Best resource on learning Linux command line?

Question

Someone asked me recently what is the best resource for learning the Linux shell (she uses Ubuntu) but I really couldn't pinpoint one since I picked it up by just doing over time. But I am sure there are some books or, better yet, internet resources where one can find instructive ways of learning Linux and spreading the good word of *Nix.

Answer 1

the 'man' command is one of the most useful source on the linux command line

Kindness,

Dan

Answer 2

I think Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide is the de-facto resource for learning bash scripting (don't be misled by "advanced" title ;). Commandlinefu.com is good resource for quick and frequently used recipes when you have mastered the fundamentals.

Answer 3

1. Experience
2. The linux documentation project with tons of guides and howtos that will teach you step by step the most useful commands.
3. apropos command.
4. man command
5. This site :)

Answer 4

I learnt the Unix command line from a book called "Peter Norton's Guide to Unix". You can buy a used copy of this gem for $0.01 at Amazon.com. It's worth every penny. I expect you can find a lot of similar books on the Unix command line for similar prices at charity shops (thrift stores), and most of what they say will probably still be relevant today as it was twenty years ago. I was recently given a copy of another old book on System V, and it was actually quite useful. For example I'd never heard of the nl command for making line numbers. I'm sure these kinds of books will be more useful than the man pages for teaching a beginner concepts like pipes.

Answer 5

My vote is for The UNIX Programming Environment by Kernighan and Pike followed up by Advanced Programming in the UNIX Environment by the late W. Richard Stevens.