Lab Report: Introduction to Linux and Shell Coding
Name: [Your Name]
Date: [Lab Date]
Course Name: [Course Name or Code]
Instructor: [Instructor's Name]
Objective:
The goal of this lab is to gain a foundational understanding of Linux, its command-line interface
(CLI),
and shell scripting. The focus is on exploring Linux file structures, executing essential commands,
and writing basic shell scripts to automate tasks.
Materials Required:
- A computer with Linux OS (e.g., Ubuntu, Fedora) or a Linux virtual machine.
- Terminal access.
- Text editor (e.g., Vim, Nano, or VS Code).
Theory:
1. What is Linux?
Linux is a Unix-like, open-source operating system widely used for its stability, flexibility, and
robust CLI.
2. What is a Shell?
The shell is a command-line interpreter that allows users to interact with the OS. Examples include
Bash, Zsh, and Fish.
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Lab Report: Introduction to Linux and Shell Coding
3. Shell Scripting:
A shell script is a file containing a series of commands executed by the shell. It is used to
automate repetitive tasks.
Experiment Steps:
Part 1: Linux Basics
1. Navigating the File System
- Command: ls, pwd, cd
Example:
pwd # Display current directory
ls # List files and directories
cd /home # Change directory to /home
2. File and Directory Management
- Commands: mkdir, touch, rm, cp, mv
Example:
mkdir lab_folder # Create a new directory
touch file1.txt # Create a new file
mv file1.txt lab_folder/ # Move file to the directory
3. Viewing File Content
- Commands: cat, more, less, head, tail
Example:
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Lab Report: Introduction to Linux and Shell Coding
cat file1.txt # Display file content
head -n 5 file1.txt # Display the first 5 lines
4. File Permissions
- Commands: chmod, chown, ls -l
Example:
chmod u+x script.sh # Make the script executable
ls -l # View permissions of files
Part 2: Shell Scripting
1. Creating a Script
- Write a script hello_world.sh:
#!/bin/bash
echo "Hello, World!"
2. Making the Script Executable
- Command: chmod +x hello_world.sh
3. Executing the Script
- Command: ./hello_world.sh
4. Adding Logic and Loops
- Write a script basic_operations.sh:
#!/bin/bash
echo "Enter two numbers:"
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Lab Report: Introduction to Linux and Shell Coding
read num1 num2
sum=$((num1 + num2))
echo "Sum: $sum"
Observations:
1. Basic Linux commands are intuitive and effective for file management.
2. Shell scripting provides a powerful way to automate tasks.
3. Common errors include missing permissions or syntax errors in scripts.
Results:
- Successfully navigated the Linux file system.
- Performed file and directory operations.
- Created and executed basic shell scripts.
Conclusion:
This lab provided hands-on experience with Linux commands and shell scripting, enhancing the
understanding of CLI operations and automation. The ability to write scripts to perform calculations
or manage files demonstrates the versatility of the Linux environment.
Questions:
1. What is the purpose of the chmod command?
Answer: It is used to change the permissions of a file or directory.
2. How can you debug a shell script?
Answer: Use the bash -x script.sh command to execute the script in debug mode.
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Lab Report: Introduction to Linux and Shell Coding
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