Last updated: 2024-10-06

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GNU Bash, sometime refered as Linux Bash or Bash, is the GNU command-line interface shell project with a complete implementation of the IEEE POSIX specification. It is a powerful tool that allows users to interact with their computers more directly and efficiently than through a graphical user interface (GUI). In this blog post, we will explore the basics of Linux Bash, its advantages, and some essential commands that every user should know.

The Bash shell, also known as the Bourne-Again shell, was created by Brian Fox for the GNU Project in 1989. It is free and open-source software that has become the default shell for most Linux distributions, as well as macOS (until being recently replaced by zsh) and other Unix-based systems.

One of the main advantages of Bash is its flexibility. It allows users to automate repetitive tasks and perform complex operations by writing scripts that can be executed in the terminal. Bash scripts can also interact with other software and hardware, making it a powerful tool for system integration and automation.

Bash also provides users with a wide range of commands and utilities that can be used to manipulate files, directories, processes, and network connections, among other things. Some of the essential commands that every Bash user should know include:

cd: Change directory
ls: List directory contents
mkdir: Create a new directory
rm: Remove files or directories
cp: Copy files or directories
mv: Move or rename files or directories
grep: Search for a specific pattern in a file
awk: Process text files and generate reports
sed: Stream editor for filtering and transforming text
ps: Display information about active processes
top: Display real-time system resource usage*

While Bash can seem intimidating for beginners, learning the basics of Bash can significantly improve your productivity and streamline your workflow, making it an essential tool for system administrators and developers.

To start with Bash, you need to open the terminal on your Linux machine. You can do this by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on most Linux distributions. Once you have opened the terminal, you can start typing commands and executing them by pressing the Enter key. You can also use the tab key to auto-complete commands and file names, making it easier to navigate your file system.

In conclusion, GNU Bash is a powerful tool that provides users with a flexible and efficient way of interacting with their computers. It allows users to automate repetitive tasks, manipulate files and directories, and perform complex operations through scripts.

It is one of the most used command line shell. It comes as the default shell with most Linux distributions, is available on Mac and Windows 10. The version 5 brought a lot of improvement that makes this shell even more powerful, see What’s New In GNU Bash 5?.