The Unix Shell

Thursday 6 Nov 2025, 09:00 → 16:00 Europe/London

Training Room (E6)

Note: this course is currently only open to registration by members of the Graduate Scheme. It will be made public to all staff if there is spare capacity.

• Summary: An introductory workshop to help you get started with the Unix shell, e.g. typing commands in a terminal and writing a simple script. It is a powerful 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 tools and computing resources (including “high-performance computing” supercomputers).

• Objectives:

  • Navigate and explore the directory and file system from the command line
  • Manipulate files and directories from the command line in a programmatic manner
  • Link commands and programs together to achieve multiple tasks
  • Repeat the same command many times with loops

• Audience: Anyone in a science, engineering or technical role who has little or no prior experience with the command line. This is a lesson for beginners and novices. If you’re already comfortable manipulating files and directories from the shell, searching for files with grep and find, and writing simple loops and scripts then this lesson is probably too basic for you, but you could look at the shell-extras online material.

• Prerequisites: If you have stored files on a computer at all and recognise the word “file” and either “directory” or “folder” (two common words for the same thing), you’re ready for this lesson.

• Course content: https://swcarpentry.github.io/shell-novice/

If you still have questions about whether this course will be suitable for you or someone you manage, please get in touch with Matthew Bluteau directly. These courses must be booked through the Unit4 Course Catalogue. Left tab menu "Your Employment" > Heading "Your development" > Click "Course catalogue" > "Course Search" > Search by course name or code given below. Your line manager will need to approve your participation in a course, so please also consult them in advance, and you will need to decide on what WON your time should be charged to (we do not cover your time).