Speaker 1: All right, so today we are going to take a
Speaker 1: deep dive into the world of Unix operating systems. Yeah,
Speaker 1: we've got a whole bunch of sources here, a textbook,
Speaker 1: some manual pages, even a bit of code. Cool, and
Speaker 1: we're going to try to break it all down so
Speaker 1: we can really understand you Andix, even if you've never
Speaker 1: thought about becoming a programmer yourself.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's worth understanding, I think. Right, Unix may seem
Speaker 2: kind of like this hidden thing in the background, right,
Speaker 2: but it's actually running a huge chunk of the Internet.
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, most people probably use it every day without
Speaker 2: even realizing it.
Speaker 1: Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Yeah, I was clipping
Speaker 1: through this textbook and it says that most Internet servers
Speaker 1: actually run on Unix. That's right, which is crazy. I
Speaker 1: had no idea. But this deep dive is going to
Speaker 1: go beyond that big picture stuff. Okay, you'll get to
Speaker 1: see the practical side of things took, like how to
Speaker 1: move around the file system, use text editors, even peek
Speaker 1: into system programming.
Speaker 2: Sounds good.
Speaker 1: Are you ready to jump in?
Speaker 2: Let's do it?
Speaker 1: Okay, First things first, Like what iuniis U and IX.
Speaker 1: It's an operating system. Right, But what does that even mean?
Speaker 2: Well, you can think of an operating system kind of
Speaker 2: like the conductor of an orchestra.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: It manages all the different parts of a computer, the memory,
Speaker 2: the storage, the processor, make sure everything works together smoothly.
Speaker 1: I see. So it's like the behind the scenes organizer exactly,
Speaker 1: making sure everything runs on time. And this textbook mentions
Speaker 1: that there are different types of operating systems, like single
Speaker 1: user and multi user, and it says that U and
Speaker 1: IX is both multi user and multiprocess.
Speaker 2: What's the difference. So, a multi user system just means
Speaker 2: that multiple people can use the computer at the same time,
Speaker 2: each with their own accounts and files matcha, and multiprocess
Speaker 2: means that the system can run multiple programs simultaneously.
Speaker 1: So it's not just about multiple people using the system,
Speaker 1: it's about the system itself being able to juggle lots
Speaker 1: of tasks at once.
Speaker 2: Exactly.
Speaker 1: Gotcha. Yeah, that makes a lot more sense why it's
Speaker 1: so popular for servers Yeah, right, that need to handle
Speaker 1: lots of requests simultaneously.
Speaker 2: Absolutely.
Speaker 1: Okay, So let's say I'm like logging into UNX for
Speaker 1: the first time. Yep, it's a little intimidating. I can
Speaker 1: see that it's all command line, no fancy buttons or icons. Yeah,
Speaker 1: where do I even start?
Speaker 2: It can feel like entering a new world, you know,
Speaker 2: with its own language. Yeah, but don't worry, We've got
Speaker 2: some excerpts here, okay to make it a lot easier.
Speaker 2: It's like learning a few key phrases to get around
Speaker 2: in a foreign country.
Speaker 1: I like that analogy. Ye, you'll find information on how
Speaker 1: to connect to a UNCX machine, right, how everything's organized,
Speaker 1: and some basic commands to get started exactly.
Speaker 2: Like, for instance, you'll learn about paths paths. Yeah, paths
Speaker 2: might seem confusing at first, but they're really just like
Speaker 2: addresses for your files. Like imagine a filing cabinet with
Speaker 2: folders inside folders. Okay, a path just tells you how
Speaker 2: to get to a specific file within that structure.
Speaker 1: Gotcha.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 1: I love this idea of a home directory that I
Speaker 1: see explained in this textbook.
Speaker 2: Yeah, your home directory.
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's like your own personal workspace, a virtual desk
Speaker 1: where all your files are kept. Absolutely makes it feel
Speaker 1: a lot more manageable. Once you're in your home directory,
Speaker 1: the l's command becomes your best friend. That looks like
Speaker 1: it lists all the files in your current.
Speaker 2: Directory, and you can even use these things called flags
Speaker 2: flags yeah, to customize what you see, sort by date,
Speaker 2: show hidden files, even see file sizes.
Speaker 1: It's like a super powered file explorer right in the
Speaker 1: command line exactly. And then there's even a fine command
Speaker 1: right those times when you just can't remember the exact
Speaker 1: name of a file, right right, but you know it
Speaker 1: was created sometime last week, that's right. Yeah, talk about
Speaker 1: a lifesaver.
Speaker 2: Powerful tools.
Speaker 1: Okay, so we've talked about logging in navigating the file system,
Speaker 1: right now, how about we talk about actually like getting
Speaker 1: things done, like editing files. Yeah, this textbook mentions these
Speaker 1: two text editors, VI and Emacs. I've heard they're kind
Speaker 1: of a big deal in the yuon X world.
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, Viz versus Emacs classic debate.
Speaker 1: What's the what are the key differences between those?
Speaker 2: Well, Viz especially, it's modern versions like Vimka. They're all
Speaker 2: about speed and efficiency.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: They use a modal interface, which means it has different
Speaker 2: modes for editing and sorting text, running commands.
Speaker 1: So you can zip around and edit text like a pro.
Speaker 2: Yeah, once you learn those shortcuts.
Speaker 1: But switching between all those modes. Sounds like it could
Speaker 1: be confusing.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, it definitely has a learning curve.
Speaker 1: Yeah. So what about emacs.
Speaker 2: EMAS is more than just a text editor. Oh, it's
Speaker 2: practically its own operating system.
Speaker 1: Really.
Speaker 2: You can extend it with tons of packages for things
Speaker 2: like managing email. Wow, even playing games. No way, it's
Speaker 2: incredibly customizable.
Speaker 1: Oh.
Speaker 2: You can even automate tasks using keyboard macros.
Speaker 1: Wait, automate tasks. Tell me more about that.
Speaker 2: Imagine recording a sequence of actions okay, and then just
Speaker 2: replaying them with a single.
Speaker 1: C That sound amazing.
Speaker 2: UMAX makes that possible. Wow, that's why it's so beloved
Speaker 2: buy programmers. You know, I can see why you can
Speaker 2: automate repetitive tasks and just boost your productivity.
Speaker 1: Okay, so we've learned how to navigate the file system, right,
Speaker 1: we've gotten a taste of these two powerful text editors. Yeah,
Speaker 1: before we move on to more advanced concepts. Okay, there's
Speaker 1: something I'm curious about. What's that security? Yes, especially in
Speaker 1: a multi user environment like you and IX, I bet
Speaker 1: keeping your files safe is a big deal.
Speaker 2: Absolutely, you're right to bring that up. Yeah, the textbook
Speaker 2: has a whole chapter dedicated to file security. It does
Speaker 2: a really good job of explaining how you and IX
Speaker 2: protects your data.
Speaker 1: Well, I'm looking at the section on the triumud command okay,
Speaker 1: and to be honest, it looks a bit cryptic, all
Speaker 1: these letters and symbols.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I know what you mean.
Speaker 1: What's it all about.
Speaker 2: It's basically like setting the privacy settings on a social
Speaker 2: media post.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: You decide who can see your files, who can edit them,
Speaker 2: who's blocked completely.
Speaker 1: Oh okay, so you're controlling who has access to what.
Speaker 1: That makes a lot more sense now, okay, good, But wait,
Speaker 1: there are different levels of access right right, Like someone
Speaker 1: might be able to see a file but not change it.
Speaker 2: You're exactly right, okay. Every file has three types of
Speaker 2: permissions read, write, and execute okay, and you can set
Speaker 2: those permissions for three different categories of users, the owner
Speaker 2: of the file, a group that the file belongs to,
Speaker 2: and then everyone else.
Speaker 1: So it's like having different levels of access for your friends, family,
Speaker 1: and the general public exactly. You get to decide who
Speaker 1: gets to do what.
Speaker 2: That's the beauty of it. That's pretty cool, it is.
Speaker 1: Yeah, and Schmaud gives you like that fine grained control
Speaker 1: over all those permissions exactly. You can even set default
Speaker 1: permissions for new files using the UMAs command. That's right,
Speaker 1: so you don't have to manually set them every single time.
Speaker 2: Exactly. It's like setting your baseline privacy preferences.
Speaker 1: This is all starting to click now, a whole system
Speaker 1: for protecting your digital belongings.
Speaker 2: That's a great way to put it.
Speaker 1: Cool.
Speaker 2: Yeah, In a multi user system, security is paramount, right,
Speaker 2: Unix provides a really robust framework for managing it.
Speaker 1: This has been a really insightful look into the basics
Speaker 1: of Unix.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 1: We've covered a lot of ground, from understanding what an
Speaker 1: operating system is, to navigating the file system, even dipping
Speaker 1: our toes into the world of text editors and file security.
Speaker 1: We have, but there's still so much more to explore.
Speaker 2: Absolutely, we're just getting started, all right.
Speaker 1: Well, stay tuned for part two of our Uniix deep dive.
Speaker 2: We'll be right back. Welcome back to our Unax deep dive.
Speaker 1: Okay, I'm ready for more.
Speaker 2: Last time, we covered a lot of the basics what
Speaker 2: Unix is and how to get around the filesystem and
Speaker 2: even those those legendary text editors. Yeah, are you ready
Speaker 2: to level up a.
Speaker 1: Bit, you bet, I am. I'm ready for the more
Speaker 1: technical stuff.
Speaker 2: Okay.
Speaker 1: I've always been curious about these mysterious processes. Yeah, and
Speaker 1: pipes out of those things have questions and like why
Speaker 1: should I care?
Speaker 2: So you'll find that processes are like the heartbeats of
Speaker 2: a U and IX system.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: So imagine you're working on your computer. Okay, You've got
Speaker 2: your web browser open, maybe you're listening to music, and
Speaker 2: you're also editing a document. Each of those is a
Speaker 2: separate process running independently, doing its own thing.
Speaker 1: So each program I open is its own process exactly. Okay,
Speaker 1: So what's the operating system doing in all this?
Speaker 2: So the operating system is like the conductor of this
Speaker 2: whole process orchestra.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: It made sure each process has the resources it needs,
Speaker 2: like memory and processing power, and that they don't interfere
Speaker 2: with each other.
Speaker 1: It's like a traffic cop.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 1: That's a good analogy, making sure everything runs smoothly.
Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1: This source material mentions things like process creation and termination
Speaker 1: and a keeps command for monitoring them. It's like having
Speaker 1: a control panel for all the activity happening on my computer.
Speaker 2: You got it?
Speaker 1: That's really cool.
Speaker 2: Processes are constantly being created and terminated as you open
Speaker 2: and close programs, right, and the curious commands just lets
Speaker 2: you peek behind the curtain to see what's running.
Speaker 1: Now, what about pipes? Okay, those sound a little bit
Speaker 1: more like abstract.
Speaker 2: Yeah, so you mentioned processes running independently. Huh, how do
Speaker 2: they work together if they need to share information?
Speaker 1: Yeah? Like, how does that work?
Speaker 2: That's where pipes come in.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: So think of a pipe as like a one way
Speaker 2: communication channel between processes. Okay, like imagine a factory assembly line.
Speaker 2: One process does its part, sends its output down the pipe,
Speaker 2: and the next process picks it up into something else
Speaker 2: with it.
Speaker 1: So it's like a chain of commands. Yeah, exactly, each
Speaker 1: process feeding into the next. Right, that's pretty efficient, it is.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 1: This source material has this example of using a pipe
Speaker 1: in code. Okay, can we walk through that?
Speaker 2: Absolutely. So the example shows a parent process creating a
Speaker 2: pipe and then it forks. That means it creates a
Speaker 2: copy of itself. Oh wow, to make a child process.
Speaker 2: The parent process then writes data into the pipe okay,
Speaker 2: and the child process reads that data from the pipe.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: It's a really classic example of how processes can work
Speaker 2: together using pipes.
Speaker 1: So the parent process passes information to the child process
Speaker 1: through the pipe.
Speaker 2: Exactly.
Speaker 1: You mentioned it was a one way channel. What if,
Speaker 1: like both processes try to write.
Speaker 2: Yeah, good question at the same time, so you can
Speaker 2: get this what's called a broken pipe error. Oh, if
Speaker 2: you're not careful about closing unused ends of the pipe.
Speaker 1: So it's like making sure you seal the envelope before
Speaker 1: sending the letter.
Speaker 2: That's a good analogy. Okay, so the message doesn't get lost.
Speaker 1: This is making a lot more sense now, Okay, good processes, pipes,
Speaker 1: it's all starting to come together. You know, we talked
Speaker 1: earlier about how most Internet servers run on you and IX, right,
Speaker 1: but I'm still not quite sure how that connects to
Speaker 1: like me browsing the web.
Speaker 2: Yeah, you're right to connect those dots. Yeah, that's where
Speaker 2: the magic of networking comes in. Okay, you and I
Speaker 2: plays a starring role, gotcha. The Internet relies on this
Speaker 2: set of rules called the TCPIP Protocol Suite.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: Think of it as like the language that computers use
Speaker 2: to communicate with each other. Oh, okay, and you ANDIX
Speaker 2: is fluent in that language.
Speaker 1: So you ANDIX speaks the Internet's language exactly, But how
Speaker 1: does that actually like help me load a website?
Speaker 2: So imagine you're sending a letter, Okay, you need the
Speaker 2: recipient's address. Right on the Internet, every computer has a
Speaker 2: unique address called an IP address. Okay, So when you
Speaker 2: type a website address into your browser, your computer uses DNAs.
Speaker 2: Think of it as like a phone book for the Internet, okay,
Speaker 2: to look up the IP address of the web server
Speaker 2: Okay that's hosting that website.
Speaker 1: So my computer finds the server's address, and then what.
Speaker 2: Then your computer uses that TCPIP protocol to establish a
Speaker 2: connection with the server.
Speaker 1: It's sort of like dialing a phone number.
Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly. Once that connection is established, your computer sends
Speaker 2: a request okay for the website's files okay, and the
Speaker 2: server sends them back, allowing your browser to display the
Speaker 2: web page. Wow.
Speaker 1: So UNIX is running on the server making sure it
Speaker 1: can speak the Internet's language and handle all those requests
Speaker 1: exactly coming from my computer and like countless others.
Speaker 2: That's right.
Speaker 1: Yeah, and I see there's some specific tools in un
Speaker 1: and ix that help with this communication. You'll see telnet
Speaker 1: and FTP mentioned in our sources. I vaguely remember those
Speaker 1: from like my early Internet days.
Speaker 2: Yeah, they're kind of old school.
Speaker 1: Are they still relevant today? Will?
Speaker 2: They might seem old school?
Speaker 1: Yeah?
Speaker 2: They highlight some important concepts.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: So tell net lets you connect to a remote computer
Speaker 2: and interact with it, oh wow, as if you were
Speaker 2: sitting right in front of it.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: And then FTP allows you to transfer files between computers.
Speaker 1: So they were like the precursors to yeah, exactly, more
Speaker 1: modern tools we use today for secure file sharing and
Speaker 1: a remote access exactly. Speaking of securecurity, yeah, I've heard
Speaker 1: that shastage is a more secure way absolutely connect to
Speaker 1: remote computers than telnet, you are.
Speaker 2: Correct, which stands for secure shell. It's basically like telnet
Speaker 2: with an added layer of security. It encrypts the communication
Speaker 2: okay between your computer and the remote server, gotcha, making
Speaker 2: it much harder for anyone to eavesdrop on your data.
Speaker 1: Okay. It's like sending a secret message, yeah, exact that
Speaker 1: only the recipient can decode.
Speaker 2: Right.
Speaker 1: Okay, So we've gone from processes and pipes, yeah, to
Speaker 1: this vast network of computers that make up the Internet. Right,
Speaker 1: what's next on our UNAX journey Welcome back to our
Speaker 1: deep dive into the amazing world of Unix. We've explored
Speaker 1: like how it works, how it manages processes, and how
Speaker 1: it connects us all through the Internet. Now I'm really
Speaker 1: excited to kind of dig into this whole world of
Speaker 1: scripting and programming. I feel like this is where the
Speaker 1: real power of Unix comes to life.
Speaker 2: You're absolutely right rpting and programming in you and I's
Speaker 2: allow you to like automate tasks, create custom tools, and
Speaker 2: really bend the system to your will.
Speaker 1: So I've seen shell scripting mentioned a lot in our sources,
Speaker 1: and there are examples in both bornshell and CShell. What
Speaker 1: exactly iss shell scripting and why are there different shells
Speaker 1: to choose from?
Speaker 2: Okay, so think of it this way. Imagine you do
Speaker 2: the same series of tasks on your computer every day,
Speaker 2: like backing up files or renaming a bunch of photos.
Speaker 2: Instead of doing it all manually, you can write a
Speaker 2: shell script that does it all for you with just
Speaker 2: one command.
Speaker 1: So it's like giving the computer a set of instructions
Speaker 1: to follow and it just does them automatically exactly. That
Speaker 1: sounds incredibly useful, especially for repetitive tasks. But you mentioned
Speaker 1: different shells. Why are there multiple options and how are
Speaker 1: they different?
Speaker 2: Different shells offer different features and syntax for writing your scripts.
Speaker 2: It's kind of like choosing between different dialects of the
Speaker 2: same language. The BORN shell, for example, is known for
Speaker 2: its simplicity and portability, making great choice for beginners. The CShell,
Speaker 2: on the other hand, offers more advanced features like job
Speaker 2: control and aliases, which can be helpful for more complex tasks, so.
Speaker 1: It's like choosing the right tool for the job. The
Speaker 1: source material also goes into concepts like variables, control flow,
Speaker 1: and passing arguments to scripts. It seems like there's a
Speaker 1: whole programming language within the shell itself.
Speaker 2: There is, and it's quite powerful. You can use variables
Speaker 2: to store information, you can use control flow statements like
Speaker 2: ifls and loops to make decisions and repeat actions. And
Speaker 2: you can even pass arguments to your scripts to make
Speaker 2: them more flexible.
Speaker 1: So if I'm understanding correctly, I could create custom commands
Speaker 1: that do exactly what I need them to do, even
Speaker 1: if it involves like multiple steps and decisions. That's amazing.
Speaker 1: Our source material also mentions using Python to interact with Unix.
Speaker 1: I know Python is this like super popular programming language,
Speaker 1: but how does it fit into the Unix world.
Speaker 2: Python is incredibly versable. It works seamlessly with Unx. You
Speaker 2: can use it to write everything from simple scripts to
Speaker 2: complex applications. And the great thing about Python is that
Speaker 2: it's designed to be readable, making it relatively easy to learn,
Speaker 2: even for beginners.
Speaker 1: So it's like a more user friendly way to kind
Speaker 1: of dive into the world of programming in Unix exactly.
Speaker 2: Python can interact directly with the operating system, making it
Speaker 2: ideal for tasks like managing files, controlling processes, and even
Speaker 2: working with networks. It's a really powerful combination.
Speaker 1: This has been an incredible journey. We've gone from the
Speaker 1: basic building blocks of Unix to understanding processes, pipes, networks,
Speaker 1: and now even scripting and programming. It's amazing to see
Speaker 1: how deep the rabbit hole goes.
Speaker 2: And what's truly remarkable is that Unix, despite its age,
Speaker 2: is still the foundation for so much of today's technology.
Speaker 2: The concepts we've explored in this deep dive processes, pipes, networking,
Speaker 2: and even the command line interface are relevant in everything
Speaker 2: from cloud computing to mobile apps.
Speaker 1: It's like the DNA of the digital world. So as
Speaker 1: we wrap up our Uniix deep dive, I want to
Speaker 1: encourage you to continue exploring. There's a wealth of information
Speaker 1: out there and you'll find some great resources mentioned in
Speaker 1: our source material. The IA website, for example, is a
Speaker 1: great place to learn about port numbers, and the Tutorial's
Speaker 1: Point website offers all sorts of tutorials on programming and
Speaker 1: Unix concepts.
Speaker 2: And before we go, here's a final thought to ponder.
Speaker 2: Given how much technology is evolving, what role do you
Speaker 2: think Unix like systems will play in the future. Will
Speaker 2: they continue to be the bedrock of the digital world
Speaker 2: or will something new emerge.
Speaker 1: That's a great question. I guess only time will tell,
Speaker 1: but for now I'm definitely feeling a lot more informed
Speaker 1: and a lot less intimidated by the world of Unini X.
Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us on the steep Dave. We'll catch
Speaker 1: you next time.