bash, the Free Software Foundation's "Bourne Again Shell," is the default shell for Linux, as well as a replacement for the standard UNIX Bourne shell. If you are new to shell programming, Learning the bash Shell is an excellent introduction, covering everything from the most basic to the most advanced features. If you've been writing shell scripts for years, it offers a great way to find out what the bash shell offers. This second edition covers all of the features of bash Version 2.0, while still applying to bash Version 1.x. New features include one-dimensional arrays, parameter expansion, and more pattern-matching operations. In addition, bash 2.0 is POSIX.2 conformant. This updated edition covers new commands, security improvements, additions to ReadLine, improved configuration and installation, and an additional programming aid, the bash shell debugger. Whether you want to use bash for its programming features or its user interface, you will find Learning the bash Shell, 2nd Edition a valuable guide.