The Korn shell is an interactive command and scripting language for accessing Unix® and other computer systems. As a complete and high-level programming language in itself, it’s been a favorite since it was developed in the mid 1980s by David G. Korn at AT&T Bell Laboratories. Knowing how to use it is an essential skill for serious Unix users. Learning the Korn Shell shows you how to use the Korn shell as a user interface and as a programming environment.

Writing applications is often easier and quicker with Korn than with other high-level languages. Because of this, the Korn shell is the most often used shell in commercial environments and among inexperienced users. There are two other widely used shells, the Bourne shell and the C shell. The Korn shell, or ksh, has the best features of both, plus many new features of its own. ksh can do much to enhance productivity and the quality of a user’s work, both in interacting with the system, and in programming. The new version, ksh93, has the functionality of other scripting languages such as awk, icon, Perl, rexx, and tcl.

Learning the Korn Shell is the key to gaining control of the Korn shell and becoming adept at using it as an interactive command and scripting language. Prior programming experience is not required in order to understand the chapters on basic shell programming. Readers will learn how to write many applications more easily and quickly than with other high-level languages. In addition, readers will also learn about Unix utilities and the way the Unix operating system works in general. The authors maintain that you shouldn’t have to be an internals expert to use and program the shell effectively.

The second edition covers all the features of the current version of the Korn shell, including many new features not in earlier versions of ksh93, making it the most up-to-date reference available on the Korn shell. It compares the current version of the Korn shell to several other Bourne-compatible shells, including several Unix emulation environments for MS-DOS and Windows. In addition, it describes how to download and build ksh93 from source code.

A solid offering for many years, this newly revised title inherits a long tradition of trust among computer professionals who want to learn or refine an essential skill.
Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter 1. Korn Shell Basics

What Is a Shell?

Scope of This Book

History of Unix Shells

Getting the 1993 Korn Shell

Interactive Shell Use

Files

Input and Output

Background Jobs

Special Characters and Quoting

Chapter 2. Command-Line Editing

Enabling Command-Line Editing

The History File

Emacs Editing Mode

Vi Editing Mode

The hist Command

Finger Habits

Chapter 3. Customizing Your Environment

The .profile File

Aliases

Options

Shell Variables

Customization and Subprocesses

Customization Hints

Chapter 4. Basic Shell Programming

Shell Scripts and Functions

Shell Variables

Compound Variables

Indirect Variable References (namerefs)

String Operators

Command Substitution

Advanced Examples: pushd and popd

Chapter 5. Flow Control

if/else

for

case

select

while and until

Chapter 6. Command-Line Options and Typed Variables

Command-Line Options

Numeric Variables and Arithmetic

Arithmetic for

Arrays

typeset

Chapter 7. Input/Output and Command-Line Processing

I/O Redirectors

String I/O

Command-Line Processing

Chapter 8. Process Handling

Process IDs and Job Numbers

Job Control

Signals

trap

Coroutines

Shell Subprocesses and Subshells

Chapter 9. Debugging Shell Programs

Basic Debugging Aids

A Korn Shell Debugger

Chapter 10. Korn Shell Administration

Installing the Korn Shell as the Standard Shell

Environment Customization

Customizing the Editing Modes

System Security Features

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