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Unix in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference - Covers GNU/Linux, Mac OS X,and Solaris 4th Edition

by Arnold Robbins (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 149 ratings
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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, specific examples, and detailed command.

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  1. ISBN-10
    0596100299
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0596100292
  3. Edition
    4th
  4. Publisher
    O'Reilly Media
  5. Publication date
    November 29, 2005
  6. Part of series
    In a Nutshell (O'Reilly)
  7. Language
    English
  8. Dimensions
    6 x 1.96 x 9 inches
  9. Print length
    906 pages
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

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.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ O'Reilly Media; 4th edition (November 29, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 906 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0596100299
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0596100292
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.21 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.96 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 149 ratings

About the author

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Arnold Robbins

Arnold Robbins

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Arnold Robbins is a professional programmer, instructor, and author. A long-time GNU Project volunteer, he currently maintains gawk. He has worked with C, C++, Unix, and GNU/Linux since 1980.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
149 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Adam B.
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent reference
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2013
Verified Purchase
This is one of the few books that I can honestly say I have more than gotten my money's worth from. Having bought my first copy of this way back in the late '80s, I've made sure to get new copies over the years, if only due to my older copies getting too warn out due to too much use.

The O'Reilly Unix in Nutshell guide was the way I first learned how to use the Unix environment, and after I became a full time Unix Sys Admin after college, it made the best reference possible. The greatest use I've found for it is when writing a quick script in one of the languages I don't use very often, as it gives excellent examples and provides a dictionary-style comprehensive guide to bash/sh and t/csh as well as general Unix commands. Combining this with the also excellent Perl in a Nutshell and you have 98% of my desktop Unix reference books.
2 people found this helpful
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A.J.
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect.
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2015
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As a UNIX noob in a UNIX job, this book has become my "bible". Actually, the Bible is my bible, but I digress. After a few short weeks, it has become filled with stick-on tabs, highligher marks, and scribbles. I actually find this book easier and more useful than Googling. It's thorough but concise, and I can finally figure out what all of those darned parameters are for. It also has useful sections on the various UNIX operating systems and utilities, as well as information on shell scripting. It never leaves my sight at work!
9 people found this helpful
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Amazon Shopper
5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I was looking for.
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2012
Verified Purchase
Thrown into the unix world with no preparation, I needed an easy way to find reminders. Familiar with DOS from years back, I thought it would be second nature to run with unix, but found remembering everything to be more than I was able to do. This book is getting heavy use reminding me of syntax and usage, so it is exactly what I need to help me out. If you want to learn unix, this book is not the book for you. If you want a quick handy reference to remind or reinforce what you DO know, this is the book.
5 people found this helpful
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Crash and Burn
4.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat better than man pages, but on paper
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2016
Verified Purchase
I'm taking a Introduction to Linux class. Its been years since I worked in a Unix environment, and I didn't want to spend a ton of money on a reference book. This seems to be man pages on paper. Not a bad thing, and the commands are grouped better. It breaks out the differences between Unix, Linux, and Apple's OS, where appropriate.

I like having this book, because when I'm in vi, for instance, I don't want to break out of it, or open another terminal, just to look up a command, or its syntax. And, the index actually helps, because its a quick way to skim the available shell commands. With man, you have to know the command you are looking for, before you can find it.

It is thick, but it seems to be covering everything I need in this class. I don't plan on being a 'Nix Sys Admin, so I don't need the material that was left out of the previous edition. If I change my mind, I can get it then.
2 people found this helpful
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Techjunkie 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book for those familiar with Unix/Linux
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2011
Verified Purchase
Good book for use with directory management and other shell commands. A word of caution for those who are new to Unix that this book is a little advance, however with practice and time you will come to enjoy this book. I would recommend to others interested in learning the Unix/Linux/Sun systems/Mac systems, this book is for you. I take the book with me on my travels just in case my contract requires me to work on Unix computers.
3 people found this helpful
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Jan Mays
5.0 out of 5 stars A great book to refresh UNIX skills
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2011
Verified Purchase
I needed to update my UNIX skills for my job. Prior to purchasing this book, I spent a lot of time looking at other texts. This one had everything I needed, plus a lot of information specific to various platforms (which I also needed). I have always liked books in this series - many of the books in this series are also part of the libraries of my co-workers.
One person found this helpful
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Steve S
3.0 out of 5 stars not as well done as earlier (excellent) edition
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2011
Verified Purchase
My old (1992) edition was getting a bit beat and out of date, so I got this new one. What a pain to use! I still end up using the old copy most of the time. Maybe it's my old eyes, or O'Reilly trying to squeeze everything into one book, but the print is smaller, lighter, and generally harder to read. The bold-faced headings are smaller and less bold. The page headings are smaller and non-bold compared the the actual command headings. Put the old and new editions side-by-side and the new one looks like the output of a laser printer whose toner cartridge need to be replaced. And who thought it was a good idea to divide the critical chapter on commands (Ch.2) into 5 sections? Now there are potentially 5 places to look something up. And opening randomly to chapter 2, one can flip forward and backward alphabetically to the correct spot, only to find you've been in the wrong section.

Content: ***** (as usual, O'Reilly books are definitive)
Usability: *
9 people found this helpful
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William Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars Na
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2019
Verified Purchase
Again we use a unique system at work and this is an excellent book to learn from along with the bash one
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Top reviews from other countries

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Pat
5.0 out of 5 stars Good reference book
Reviewed in Canada on June 23, 2019
Verified Purchase
I have the fourth edition, which was published in 2006. Despite its age, I still find it's a useful reference in 2019.
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O'Brian
5.0 out of 5 stars Good pocket guide
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 23, 2020
Verified Purchase
Good pocket guide, it does not cover everything so you will still need to use good ole Google. But is a good guide worth having.
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Carlos
4.0 out of 5 stars El libro de cabecera para los usuarios de UNIX
Reviewed in Spain on May 8, 2016
Verified Purchase
Es el libro que tengo siempre a mano cuando trabajo con UNIX, otros van y vienen.
Pero para consultas y aclaraciones es de lo mejorcito y te ahorras mucho tiempo buscando en google ;)
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Jean-Louis HARDY
5.0 out of 5 stars 5 étoiles ne suffisent pas.
Reviewed in France on March 23, 2015
Verified Purchase
Une bible. LA bible du Unix.
Dommage que le système d'évaluation ne permette que 5 étoiles. ;-)
Un rappel des principes de base de Unix (process ID, fork, stream, etc.), une référence des commandes/programmes, un rappel des expressions régulières, une introduction à SED, une autre à AWK, une troisième à PERL, etc.
Respect. Total respect !
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K. B.
5.0 out of 5 stars Gute Ausgabe
Reviewed in Germany on October 2, 2014
Verified Purchase
Ich Lerne immer noch von dem Buch. Es ist wahr, das inzwischen alles im Internet zu finden ist. Außerdem man kann 'man' benutzen. Der Reiz für mich hier ist die Entdeckung neue Befehle, die ich nicht antizipiert habe.
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