I will be at Open Libre Free (OLF) Dec 2 and 3, 2022

Last Updated on September 27, 2023 by David Both

To Speak and Sign My Books

I will be attending Open Libre Free (formerly Ohio LinuxFest) to speak and to do a book signing. OLF will be held on Friday and Saturday, December 2 and 3 at the Hilton Columbus Downtown.

Presentation

I will be presenting “BASH Configuration and Usage.”

Abstract: The Bash shell is the default shell for almost every Linux distribution. As the Lazy SysAdmin, understanding and using the available tools to configure the Bash shell can enhance and simplify our command line experience. In this session, which is largely based on Chapter 17 of my book, “Using and Administering Linux: Volume 1 – Zero to SysAdmin: Getting Started, you will explore” the several Bash configuration files for both global configuration and for users’ local configuration. You will perform simple experiments to determine the sequence in which the Bash configuration files are executed when the shell is launched. You will explore environment variables and shell variables such as $PATH, $?, $EDITOR, and more and how they contribute to the behavior of the shell itself and the programs that run in a shell.

In this session you will learn:

• The difference between a login shell and a non-login shell. In the interest of clearing up any confusion we will also learn about the nologin shell.
• How the Bash shell is configured.
• How to modify the configuration of the Bash shell.
• Which Bash configuration scripts are run when it is launched as a login shell and as a non-login shell.
• The names and locations of the files used to configure Linux shells at both global and user levels.
• Which shell configuration files should not be changed.
• How to set shell options.
• How to set environment variables from the command line.
• How to set environment variables using shell configuration files.
• The function of aliases and how to set them.
• How to have some fun on the Bash command line.
• Book Signing

I will also be signing copies of all five of my books. I will have my newest book, “Linux for Small Business Owners: Using Free and Open Source Software to Power Your Dreams,” with co-author Cyndi Bulka, yoga instructor, and coach. I will also have a few copies of my previous books, “The Linux Philosophy for SysAdmins,” and all three volumes of my ‘Zero to SysAdmin’ self-study course series, “Using and Administering Linux.”

You might want to consider purchasing the books beforehand and then bring them to OLF for me to sign as I will be charging full retail at OLF.

If you wish to purchase one or more of my books on-site, there will be check boxes on the form when you purchase your tickets. You will not need to provide payment until you pick up your books on-site. If you have already purchased your tickets and want to purchase a book on-site, please send me an email to LinuxGeek46@both.org and let me know your selections so I can try to obtain enough copies.

I will attempt to fill all requests, but I usually run out of books despite all efforts to meet the demand. Please bear with me if I run out.

My friend Ben Cotton Will also be at OLF signing copies of his new book, Program Management for Open Source Projects (Pragmatic Bookshelf, 2022).

I hope to see you there.