1 Readings, Assignments, Labs, Tests, and ToDoIndex

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

Week 05 Notes HTML – this file – Read All The Words
Shell I/O Redirection – stdin, stdout, stderr, and Pipes
Test Instructions – read this before your midterm test this week.
Practice Tests and Answers – practice questions for your midterm test.
Shell Variables – quoting, local and environment variables, USER HOME SHELL PATH TERM $$
Start-Up Files – Login and Shell Startup Files, aliases, options: .bash_profile and .bashrc
Search PATH – how the shell finds commands
Quoting – hiding characters from the shell
List of Commands – Command names you should know, listed by week
Video Tutorials on Lynda.com – tagged by week number
Linux and Sysadmin News in the World

Follow last week’s instructions to create your lynda.com account, then 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
  - Unix text editors 6m 39s
    - vi/vim, nano
    - head, tail
  - Naming files 5m 41s
    - use quotes to surround names with blanks or special characters
- 5. Commands and Programs
  - The PATH variable 4m 13s
- 7. Configuring Your Working Environment 41m 28s
  - Profile, login, and resource files 9m 11s
  - Setting command aliases 6m 59s
    - saving aliases in your .bashrc file
  - Setting and exporting environment variables 4m 54s
  - Setting the PATH variable 6m 10s
    - using double quotes instead of single quotes

1.2 Assignments this weekIndex

Note that your upcoming Midterm Test #1 is worth more than three assignments put together. Don’t spend all your time doing an assignment at the expense of studying the Practice Tests and Answers for the Midterm Test.

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 Brightspace:
- Assignment #03 HTML – working with files and pathnames: PS1 find mkdir mv cp rm touch file
  - Remember to set your PS1 prompt every time you log in to the CLS.
  - This assignment does not use shell GLOB patterns or pipes. See the list of Prerequisites at the start.
- OPTIONAL: Read The VI (VIM) Text Editor and optionally do the bonus Assignment #04 HTML for extra credit.
- Coming soon: Assignment #05 HTML – using GLOB wildcard patterns, selecting files using GLOB, redirection and pipes. This assignment requires reading Shell GLOB patterns and Shell I/O Redirection and then doing Worksheet #04 HTML and Worksheet #05 HTML.
- Really do Read All The Words. You don’t get a second chance to get it right.

1.3 Lab work this weekIndex

Note that your upcoming Midterm Test #1 is worth more than three assignments put together. Don’t spend all your time doing an assignment at the expense of studying the Practice Tests and Answers for the Midterm Test.

Finish the readings, worksheets, and Assignment #03 HTML from last week.
Study the first Practice Tests and Answers for your upcoming Midterm Test #1 at the end of next week (Week 6).
Complete and save the ODT or PDF versions of 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 worksheets require you to understand Finding Files, Shell GLOB patterns (wildcard pathname matching) and Shell I/O Redirection (including Pipes).
Coming soon: Assignment #05 HTML – GLOB wildcard patterns, selecting files using GLOB, redirection and pipes
- This assignment requires you to understand the material in the web pages and both Worksheets 4 and 5.
OPTIONAL: Read The VI (VIM) Text Editor and optionally do the bonus Assignment #04 HTML.

1.3.1 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:

Read the web notes. (Please: Read All The Words)
Do the relevant Worksheet(s).
Do the relevant Assignment(s).

Make notes from the worksheets on how each command works. What do the options used in the worksheets mean, for each command? (See the weekly List of Commands.)

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 get a copy here: Course Introduction: Install Libre Office.

Worksheets #02 and #03 require you to have read File System and Pathnames:

Worksheet #02 ODT – Using standard Linux commands I
- Worksheet #02 PDF
- Worksheet #02 HTML
- PS1, cd, find, less, ls, man, mkdir, passwd, pwd, rmdir
- Remember to set your PS1 prompt every time you log in to the CLS.
Worksheet #03 ODT – Using standard Linux commands II
- Worksheet #03 PDF
- Worksheet #03 HTML
- cat, clear, cp, find, fgrep, history, less, man, mv, rm, sleep, touch

Worksheets #04 and #05 require you to have read Shell GLOB patterns and Shell I/O Redirection:

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 is for the optional VIM Bonus Assignment (extra credit):

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.

1.4 Upcoming testsIndex

Follow this link to see all your upcoming Quizzes and Tests. The dates are also posted on the Course Home Page and on Brightspace CST8207.

For full marks, read the Test Instructions (all the words) before your midterm tests.

First Midterm test: 45 minutes; in your one-hour lecture class in Week 6.
Second Midterm test: 45 minutes; in your one-hour lecture class in Week 10.

Tests take place in your one-hour lecture class, not in your lab period. You must write the test in the lecture class in which you are registered.

1.4.1 Practice Test #1 and Brightspace Quiz #2Index

Practice Tests and Answers – practice questions for your midterm test.

Quizzes and Tests – Quiz #2 is taken from Practice Test #1 and is good practice for your upcoming Midterm Test #1 in Week 6.

2 Notes from the ClassroomIndex

Take notes in class! Keep a pad open on your desk.
In lab periods this week and next we answer your questions about Practice Test #1. Your first midterm test is at the end of next week (Week 6).
Note that your upcoming Midterm Test #1 is worth more than three assignments put together. Don’t spend all your time doing an assignment at the expense of studying the Practice Tests and Answers for the Midterm Test.
How do you know a pathname exists? What command can you use to verify that a pathname you type actually exists?
Remember to set your prompt (PS1=) every time you log in to the CLS. It only takes three keystrokes to recall and execute the command line.
If you think the Course Linux Server (CLS) is down, try this URL: http://cst8207.idallen.ca/montage18f.cgi If it works, you know the CLS is working. If the URL works and you don’t get a login: prompt using PuTTY, then your IP is probably locked out of the CLS.

2.1 Simplifying pathnamesIndex

You will see lots of these: Rewrite each pathname as a simplified absolute pathname with no . or .. references:

/home/me/../you/../../etc/../home/me/../you/../me/../foo
/home/me/../you/../../etc/../home/me/../you/../me/../..
/usr/./bin/../lib/../../etc/../usr/./lib/../bin/./bar
/usr/./bin/../lib/../../etc/../usr/./lib/../bin/..
/../../var/./a/../../var/b/../../etc/./bar/../foo
/../../var/./a/../../var/b/../../etc/./bar/..

These questions and the answers are part of Practice Test #1 in Practice Tests and Answers. Look for questions starting with “Simplify this pathname”.

2.2 Did not change password – CLS access revokedIndex

Students will have their CLS accounts disabled if they have not changed their default password. (I do not want people breaking into my machine because of you.)

See my online timetable for how to make an office appointment to see me if you want your account back.

2.3 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.

I will check for this list in your lab periods.

Bring your notes to class! Stop wasting time looking up commands.

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!
Using GLOB patterns as -name arguments to find
- Remember to quote the find GLOB patterns to hide them from the shell!
- GLOB patterns are NOT needed in Assignment 3. See Assignment 5.

CST8207 Week 05 Notes
variables, start-up files .bashrc, search PATH, quoting, Midterm Test #1 review