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Chapter 1: The Unix Shell

Introduction

The Unix shell has been around longer than most of its users have been alive. It has survived so long because it’s a power tool that allows people to do complex things with just a few keystrokes. More importantly, it helps them combine existing programs in new ways and automate repetitive tasks so they aren’t typing the same things over and over again. Use of the shell is fundamental to using a wide range of other powerful tools and computing resources (including “high-performance computing” supercomputers). These lessons will start you on a path towards using these resources effectively. This chapter includes the following sections:

License

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Introduction to Advanced Research Computing using Digital Research Alliance of Canada Resources Copyright © by Jazmin Romero; Roger Selzler; Nicholi Shiell; Ryan Taylor; and Andrew Schoenrock is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.