Linux Bash

Providing immersive and explanatory content in a simple way anybody can understand.

  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    In the world of Linux, the innovation in package management and software distribution has led to the development of various systems aimed at simplifying application installation and management. Two of the most popular package managers are Snap and Flatpak. Both systems were designed to provide a sandbox environment for applications, allowing them to run in isolation from the rest of the system. However, they differ in various ways including their performance, ease of use, and compatibility across different Linux distributions. Comparing Snap and Flatpak is crucial for several reasons. Developers need to decide which package manager to target for distributing their applications.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    Virtualization is a powerful technology that allows you to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single physical machine. In the realm of Linux, virtualization technologies have evolved to provide robust performance and extensive features that make running virtual environments more accessible and efficient than ever. In this guide, we'll explore the basics of virtualization in Linux, discuss different tools available, and provide step-by-step instructions on how to set up virtualization on your Linux systems using various package managers. Virtualization involves creating virtual versions of hardware platforms, operating systems, storage devices, or network resources.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    Linux Bash, or the Bourne Again SHell, is a powerful shell and scripting environment widely used by many Linux users. One of its great features is the ability to use aliases and functions to streamline the command line interface, enhancing productivity and ease of use. Today, we’ll discuss how you can use these features effectively and adjust your package management commands for different Linux distributions. Aliases in Bash are shortcuts or nicknames for commands or a group of commands. They are particularly useful for long commands that you use regularly but don't want to type out in full each time. To create an alias in Bash, you use the alias command.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    When using Linux, depending on the hardware you have, you may at times need to install proprietary drivers to optimise performance, especially for GPU, Wi-Fi, or other peripheral devices. Different Linux distributions have different methods for handling these installations. Below, we will walk through how to install proprietary drivers on three major distributions: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), Ubuntu, and openSUSE. On RHEL, installing proprietary drivers often involves using the dnf package manager. For instance, let's take an example of installing an NVIDIA driver. bash sudo dnf install epel-release sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled powertools Step 2: Install ELRepo: bash sudo dnf install https://www.elrepo.org/elrepo-release-8.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    Linux environment variables are a set of dynamic named values stored within the system that are used by applications running on a Linux operating system. They can affect the way running processes will behave on a computer. In this article, we will delve into how to set and use environment variables strategically and provide operating instructions relevant to various Linux package managers: apt, dnf, and zypper. Environment variables are used to store information about the operating environment, such as the location of currently installed software, user settings, and system preferences. For instance, the PATH variable provides the shell with a list of directories to search for executable files.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    In the dynamic world of Linux, staying on top of kernel updates is crucial for security, performance, and stability. However, navigating kernel updates across various Linux distributions can be daunting due to the differences in package management systems. In this blog, we’ll demystify the process by focusing on three of the most popular package managers: APT (used by Debian-based distributions like Ubuntu), DNF (used by Fedora), and Zypper (used by openSUSE). Why Update the Kernel? Updating the kernel can lead to numerous benefits including: Security patches: Vital for closing vulnerabilities. Enhanced compatibility: Newer kernels bring better compatibility with different hardware and software.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    Navigating the Linux command line might seem daunting for the uninitiated but becomes incredibly powerful once you harness the capabilities of text filters and UNIX utilities. This article aims to explore some advanced techniques to manipulate data streams right from your terminal. Whether you're a system administrator, developer, or a curious tech enthusiast, these tools and tips can enhance your productivity and system management capabilities. We'll also cover the installation instructions for key utilities using different package managers like apt, dnf, and zypper. Text filters in Linux are utilities that read from standard input, transform the input in some way, and then output it to standard output.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    Managing disk space effectively is crucial for system administrators, especially when multiple users share the same server resources. Implementing filesystem quotas is an essential tool in controlling the amount of disk space and number of inodes that users and groups can utilize. This ensures that no single user can consume all disk resources, hence maintaining system stability and ensuring fair resource distribution. In this article, we’ll walk through the process of setting up filesystem quotas on Linux using quota tools and will cover instructions for different package managers including apt, dnf, and zypper. Before setting up quotas, you must ensure the quota package is installed on your system.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    As the Linux ecosystem is vast and varied, one of the consistent challenges developers and users face is managing software tools across different distributions. Traditionally, each Linux distribution has its own packaging system, which can lead to compatibility issues or extra maintenance burdens for deploying software uniformly. However, with the advent of universal package formats like Snap, Flatpak, and AppImage, the Linux world is shifting towards a more unified approach. In this blog, we explore these universal package formats and provide guidance on how to use them across various Linux distributions. 1.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    Bash, or the Bourne Again SHell, is a powerful command line tool that allows users to control and script operations in Linux environments. One advanced feature of Bash scripting is the ability to define functions, which are reusable blocks of code. Not only can these functions be used in a single script, but they can also be exported to other scripts or shell instances. In this blog, we’ll explore how to export and import functions in Bash and provide guidance on managing necessary packages across different Linux distributions. Before diving into exporting and importing functions, let’s first ensure we understand how to define a function in Bash.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    Bash (Bourne Again SHell) is more than just a tool for inputting commands: it's a powerful means of increasing productivity and efficiency through its history features and shortcuts. If you're using a Linux distribution, chances are you're interacting with Bash regularly. Whether you're a software developer, a system administrator, or just a Linux enthusiast, mastering Bash history features can significantly streamline your command line work. Today, we’ll dive into some of the most useful Bash history features and shortcuts and discuss how to manage your system to get the most out of them. Bash keeps a record of the commands you input, which is known as the history. You can view this list by typing history in your terminal.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    Personal Package Archives (PPA) are repositories designed to distribute software and updates that are not available in the official Ubuntu repositories. While PPAs are incredibly useful for getting the latest software versions, they can pose security risks if not managed correctly. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through how to securely add custom PPAs to your Ubuntu system, focusing on best practices and also touching upon other package managers like dnf and zypper briefly. PPAs allow users and developers to upload Ubuntu source packages to be built and published as an apt repository by Launchpad.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    In the world of Linux, managing and configuring systems efficiently is key to maintaining a robust and customizable environment. Whether you're a system administrator or a seasoned software developer, tweaking configuration files is part of daily life. To streamline this process, awk and sed stand out as powerful tools in your scripting arsenal. Today, we'll explore how you can use these utilities for templating and effectively manage configuration files. Before diving into practical examples, let's recap what awk and sed are: Awk is a versatile programming language designed for pattern scanning and processing. It's exceptionally good at handling data extraction and reporting.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    In Linux and other Unix-like operating systems, environment variables are a set of dynamic named values stored within the system that are used by applications running on the operating system. They play a critical role in influencing the behavior of the software on your computer. In this blog, we will delve into what environment variables are, where they are used, and how you can manage them effectively in Bash, the popular command-line interface for Linux. Additionally, we will explore how to install necessary tools with different package managers like apt, dnf, and zypper. Environment variables are used to store information about the environment in which the operating system runs.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    As a system administrator or software developer, dealing with Linux repositories is an essential skill. This comprehensive guide will teach you how to manage Fedora repositories on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)-based systems, focusing on using various package managers such as DNF (used in Fedora and RHEL), APT (common in Debian-based systems), and Zypper (used in SUSE Linux distributions). Understanding Repositories A software repository is a storage location from which software packages may be retrieved and installed on a computer. While Fedora repositories are primarily designed for use with Fedora, these can also often be used on other RHEL-based distributions and, with some tweaks, on other Linux distros.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    When working with Bash, the Unix shell and command language, scripting is a powerful technique to automate tasks. Bash scripting not only helps in automating routine tasks but also enables handling complex operations efficiently. One of the advanced Bash scripting techniques includes the use of dynamic variables. In this guide, you will learn what dynamic variables are, why they are useful, and how to work with them in your Bash scripts. Additionally, you will also know the basics of installing necessary packages using different Linux package managers where necessary. Dynamic variables, also known as indirect expansion or variable indirection, allow you to reference variables dynamically during runtime.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    For system administrators or software developers who work in environments using different Linux distributions, compatibility issues often arise. Software packages designed for one distribution are not always readily usable on another due to differing package management systems and library dependencies. This is especially true for those who primarily use Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) but need software packaged for Debian-based distributions. Fortunately, a tool named alien can help to bridge this gap. In this blog, we'll explore how to use alien to convert Debian packages for use on RHEL, and provide instructions for handling these packages across different Linux distributions.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    In the world of Linux, downloading files from the internet is a frequent task whether you're a software developer, system administrator, or just a regular Linux user. There are several command-line tools at your disposal to make this job easier, but the most popular among them are wget and curl. In this guide, we'll explore how to use these tools to download files and also make sure they are installed on your system using different package managers such as apt, dnf, and zypper. Before diving into how to use wget and curl, let's make sure these tools are installed on your system. The installation method depends on the Linux distribution you are using.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    For Linux users, the shell (or terminal) is the nerve center of the operating system, enabling a powerful way to perform and automate tasks. Bash, an acronym for Bourne-Again SHell, is one of the most common shells used on Linux. One potent feature of Bash is its capability to make system calls directly from the command line. This blog provides a beginner-friendly overview of how to harness system calls in Bash, including handling different package managers as needed. System calls provide the necessary interface between an application and the Linux kernel. Whenever a program needs to request a service from the kernel—be it file management, communication, or device handling—it does so through system calls.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    When it comes to managing packages on Linux systems, different distributions come with different tools tailored to their specific needs. For those working across multiple distributions, it becomes essential to master these tools. In this blog post, we'll focus on exploring and testing Zypper commands within a virtualized environment while also touching on how to handle similar tasks with apt and dnf, the package managers for Debian-based and Fedora-based systems respectively. Testing in a virtualized environment allows users to experiment without risking their main operating system. Changes are confined to the virtual machine, and can easily be reverted to a snapshot if something goes wrong.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    For users and administrators alike, transferring files between computers is a fundamental task. Linux provides powerful tools for managing remote file transfers, notably through the use of protocols such as FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol). In this guide, we will cover how to install and use ftp and sftp utilities on Linux systems, complete with instructions for different package managers including apt, dnf, and zypper. FTP: An older protocol that enables file transfers between client and server. It is easy to use but not secure; data, including passwords, are transmitted unencrypted. SFTP: Part of the SSH protocol suite, which provides secure file transfers.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    In the realm of Linux, handling data formatted in JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) and XML (Extensible Markup Language) efficiently is a crucial skill, especially for developers and system administrators who often need to script against web APIs or manage configuration files. Although Bash, the ubiquitous command shell in Linux environments, does not natively handle JSON and XML parsing, various tools can help achieve these tasks effectively. In this blog post, we'll explore how to deal with JSON and XML files in Bash using different tools such as jq for JSON manipulation and xmlstarlet for XML parsing.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    With the increasing need for powerful cross-platform development environments, the integration of Linux capabilities in Windows through WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) has become a game-changer. WSL allows users on Windows 10 and Windows 11 to run a Linux distribution alongside their Windows applications, offering remarkable flexibility. This dual capability enriches your environment to manage and deploy software using popular Linux package managers like APT, DNF, and Zypper. Whether you are a developer, a systems administrator, or just a tech enthusiast, mastering these tools within WSL can enhance your workflow significantly. In this guide, we'll dive deep into using these package managers efficiently in WSL.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    When working with Linux systems, especially in server environments, configuring network settings such as IP addresses and subnets is a fundamental skill. Let’s explore how to manage these configurations effectively using Linux Bash, covering different package managers and distributions. Before diving into configurations, it's vital to understand what IP addresses and subnets are. An IP address is a unique address that identifies a device on the internet or a local network. The subnet mask, on the other hand, defines the network portion of an IP address, allowing the possibility to differentiate the network segment, the device is on, from other devices.
  • Posted on
    Featured Image
    In the landscape of software development, especially when it involves creating applications that should run across different Linux distributions, package testing stands as one of the pivotal phases. Testing packages across multiple distributions ensures that your application behaves as intended, no matter the environment it’s deployed in. Cross-distribution package testing, however, can be challenging, cumbersome, and resource-intensive if not approached correctly. This is where Docker comes into play as a powerful ally. By leveraging Docker, developers can streamline the process of setting up, testing, and validating packages across various Linux environments in a fraction of the time it takes with traditional methods.