Talk:Linux Guide/Using the shell

Is this backwards
Copy img to floppy:

dd bs=2x80x18b if=/dev/fd0 of=/tmp/floppy.img

The way I'm reading it is that its reading the floppy and creating an image of the floppy. The description should read copying floppy to an img?

Randolph (discuss • contribs) 03:20, 8 January 2012 (UTC)


 * Indeed it is. That command is copying the contents of the floppy drive to an .iso, where the description says the opposite. If people get the idea that this is how the command works, they will almost certainly end up inadvertently wiping their hard drive. dd is a very dangerous command to get wrong. 174.28.41.236 (discuss) 20:54, 14 December 2013 (UTC)

I was looking at the vi commands. How much should really be put here and at what point of detail should we redirect the reader to http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Learning_vi:vi_Reference

Maybe we should include more detailed explanation to VI which should include. (This is not a exhaustive list but a pointer to what could be included.) What is is VI? Other editor avaible to edit a file in Linux. Why use VI? Navigating thru VI. Most common file opeartion like cut, copy, paste, undo. It's mode and commands; to save, quit without saving, quit.., Commands to search, modify a file in VI.

The article; Linux Guide/Using the shell doesn't specify if it is a basic or a comprehensive guide to Linux shell, it worth adding a link to VI artice on that page.

Job Control
I think job control is a very important part of the terminal. It comes in handy if you know how to use it. It's also a very fundamental part of the terminal. Therefore I think it should be included. I do not know how a procedure like this would go and if it is legitimate, but if it is agreed that job control should be included on this page, is it allowed to copy-paste bits of an already excellent article on Job Control? --Evolutionist79 (discuss • contribs) 13:50, 27 April 2011 (UTC)

Discuss Merging Linux Guide/Using the shell with Linux/Command Line Interface
It has been suggested that these two pages merge. I support the suggestion. Both pages go through a list of commands and discuss command syntax.

Using the Shell / Command Line Interface could become a truly HUGE discussion. I suggest the effort be put into partitioning it into linked but manageable chunks. A short (few screens) section introducing command syntax and listing common commands could be one section.

From there, one branches into


 * Advantages of the command line
 * Command line syntax
 * Example command usage
 * Command line tools: (vi is one, and somehow is already on this discussion page).
 * Shell Scripting: (Itself a huge topic, related to the command line, but separate from it).
 * Remote shells:
 * Installation from the command line:

pcardout 01:41, 22 May 2011 (UTC)
 * ... This list goes on

Yes, I agree. It is easier to keep one page updated than two; plus it is duplicated information

phillwuk 16th June 2012

This merge is warranted. I support it. 174.28.41.236 (discuss) 20:54, 14 December 2013 (UTC)

It's 13 months since the last discussion on this point and there seems to be unanimous consensus. Has any work on the merge been done? 174.91.167.167 (discuss) 21:02, 29 January 2015 (UTC)