Product Description

As an open operating system, Unix can be improved on by anyone and everyone: individuals, companies, universities, and more. As a result, the very nature of Unix has been altered over the years by numerous extensions formulated in an assortment of versions. Today, Unix encompasses everything from Sun's Solaris to Apple's Mac OS X and more varieties of Linux than you can easily name. The latest edition of this bestselling reference brings Unix into the 21st century. It's been reworked to keep current with the broader state of Unix in today's world and highlight the strengths of this operating system in all its various flavors. Detailing all Unix commands and options, the informative guide provides generous descriptions and examples that put those commands in context. Here are some of the new features you'll find in "Unix in a Nutshell, Fourth Edition": Solaris 10, the latest version of the SVR4-based operating system, GNU/Linux, and Mac OS X; Bash shell (along with the 1988 and 1993 versions of ksh); tsch shell (instead of the original Berkeley csh); package management programs, used for program installation on popular GNU/Linux systems, Solaris and Mac OS X; GNU Emacs Version 21; Introduction to source code management systems; concurrent versions system; subversion version control system; GDB debugger. As Unix has progressed, certain commands that were once critical have fallen into disuse. To that end, the book has also dropped material that is no longer relevant, keeping it taut and current. If you're a Unix user or programmer, you'll recognize the value of this complete, up-to-date Unix reference. It includes chapter overviews, specific examples, and detailed commands.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24648 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 906 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Unix in a Nutshell is the standard desktop reference, without question (Manpages come in a close second). With clean layout and superior command tables available at a glance, O'Reilly's third edition of Nutshell is an essential to own.

Like a dictionary, Unix in a Nutshell helps you find what you need, even if you're not exactly sure what it is you're looking for (or how to spell it!) With that in mind, this book is for intermediate to advanced users only--those new to the Unix operating system would be better off with Learning the Unix Operating System or Unix: Visual Quickstart Guide.

The last full revision of the book was in 1992, and the new edition covers Solaris 7, as well as newer versions of shells (ksh, in particular), RCS and GNU emacs. Topping off at over 500 pages, Unix in a Nutshell contains--literally--everything you could want to know about the various commands, shells and functions. Fifty new commands have been added to the already sizable lists, and even the most seasoned user is likely to find a timesaving command not previously known. --Jennifer Buckendorff

From the Publisher
This quick reference has been reworked to present you with the current state of Unix. Featuring chapter overviews, in-depth command coverage, and specific examples, it's the perfect supplement for Unix users and programmers. New topics include package management programs, source code management systems, and the Solaris 10, GNU/Linux, and Mac OS X systems.

About the Author
Arnold Robbins, an Atlanta native, is a professional programmer and technical author. He has worked with Unix systems since 1980, when he was introduced to a PDP-11 running a version of Sixth Edition Unix. He has been a heavy AWK user since 1987, when he became involved with gawk, the GNU project's version of AWK. As a member of the POSIX 1003.2 balloting group, he helped shape the POSIX standard for AWK. He is currently the maintainer of gawk and its documentation. He is also coauthor of the sixth edition of "Learning the vi Editor" from O'Reilly.

Customer Reviews

Very insightful UNIX introduction
Well, once I have started with this book and it had been helpful and well guiding book. In is not the "only" book you will need. I have followed someone review's advice and paired this book with a "UNIX Essentials" DVD and they made a very effective couple. I found this DVD on Amazon.com but since they do not ship outside US I ordered it directly from CustomFlix.com
One way or another those people who pick book of this sort usually had no opportunity to attend some UNIX classes and the DVD alleviates this problem. May be it's just me,but when I pick a book and go through it I'm still no really confident. It does not matter how book is good, I'm never sure is it enough to make a claim that "I know UNIX". And this book along with the DVD had solved this issue to me. Book is easy to read and pleasure to follow. The examples and the explanations are very clear. So I liked this book very much.

This is one of those books that you wear out....
Find a group of Unix System Admins and somewhere nearby will be this book. What's more they will probably all admit to using from time to time. It covers just about everything you need to the depth you need everyday, from scripting to awk and sed to 'how do you get vi to do this'. A purchase I've never regretted.

Can't ask for more
I started working with the Unix environment a couple of years ago, and bought this book on recommendation from a friend. It's a great reference for a wide range of unix areas, and provides a very useful starting point for awk and shell programming. It can definitely act as a beginners guide, but because it covers so many areas in detail, I will continue to reference it for many years. I recommend it for a beginner or intermediate unix user.