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Mastering Linux Wildcards and History Expansions: A Deep Dive for Advanced Users

The Linux terminal provides a robust and flexible interface for managing and interacting with your system. For those pursuing careers or academic paths in systems programming, network engineering, or DevOps, mastering the use of wildcards and command history expansions is not merely a convenience — it’s essential. These powerful tools enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and reduce potential errors during repetitive tasks. This guide presents an in-depth analysis of wildcards , which offer dynamic filename pattern matching, and history expansions , which facilitate efficient reuse of prior commands. With command-line proficiency, you can leverage these tools to optimize operations and script automation on Linux systems. Understanding Wildcards in Linux Wildcards in the Linux shell are symbolic placeholders used to represent variable components in filenames or paths. They offer functionality similar to regular expressions but are more accessible and widely used in everyday s...

Mastering the Asterisk (*) in Bash: A Comprehensive Guide

The asterisk ( * ) is one of the most powerful and frequently used wildcard characters in Bash. Whether you're listing files, moving directories, or searching for patterns, mastering the use of * can significantly boost your efficiency in the terminal. This article explores various ways to use * in Bash, with practical examples to help you get the most out of this wildcard. 1. Wildcard for File and Directory Matching The * wildcard matches zero or more characters in filenames. Example: ls *.txt # Lists all files ending with .txt ls file* # Lists all files starting with "file" 2. Using * in Commands The * wildcard works with commands like cp , mv , rm , etc. Example: cp *.jpg backup/ # Copies all .jpg files to the backup directory rm * # Deletes all files in the current directory 3. Wildcard in Recursive Search Used with find or grep to search files recursively. Example: find . -name "*.sh" # Finds all .sh fil...

tmux: Ensuring Persistent Terminal Sessions for Reliable Server Administration

  Introduction Maintaining an uninterrupted terminal session is essential for professionals managing remote servers. Unexpected disconnections can disrupt workflows, leading to data loss and inefficiencies. tmux (Terminal Multiplexer) addresses this challenge by ensuring that sessions persist even when a user disconnects. This feature makes tmux indispensable for system administrators, developers, and any technical professional working with remote environments. By leveraging tmux , users can manage multiple terminal windows and panes within a single session, detach and reattach as needed, and automate workflows through scripting. This guide provides an exhaustive exploration of tmux —covering installation, session management, advanced pane manipulation, customization, scripting, and best practices. By the end, readers will have a comprehensive understanding of how to maximize tmux to enhance efficiency and maintain workflow continuity. 1. Getting Started with tmux Installin...

How Docker Works: Does It Need a Hypervisor?

Docker has revolutionized software development by making application deployment fast, efficient, and scalable. But many developers ask: 👉 Does Docker need a hypervisor to run? The answer depends on your operating system. Let’s dive deep into how Docker works on Linux, Windows, and macOS. 🛠️ Containers vs. Virtual Machines: What’s the Difference? Before answering the hypervisor question, let's clarify the difference between containers and virtual machines (VMs) . Feature Virtual Machines (VMs) Docker Containers Isolation                          Fully isolated OS per VM                    Process-level isolation Guest OS Each VM has its own OS No separate OS, shares host kernel Performance Heavy, slower boot times Lightweight, near-instant start Hypervisor? Required Not required (on Linux) Docker uses containers instead of full OS virtualization, making it...

Installing .deb Packages Without Root Access in Ubuntu

In modern Linux environments, installing .deb packages typically requires sudo privileges. However, in scenarios such as shared hosting systems, enterprise security restrictions, or developer workstations with limited administrative access, an alternative approach is necessary. This guide provides a systematic method for extracting, configuring, and executing .deb packages within a user directory, bypassing the need for elevated permissions. Manual Extraction and Execution of .deb Packages Step 1: Extracting the .deb Package Use dpkg-deb to extract the package contents into a designated directory within the user's home directory: mkdir -p ~/my_software # Extract package contents dpkg-deb -x software.deb ~/my_software # Extract package metadata (optional but informative) dpkg-deb -e software.deb ~/my_software/DEBIAN The -x flag extracts core package files. The -e flag extracts control metadata, including package configurations and dependency details. Understanding ...

Installing Xray on Ubuntu VPS

Xray is a platform that supports multiple proxy protocols such as VLESS, VMess, Shadowsocks, and Trojan. Below are the steps to install Xray on an Ubuntu VPS and set up a client connection. Installing Xray on Ubuntu VPS Update the System sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y Install Required Dependencies sudo apt install -y curl wget unzip socat Install Xray Using the Installation Script  Run the following script to install the latest version of Xray: bash <(curl -L https://github.com/XTLS/Xray-install/raw/main/install-release.sh) This script will download, install, and configure Xray as a systemd service. Configure Xray  After installation, the configuration file is located at: /usr/local/etc/xray/config.json Edit this file to set up your desired proxy protocol (e.g., VMess, VLESS, or Trojan). Below is an example configuration for VLESS with WebSocket and TLS: { "inbounds" : [ { "port" : 443 , "protocol" : "vless...