Spring 2008 CSci 553 Lab 1
Lab 01: Part 1, In Class
Using the Unix Command Line
Instructions
Exercises 1.1 – 1.8 are to be completed in class before you leave. You need to create a
directory in your home directory named “lab01” (you must use the exact same name,
and remember that Unix is case sensitive, so “Lab01” is not the same name). Inside of
the directory “lab01” you will create and edit a file called “lab01-part1.txt”. You
should edit the file and type in your answers to the questions 1.1 – 1.8 before the end of
class, and ask the instructor to confirm you are done with this part before leaving.
Use this lab time not only to find the answers to the questions, but to practice your
skills in using the command line and editor to create directories, files and run
commands. The first portion of the lab is to be completed in class so that you may ask
the instructor for help and suggestions for any problems you may be experiencing
learning the bash shell and command line commands. You may use any of the
resources we have discussed to find the answers to the exercises, as well as the
textbook and online source materials. It is of course suggested that you try out and test
your answer where possible to verify it correctly answers the question.
Exercise 1.1
The instructor wants you to use a hitherto unknown command for
manipulating files. How would you get help on this command?
Exercise 1.2
Suppose ls shows you this:
Makefile biography.txt data enrolment.txt programs thesis
What argument(s) will make it print the names in reverse, like this:
thesis programs enrolment.txt data biography.txt Makefile
Exercise 1.3
What does the command cd ~ do? What about cd ~hpotter?
Exercise 1.4
What command will show you the first 10 lines of a file? The first 25? The
last 12?
Exercise 1.5
diff finds and displays the differences between two text files. For example,
if you modify earth.txt to create a new file earth2.txt that contains:
