📚 Linux/Unix: Misc. & Learning Resources – Shell Tricks, Cheat Sheets & More
🧲 Introduction – Boost Productivity with Hidden Shell Features & Smart Learning Tools
Learning Linux goes beyond basic commands. Many power features—like globbing, brace expansion, and well-curated cheat sheets—make working in the terminal faster and more efficient. Coupled with the right reading resources and handy tools, you’ll quickly move from beginner to proficient.
🎯 In this guide, you’ll learn:
- How to use powerful shell expansions like globbing and braces
- Where to find fast-reference cheat sheets
- What curated tools and books can support your Linux mastery
📘 Topics Covered
| 🔵 Category | 📖 Description |
|---|---|
| Advanced Shell Features | Master filename wildcards, brace expansions, and quoting tricks |
| Cheat Sheets & Quick References | Access printable, searchable, and categorized Linux references |
| Selected Reading & Useful Tools | Books, online tutorials, and tools to continue your Linux journey |
🔵 Linux/Unix: Advanced Shell Features
🔹 Globbing (Filename Wildcards)
| Pattern | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
* | Matches any number of characters | ls *.txt |
? | Matches a single character | ls file?.txt |
[abc] | Matches one of listed characters | ls file[123].txt |
[a-z] | Matches character range | ls file[a-f].txt |
✅ Globbing is used heavily in bash to match files/directories using patterns.
🔹 Brace Expansion
echo file{1,2,3}.txt
✅ Expands to: file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt
Another example:
mkdir {2022..2025}/project{A,B}
✅ Creates nested folder structures quickly.
🔹 Command Substitution & Arithmetic Expansion
echo "Today is $(date)"
echo $((3 * 5))
✅ Insert output of a command or perform inline arithmetic.
🔵 Linux/Unix: Cheat Sheets & Quick References
🔹 Online Cheat Sheets
| Resource | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Cheatography | Bash, sed, awk, regex, systemd, etc. |
| OverAPI | CLI reference portal |
| ExplainShell | Breaks down shell command syntax in detail |
| GitHub Gists | Search for community-contributed shell tips |
🔹 Printable Quick Sheets
Look for PDFs covering:
- Bash scripting
- Common commands (
ls,find,grep,awk, etc.) - File permissions and redirections
- Package management shortcuts
🔵 Linux/Unix: Selected Reading & Useful Tools
📚 Recommended Books
| Title | Why It’s Great |
|---|---|
| The Linux Command Line – Shotts | Clear, hands-on guide from beginner to advanced |
| How Linux Works – Ward | System internals, processes, boot sequence, etc. |
| UNIX Power Tools | Covers tips, hacks, and deeper scripting |
🔧 Online Resources & Tools
- TLDR Pages – Simple explanations for commands:
tldr tar - Bash ShellCheck – Online tool to detect syntax errors:
https://www.shellcheck.net - Linux Journey – https://linuxjourney.com: Beginner to advanced online lessons.
📌 Summary – Recap & Next Steps
The path to Linux mastery includes powerful shell features, quick references, and learning materials that expand your capabilities. Understanding brace/glob expansions, using cheat sheets, and following expert resources makes your terminal experience both productive and enjoyable.
🔍 Key Takeaways:
- Use globbing patterns to match files easily (
*,?,[ ]) - Create multiple directories/files with brace expansion
- Bookmark cheat sheets and online tools for quicker scripting
- Read practical Linux books and use TLDR/ShellCheck for help
⚙️ Real-World Applications:
- Auto-generate directory structures for automation
- Quickly locate commands you’ve forgotten
- Write scripts more efficiently with fewer syntax errors
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What’s the difference between globbing and regex?
✅ Globbing is simpler and used for file path matching in shells (*, ?), while regex is used in tools like grep or sed for pattern matching.
❓ How do I use brace expansion in scripts?
✅ Use:
for file in file{1..3}.txt; do touch "$file"; done
Creates file1.txt, file2.txt, file3.txt.
❓ Where can I find TLDR pages?
✅ Visit https://tldr.sh or install it with:
sudo npm install -g tldr
❓ Is ShellCheck reliable for production scripts?
✅ Yes! It detects common scripting issues and even explains fixes. Use it during script development for better code hygiene.
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