News (7)

Is ODF more defective than OOXML?

The ISO's OpenDocument Format (ODF) is broken and needs to be mended, according to an expert who claims to have carried out tests on the standard. Read more »

Microsoft resumes bashing open source

Will Microsoft lay down its arms, embrace open source and help Thunderbird programmers get their software working with Microsoft's Exchange e-mail server software, or fight them on the beaches? Read more »

Bash + cmd = Powershell?

CommentaryMicrosoft's PowerShell looks to be a revolution that envelopes the advantages of both bash and cmd as well as adding a powerful new dimension to scripting in general. Read more »

Apple acknowledges user frustrations over roadmap

Apple yesterday conceded corporate IT workers are "always" complaining about its secretive product roadmap -- but warned the only way to get up to speed is to invest thousands of dollars and a full working week attending its annual US-based developer conference. Read more »

Microsoft: Virus target won't be in Vista

A new scripting tool targeted by a virus writer will not be part of Windows Vista, the next Windows client release, Microsoft announced Friday. Read more »

Windows Vista tool targeted by virus writers

Virus writers have published what are thought to be the first examples of malicious code targeting an expected feature of Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system, around a week after the first beta of the next-generation operating system was released. Read more »

W3C celebrates tenth birthday

The World Wide Web Consortium is planning a celebration to mark 10 years of setting specs for the Web - prompting the question, when did the Internet begin? Read more »

Features (26)

GUI scripting with Zenity

Meet Zenity, a tool that allows you to create GUI prompts for shell scripts. Read more »

Delegate privileges to users with sudo

One of my favourite tools is sudo, a program that many users will be familiar with. Both Ubuntu and OS X popularised sudo by making efficient and default use of the program. Sudo allows regular users to perform commands as other users. Read more »

Using vi key bindings in bash and zsh

By default, most shells use emacs-style key bindings for command-line editing and modification. For users of vi or vim, however, you can configure shells to use vi key bindings instead. Read more »

The 10 most dangerous species of IT team leader

There are many competent and sociable team leaders in IT departments; but they don't make for great storytelling. Picking the worst and most dangerous types can help us recognise the signs and maybe even glean a little entertainment from them. Read more »

Fix Linux when it won't start

No OS is 100 percent foolproof. Eventually, even Linux may not boot one day when you want it to. Read more »

Power Linux with pipes and redirection

Despite pretty GUIs and eye candy being the order of the day, there is a definite advantage to being familiar and comfortable with the Linux command-line. Read more »

Set up user accounts quickly and securely

When you need to set up a user account to give a user shell access to the system, the only logical choice of login tool is OpenSSH. With SSH keys, all you need from the user is his SSH public key, and all he needs from you is the IP address or hostname with which to log in. Usually, this is sufficient. Read more »

Linux command line tips: history and HISTIGNORE in Bash

If you've worked in the terminal, it's likely you're in some way proficient with the command history features of your shell. There's a lot more functionality than many realise however, and learning it can help you eliminate a lot of duplicate typing. Read more »

Linux command line tips: job management

You know all about multitasking on the desktop, but some Linux users aren't aware that you can do exactly the same kind of things in the console, albeit with a little more hands on control. In this article we'll run through the basics of job control in Linux. Read more »

10 shortcuts to master bash

The unassuming Linux shell program bash hides some powerful tools and shortcuts, here are 10 to get you started. Read more »

More Bash Features Results

Blog (2)

The typical Linux conference geezer

Chris Duckett [blogs:betaliving] -- Asking delegates to pick their distribution, shell and editor of choice gives us a chance to gain some insight into the average Linux conference attendee. Read more »

Adobe bashes open source alternatives

Staff [blogs:syslog] -- Adobe Systems has embraced open source software for some products, but its core Creative Suite line looks like it'll remain proprietary. Read more »

Log in


Sign up | Forgot your password?

Blogs

RSS feed

  • Staff Share a keyboard and mouse with Synergy

    Even in the era of virtualization, many IT pros (including myself) have a small army of computers sitting on, under, and around their desks. Read more »

    -- posted by Staff

  • Staff Android devs less than gruntled

    Yet more discouraging news on the Android front. Having hacked off its developer community by releasing updated SDKs to just a small group of chosen devs, Google has now given the brush-off to a petition that called for more to be given to the wider community. Read more »

    -- posted by Staff

  • Staff VMware shows how not to do it

    As a developer there will be a time when you ship a bug -- be it a stub that you left in, or a flaming, crashtastic segfault. The next time this happens and your bosses come baying for blood, point them in the direction of VMware, who this week gave the developer world a great example of how to ship a showstopper bug. Read more »

    -- posted by Staff

What's on?

  • Club Builder: Captain Obvious vs the Crackpots

    In the case of the bleeding obvious, IBM says open source needs good designers; a claim is made that China can activate your phone to snoop on you; and we take a look at the Defcon conference.