash-hackers.org is also valuable once you're a little more comfortable. The people of #bash are very knowledgeable and usually very friendly if you can ask direct and clear questions.

If you're insistant on a book, I recall poking about in O'Reilly's Bash Cookbook, but that was long before I discovered the Wooledge wiki.

At all costs, avoid the Advanced Bash Scripting Guide. It contains some good information, but a lot of misleading crap and poor syntax. Without knowing what to ignore, its caveat emptor. Hey, that rhymes!

ssl6 · 2010-08-29 15:06:21

ok, so the O'reilly's is a decent book for hard copy reference. maybe i'll pick that up to get started, then i have a few online references to help me along the way, can't rely on only one source of information, that would be bias. but like i said, i like a hard copy, sometimes i just find it easier to work with

Last edited by ssl6 (2010-08-29 15:09:34)

rwd · 2010-08-29 20:36:51

falconindy wrote:

At all costs, avoid the Advanced Bash Scripting Guide. It contains some good information, but a lot of misleading crap and poor syntax.

Thanks for the heads up.. I had that one in my 'to read' bookmarks for ages. BashGuide seems well written.

Allan · 2010-08-29 20:42:38

falconindy wrote:

At all costs, avoid the Advanced Bash Scripting Guide. It contains some good information, but a lot of misleading crap and poor syntax. Without knowing what to ignore, its caveat emptor. Hey, that rhymes!

Really, I find it rather good. Maybe I just blank out the crap you mention...

skanky · 2010-08-30 20:31:53

The Cookbook is a good reference, but Learning The Bash Shell by O'Reilly is very good for people starting out - I used it and still have many bookmarks in it that I use (it can be quicker when it's on your desktop than then opening up a browser or pdf etc...).

For online stuff I have access to (via work) Safari (O'Reilly's online stuff) which gives access to loads of books, and is great - but it adds up over time, so you might want to persuade your boss that it's worthwhile.

ssl6 · 2010-08-31 15:32:01

this is teh one your talking about? maybe i'll grab that too, might help, i'll flip through in the store, if i think it could be usefull then i'll grab it

skanky · 2010-08-31 16:31:46

Yes that's it. It's mostly useful to people who are learning the shell, than those who know a load of it already - but I still refer to some chapters for areas I don't use that often.

ssl6 · 2010-09-01 11:43:49

well, to be honest, i don't know how i would rank my knowledge, i manage to do what i need, i'm sure i've got plenty to learn though

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#1 2010-08-29 14:15:52

recommendations for a book on bash scripting?

#2 2010-08-29 14:35:59

Re: recommendations for a book on bash scripting?

#3 2010-08-29 14:38:33

Re: recommendations for a book on bash scripting?

#4 2010-08-29 15:06:21

Re: recommendations for a book on bash scripting?

#5 2010-08-29 20:36:51

Re: recommendations for a book on bash scripting?

#6 2010-08-29 20:42:38

Re: recommendations for a book on bash scripting?

#7 2010-08-30 20:31:53

Re: recommendations for a book on bash scripting?

#8 2010-08-31 15:32:01

Re: recommendations for a book on bash scripting?

#9 2010-08-31 16:31:46

Re: recommendations for a book on bash scripting?

#10 2010-09-01 11:43:49

Re: recommendations for a book on bash scripting?

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