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Unix in a Nutshell, Fourth Edition (Paperback)

by Arnold Robbins (Author)
Key Phrases: package management, basic regular expressions, alphabetical summary, Alphabetical Summary of Common Commands, Unix Commands, Common Options (more...)

4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (58 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Unix in a Nutshell is the standard desktop reference, without question. (Manpages come in a close second.) With a 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 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 discover a new timesaving command. --Jennifer Buckendorff --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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. With chapter overviews, specificexamples, and detailed command.

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Product Details

Paperback: 906 pages
Publisher: O'Reilly Media, Inc.; 4 edition (July 2, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0596100299
ISBN-13: 978-0596100292
Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (58 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #18,275 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

#1 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Hardware > Mainframes & Minicomputers
#1 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Operating Systems > Solaris
#4 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Hardware > Internet & Networking

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Inside This Book (learn more)

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
package management, basic regular expressions, alphabetical summary, tcsh manpage, pkginfo file, filename metacharacters, subsequent audio tracks, working copy path, keystroke sequence run, tcshrc file, line number num, subcommand options, awk functions, svn diff, programmable completion, empty revisions, current sandbox, print version information, cvs rtag, directory stack, svn status, recursive edit, octal number nnn, svn log, source code management systems

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Alphabetical Summary of Common Commands, Unix Commands, Common Options, Linux Options, Built-in Commands, Solaris Options, Alternate Names, The Subversion Version Control System, Linux Commands, Accesses Repository, Alphabetical Summary of Commands, The Concurrent Versions System, The Subversion Command Line Client, The Debian Package Manager, Rock Ridge, Alphabetical Summary of Solaris Commands, None Changes, Alphabetical Summary of Java Commands, Alphabetical Summary of Mac, Command Description, Command-Line Syntax, The Red Hat Package Manager, Open Source, Options Options, Compiler Collection

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	77% buy the item featured on this page: Unix in a Nutshell, Fourth Edition 4.4 out of 5 stars (58) $23.07
	9% buy Learning the UNIX Operating System, Fifth Edition 4.2 out of 5 stars (44) $13.57
	6% buy Sams Teach Yourself Unix in 24 Hours (4th Edition) (Teach Yourself -- Hours) 4.5 out of 5 stars (51) $26.39
	5% buy Linux in a Nutshell, 5th Edition 4.3 out of 5 stars (38) $29.67

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Customer Reviews

58 Reviews

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

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4.4 out of 5 stars (58 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of its kind, May 8, 2000

By	Doug Vaughn (Washington, Dc USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Unix in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference for SVR4 and Solaris 7 (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

Unix in a Nutshell continues to be the best overall reference book on the Unix operating system. Organized so that all commands and options are easily found and understood, it is an indispensable tool for those who work in a Unix environment. But it is not just a guide to Unix commands and their options, it also contains a mass of useful information about the Unix Shell, shell scripting, text editing and formatting, and much more. Truely one of the most useful computer reference books I have ever purchased, and for the money it is the best bargain you will find in the Unix field. I highly recommend it for all those who work with (or are interested in) Unix and want just about all the information they could need in one neat package. A great buy.

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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mikey likes it, he really really likes it!, October 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Unix in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference for SVR4 and Solaris 7 (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

Excellent. What can I say? Well, since I have about 970 words to go, I can say a lot. Here goes. You will like this book. As "Nutshell" books go, this one is "chock-full" of informative tidbits and, the most important thing, EASY TO FIND. I'm glad I bought it. The third edition is very good. And now, the bad news (you didn't think I would let O'Reilly get away with this did you?) I have a huge bone to pick with the editor and possibility the author. The problem is, in SEVERAL places, the author states "Solaris Only" on quite a few commands (and parameters to the command). I'm here to tell you, folks, it ain't necessarily so. I use an AIX box at work and I can state for a fact that over 90% (estimated) of the commands that are stated as "Solaris Only" work great in AIX 4.3. Obviously, neither the editors nor the author tested these commands on an AIX machine. It is somewhat annoying but not unbearable. The bottom line is - try every command (and parms) on your machine before you take the author's word on it. Oh - I almost forgot. Mega-kudos to the proofreaders. In three weeks of using this book, I have yet to find a typo. Way to go, Proofers.

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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful reference, January 11, 2000

By	Jason Shaw (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Unix in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference for SVR4 and Solaris 7 (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

Awesome technical reference manual, but doesn't provide very much background or overview information. Not for beginners.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars A Desktop Constant
This is a great reference book. My only complaint is that I wish there was a section covering some BSD commands and in the sections already present, some networking commands as... Read more

Published 4 months ago by damek

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful reference book about Unix OS
Let me start off by saying that if you are looking for a introductory book about Unix and you have no experience with Unix OS whatsoever, this is not a book for you. Read more

Published 7 months ago by M. Kim

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect reference
This is in my opinion the best UNIX reference book on the market today. If you need to program or work in the OS you should own this book.

Published 10 months ago by David Chittim

3.0 out of 5 stars The only game in town, but...
I've got two versions of this book: the blue cover version and the one that came in my CD bookshelf. I'm usually quite positive about nutshell books. Usually. Read more

Published 14 months ago by Stephen Mann

1.0 out of 5 stars From a learner/user perspective
Unix in a Nutshell, Fourth Edition

Not a useful book for someone who wants to learn unix. It can be used for reference for someone who already knows UNIX. Read more

Published 15 months ago by Kattamuri S. Sarma

4.0 out of 5 stars New to Unix
Why did i buy this, for the simple reason as a new user a good comprehensive reference is extremely usefull and handy, and this is it, this is something i will all use or keep... Read more

Published 15 months ago by C. W. Johnston

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great O'Reilly book
For those of you with the "animal" bookshelf, this is one of the better books to own. Lots of the stuff you need to know, but can never totally remember is here.

Published on July 9, 2007 by S. Kosloske

3.0 out of 5 stars Useful book to learn most important unix things, good chapters on awk & sed, but also has some redundant material
This is a review of the 3th edition of Unix in a nutshell. The book has almost 600 pages, roughly divided as follows:
- 200 p. Read more

Published on May 16, 2007 by GPK

1.0 out of 5 stars Incomplete and confusing
Unix in a Nutshell is not for the faint-hearted. It tries to be a concise reference on Unix but ends up being incomplete (esp. with regard to Linux). Read more

Published on March 22, 2007 by Gadgester

5.0 out of 5 stars Unix partner to have around
Great product and evyone needing to know Unix commands should have one around

Published on March 11, 2007 by Michael C. Shilling

› See all 58 customer reviews...

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