Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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How to write a 'tar' command (lemmy.sdf.org)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Does every Linux command have options as words instead of single letters?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Tar is as old as IT, that's why it's syntax is a bit special.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

tar -xf is not really special combining short options isn't uncommon.

Where tar is nonstandard is that you can leave out the -, tar xf is actually how POSIX specifies it. And we've kinda come full circle on that one with many modern utilities using a command syntax, you can read tar xf as "tar extract file" just as you can read git pull as, well, "git pull".

If you want to see a standard command with truly non-standard syntax have a look at dd.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Nono, dash-parameters are new in fancy GNU tar. And POSIX is not old.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Many do as it's considered good practice, but it's not guaranteed, it just depends on the individual command (program). Usually you can use the --help option to see all the options, so for instance tar --help.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Most commands will have expanded arguments started with 2 dashes that usually look like '--verbose-name-of-option', they're usually listed in the man page/documentation along with the abbreviated letter version