Linux#

  • Instructor: Linh B. Ngo

  • Email: lbn28 AT drexel DOT edu

Workshop Description#

The workshop provides the introduction to the Linux Command Line Interface for researchers. Topics will include the file system, file/directory manipulations, redirection and piping, and basic scripting.

Preparation#

Participants should check and complete the following steps prior to the workshop.

Software preparation

Prior to workshop, Windows users should download and install Git for Windows. If you already have this installed, it is perhaps time for an update, as the latest Git for Windows software will have Git Bash integrated with Windows Terminal.

After running the installer, make sure the following steps are done correctly:

  • Select Components: check the Add a Git Bash Profile to Windows Terminal box.

  • Choose the default editor used by Git: scroll up on the dropdown list and choose User the Nano editor by default.

  • Adjusting the name of the initial branch in new repositories: ensure that Let Git decide is selected.

  • Adjusting your PATH environment: ensure that Git from the command line and also from 3rd-party software is selected.

  • Choosing the SSH executable: select Use bundled OpenSSH.

  • Choosing HTTPS transport backend: ensure that Use the native Windows Secure Channel Library is selected.

  • Configuring the line ending conversion: ensure that Checkout Windows-style, commit Unix-style line endings is selected.

  • Configuring the terminal emulator to use with Git Bash: ensure that Use Windows’ default console window is selected.

  • Choose the default behavior of 'git pull': ensure that Fast-forward or merge is selected.

  • Choose a credential helper: ensure that “Git Credential Manager” is selected.

  • Configuring extra options: check both boxes on Enable file system caching and Enable symbolic links.

  • Do not check any Configurating experimental options boxes.

  • Click on “Install”. = Click on “Finish”.

To launch Git Bash, you can launch the Git Bash app directly via Windows Main Menu

Git Bash

You can also launch Git Bash via Windows Terminal. Windows Terminal is a powerful terminal program intended to replace the older Command Prompt and Power Shell launchers. The terminal is available by default with Windows 11. For earlier version, it can be downloaded and installed via Windows App Store. More detailed instructions can be found at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/terminal/install.

Windows Terminal

For Mac users, you can find your Linux-based terminal app by click the search icon (magnifying glass icon in the top right corner of your screen) to open the search box and start typing terminal into the box. The Terminal app will show up, and you can launch the app directly.

Mac Terminal

Data preparation

  • Download the workshop data to your computer’s Desktop.

  • Unzip the file. You should see the following contents in an unzipped directory called shell-lesson-data on your Desktop.

Windows

MacOS