1.1 Read (at least) these things (All The Words)Index

1. Week 06 Notes HTML – this file – Read All The Words
2. Search PATH – how the shell finds commands
3. Quoting – hiding characters from the shell
4. Unix/Linux File System – directories, inodes, hard links
5. List of Commands You Should Know
6. Linux and Sysadmin News in the World
7. Video Tutorials on Lynda.com – tagged by week number

• Create your lynda.com account and watch these sections of Unix for Mac OS X Users
  • these videos are for all Unix/Linux students, not just Mac OSX users
  • 3. Working with Files and Directories
    • Naming files 5m 41s
      • use quotes to surround names with blanks or special characters
    • Hard links 5m 30s
    • Symbolic links 6m 36s
  • 5. Commands and Programs
    • The PATH variable 4m 13s
    • Disk information commands 6m 8s
      • df, du,
  • 7. Configuring Your Working Environment 41m 28s
    • Setting the PATH variable 6m 10s
      • using double quotes instead of single quotes

1.2 Assignments this weekIndex

Check the due date for each assignment and put a reminder in your agenda, calendar, and digital assistant. Just like in the Real World, not all due dates are on the same days or at the same times.

• Review last week. Did you do everything assigned last week?
• Read All The Words, Do, and then Submit via Blackboard:
  • Bonus (optional) Assignment #04 HTML – the VIM text editor
  • Assignment #05 HTML – GLOB wildcard patterns, finding files using GLOB, redirection and pipes
  • Bonus (optional) Assignment #06 HTML about Midterm #1
  • Assignment #07 HTML – start-up files, environment, search PATH, quoting, hard and soft links, disk usage
  • Really do Read All The Words. You don’t get a second chance to get it right.
• Do Bonus (optional) Assignment #06 HTML about Midterm #1
  • There is a checking program available to check your file format for this bonus assignment, but only people who Read All These Words will know about it. Wrong format means no marks.

1.3 Lab work this weekIndex

• Finish work on the ODT or PDF Worksheet #04 HTML and Worksheet #05 HTML so you can do Assignment #05 HTML – GLOB wildcard patterns, finding files using GLOB, redirection and pipes
  • These all require you to understand Finding Files, Shell GLOB patterns (wildcard pathname matching) and Shell I/O Redirection (including Pipes).
• Assignment #07 HTML is about start-up files, environment, search PATH, quoting, hard and soft links, disk usage
  • This assignment requires material not yet covered in lectures.
• Do Bonus (optional) Assignment #06 HTML about Midterm #1
  • There is a checking program available to check your file format for this bonus assignment, but only people who Read All These Words will know about it. Wrong format means no marks. Do not redirect the output of this checking program!
• Read The VI (VIM) Text Editor and optionally do the bonus Assignment #04 HTML.

1.4 WorksheetsIndex

Worksheets are preparation for your assignments. You can’t do the assignments without having done the worksheets first, and you can’t do the worksheets without having first read the Course Notes: 1. Read. 2. Worksheets. 3. Assignment.

Form a small study group to do the worksheets. Each person tries the example given, and you make sure you all get the same answers. Worksheets are not for hand-in; they are not worth marks; the assignments test your knowledge of the lectures and worksheets.

The worksheets are available in four formats: Open Office (ODT), PDF, HTML, and Text. Only the Open Office format allows you “fill in the blanks” in the worksheet. The PDF format looks good but doesn’t allow you to type into the blanks in the worksheet. The HTML format is crude but useful for quick for viewing online.

Do NOT open the Worksheet ODT files using any Microsoft products; they will mangle the format and mis-number the questions. Use the free Libre Office or Open Office programs to open these ODT documents. On campus, you can download Libre Office here.

• Worksheet #04 ODT – shell GLOB patterns and Aliases
  • Worksheet #04 PDF
  • Worksheet #04 HTML
  • shell GLOB patterns (wildcards), Aliases: alias, sum, unalias
• Worksheet #05 ODT – shell I/O redirection (including pipes)
  • Worksheet #05 PDF
  • Worksheet #05 HTML
  • shell I/O redirection, date, head, nl, tail, tr, wc
• Worksheet #06 HTML – Optional Bonus VIM Text Editor Practice
  • This is an optional worksheet for a BONUS assignment using vim
  • Optional command-line VIM tutorial: the vimtutor program on the CLS.
  • Bonus (optional) Assignment #04 HTML – the VIM text editor
  • Read The VI (VIM) Text Editor

Worksheets prepare you for the upcoming assignments.

1.5 Upcoming tests and examsIndex

This course has two midterm tests and one final exam.

• Put these dates below into your phone!
• Read the Test Instructions (all the words) before your tests and exam.
• Use the Name Game link (in the Test Instructions) to test the spelling of your name before the test.
• I don’t answer questions about the instructions during the test. Ask me in a lab period before the test.

3.1 Commands UsedIndex

• Keep a notebook with a List of Commands in it.
  • You need to write down yourself what each command does.
  • Check the updated list of commands each week.
  • Bring your notes to class! Stop wasting time looking up commands.
  • I will check for this list in your lab periods.
• Are you making notes from the worksheets on how each command works?
  • What do the options used in the worksheets mean, for each command?
  • Don’t copy and use options that you don’t understand!
• Useful command: hostname
  • Needed for Assignment #07 HTML
• Three useful options to the wc command (often used in tests):
  • wc -l
  • wc -w (Needed for your second midterm test.)
  • wc -c
• Know (for the assignment) the three commands that are directory operations that manipulate file names; they don’t touch the file data and don’t need any permissions on the file data.

3.2 Student FeedbackIndex

Note from a student on Tuesday:

Dear Professor Allen,
Hello!
I was working with the mid-term practice last weekend, and it doesn't goes
very well. And then I go back to watch the class notes(I know! I should do
that in the first place) because I realize that I missed lots of the
information. Then I found that the pages of course notes are super helpful.
It helps me a lot!
I thought the pages are too much links and too complex when I just taking a
quick look in the first time, but I was wrong. It's so impressive that the
contents are strong logical, everything is explained in detail but not
complicated, easy to understand. Most of the things does not take me a long
time to understand.
I really should read the pages earlier!!!
It does takes me many time to adapt the new learning style as a foreign
student, but I am feeling better right now. Hopefully, it is not too
late for the test.
Anyway, just want to tell you that the course pages are very helpful. And
thank you, This is a great work for us!
Best Regards.

Note from a former student:

Hey Ian,
I just wanted to thank you again for the reference that you me when
applying for a government position last year.
I ended up getting the job and I am part of a great team.
Thanks again,

If you want a good reference from me, get great marks and keep your attendance up-to-date.

3.3 Copying from other studentsIndex

Here is a note from an International Student who was charged with plagiarism (academic fraud) in a previous year:

Professor,
After everything, I would just like to thank you for not giving us
any harsher consequences. I really appreciate it, it's probably the
best Christmas gift after this stressful weekend I could get. And
what might be weird for you, I'd like to thank you for that you
found this plagiarism out because I have a lesson in my mind I will
never forget. I'm still very embarrassed [...] but these are the
consequences I have to face right now. Thank you once again and I
wish you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

One other student involved in the above case failed the course. Review the class notes on Plagiarism if you copy the work of other students or if you let your work be copied by other students. I know who you are and we’re going to have a chat about your behaviour soon.