This guided workshop in multiple units is your first encounter with the Linux shell, commonly called the "command line interface (CLI)". It is a computer language the user can speak to any Unix system. In six units of 1 to 2 hours of work each, this workshop opens up the newcomer to "talk" freely in a text terminal. This is an essential step in your Linux journey.
Starting as a purely text-based Unix clone Linux has evolved to be a full-fledged operating system with many different graphical user interfaces (GUI) to choose from. It is a free alternative to other operating systems such as Microsoft Windows or Apple's macOS, both of which are proprietary. The Free Software license opens Linux entirely different possibilities. Linux originated in the world of big servers and overtime replaced Unix. For example, all the world's 500 fastest super-computers run Linux. Surprisingly Linux has also taken over the micro and embedded computer fields like IOT and SBC (Raspberry Pi) as well. Linux is also desktop-ready for some time, although the numbers have only recently started to grow.
Experienced system administrators maintain their machines from the command prompt. They compile code, install programs, troubleshoot them in operation, automate routine tasks; all in the text-based environment. Unix relies heavily on text, whether in the form of configuration files or as scripts. Not surprisingly Unix came with an elaborate system of pattern matching in text called 'regular expressions'. The Unix command language is also a programming language. One can write interactive programs in this language which are called shell scripts. Or one may paste other specialized programs together in to these scripts making it the "glue" to hold those programs together.
GUIs are convenient for the end-user but they don't tell you exactly what they do behind the screen. Once something unexpected happens or if you have a task for which there is no option in the GUI, you are stuck. In addition to that the text terminal doesn't require the overhead a GUI needs which is a critical factor in remote system administration.
Each unit contains a video introducing the concepts and demonstrating the assignments. The students are expected to do those assignments and submit them. Some assignments are computer marked. There are also manually graded assignments. Once you submit such an assignment send a message to the teachers asking for grading.
The content of the workshop is to the most part hands-on, best suited to be delivered through practicals. The theory behind them will be apparent as you do the practicals. Therefore we take a problem-based training approach, also called "inverted classroom". You get the assignments and supporting material before the recording is published. You are supposed to try out, ideally finish, the assignments before watching the recording. Communicate your problems you had and give feedback through the forum.
Your progress through the workshop will be continually assessed:
- All activities have a state Done or Not done. Some are to be flagged Done by you, others are auto-detected.
- Some activities are graded, either by the teachers or by your colleagues in the peer-review assessment of graded by the teachers.
- The assignments marked by the teachers have due dates. Late submissions carry a penalty of 20% of max. points. You can re-submit twice. Re-submission also carry a penalty of 20%. The penalties are not cumulative. Added 7 Feb.: The best marks of the attempts go to the grade book.
- The tests too can be re-submitted twice - subjected to 33% penalty for the question that has been corrected. Added 7 Feb.: The best marks of the attempts go to the grade book.
Note that the order you can do the assignments is restricted through preconditions.
Hint: You can keep track on the deadlines and your progress in the blocks in the right-hand side drawer of the course homepage.
Course completion
To successfully complete the workshop you are required to complete all activities and earn a 60% average marks or more in the graded activities.
