Course
Introduction to Shell
BasicSkill Level
Updated 02/2026Start Course for Free
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ShellProgramming4 hr55 Exercises4,650 XP150K+Statement of Accomplishment
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Start Course for FreeWhat you'll learn
- Determine how commands can be combined using redirection, pipes, and command substitution
- Identify how shell scripts, variables, and command-line parameters are used to automate tasks
- Identify how to navigate, inspect, and manage files and directories using core Unix shell commands.
- Recall how loops, history features, flags, and help systems support efficient shell use
- Recognize how to view, filter, and manipulate data using fundamental text-processing tools
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course1
Manipulating files and directories
This chapter is a brief introduction to the Unix shell. You'll learn why it is still in use after almost 50 years, how it compares to the graphical tools you may be more familiar with, how to move around in the shell, and how to create, modify, and delete files and folders.
2
Manipulating data
The commands you saw in the previous chapter allowed you to move things around in the filesystem. This chapter will show you how to work with the data in those files. The tools we’ll use are fairly simple, but are solid building blocks.
3
Combining tools
The real power of the Unix shell lies not in the individual commands, but in how easily they can be combined to do new things. This chapter will show you how to use this power to select the data you want, and introduce commands for sorting values and removing duplicates.
4
Batch processing
Most shell commands will process many files at once. This chapter shows you how to make your own pipelines do that. Along the way, you will see how the shell uses variables to store information.
5
Creating new tools
History lets you repeat things with just a few keystrokes, and pipes let you combine existing commands to create new ones. In this chapter, you will see how to go one step further and create new commands of your own.
Introduction to Shell
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Enroll NowFAQs
Who will benefit from this course?
This course is useful for anyone needing to manipulate files and directories, use commands to manipulate data, combine tools to select the data they want, and undertake batch processing and create new tools. Examples of jobs include software engineers, data scientists, and system administrators.
What topics are covered in the course?
This course covers the topics of manipulating files and directories, manipulating data, combining tools, batch processing, and creating new tools with the Unix shell.
How does the Unix shell compare to graphical tools?
Unix shell is a great alternative to graphical user interfaces. It is usually more powerful, faster, and provides greater control over tasks. It is free and platform agnostic, meaning you can use it on any operating system.
What are the benefits of using the Unix shell?
The Unix shell is powerful, fast, and provides greater control. It allows you to combine existing programs in new ways, automate repetitive tasks, and run programs on clusters and clouds that may be halfway around the world. It also requires fewer keystrokes to complete tasks compared to using graphical interfaces.
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