Unix Tools: Data, Software and Production Engineering from edX

Processing information is the hallmark of all modern organizations, which are increasingly digital: absorbing, processing and generating information is a key element of their business.Being able to interact flexibly and efficiently with the underlying data and software systems is an indispensable skill. Knowledge of the Unix shell and its command-line tools boosts the effectiveness and productivity of software developers, IT professionals, and data analysts.

The Unix tools were designed, written, actively used and refined by the team that defined the modern computing landscape. They allow the performance of almost any imaginable computing task quickly and efficiently by judiciously combining key powerful concepts. The power of Unix tools for exploring, prototyping and implementing big data processing workflows, and software engineering tasks remains unmatched. Unix tools, running on hardware ranging from tiny IoT platforms to supercomputers, uniquely allow an interactive, explorative programming style, which is ideal for the efficient solution of many of the engineering and business analytics problems that we face every day.

Through the use of Unix tools:

Software developers can quickly explore and modify code, data, and tests.
IT professionals can scrutinize log files, network traces, performance figures, filesystems and the behavior of processes.
Data analysts can extract, transform, filter, process, load, and summarize huge data sets.

The course is uniquely based on carefully-selected, interactive walk-through examples that demonstrate how each command operates in practice. The examples that we use involve problems that engineers and analysts face every day.

_ ___ Class Central: Best Online Courses of the Year (2021 edition)

What's inside

Learning objectives

Enter and combine commands in the unix command line
Use files, data pipelines, variables and control structures
Select the most useful tools and commands for fetching, selecting, generating, processing, summarizing and reporting data

Obtain data from databases, cloud-based hosts, version control systems, object files, archives and your desktop files
Accomplish diverse processing tasks by putting together suitable commands and configuring their execution parameters
After completing the course you’ll be able to

Enter and combine commands in the unix command line
Use files, data pipelines, variables and control structures
Select the most useful tools and commands for fetching, selecting, generating, processing, summarizing and reporting data
Obtain data from databases, cloud-based hosts, version control systems, object files, archives and your desktop files
Accomplish diverse processing tasks by putting together suitable commands and configuring their execution parameters
After completing the course you’ll be able to

Syllabus

We start by introducing the key ideas and advantages of Unix tools. We then build many one-liners around the tools that follow a sequence of fetching, selection, processing, summarization and reporting. We demonstrate the tools for each phase: the plumbing that joins the parts into a whole, more specialized commands for handling software development and system administration tasks, sound and images and even graph-structures. We end with a discussion of common use patterns to follow and anti-patterns to avoid.

Throughout the course you’ll be monitoring your progress through more than 110 knowledge checks. Furthermore, five progress assessments interspersed throughout the course will allow you to demonstrate in practice how you deploy your newly acquired skills by completing about 20 carefully selected tasks modeled after real-life scenarios. Many of the questions will set you off on a virtual treasure hunt, providing you with the opportunity to experiment with what you’ve learned in order to derive the right answer.

Week 1 Introduction — Getting to the Command Line; The command-line interface; Input and output redirection; Files and directories; Command-line arguments; Command grouping; ScriptingWeek 2 Execution control; Data processing flow; Data fetching: Remote services, archives, remote hosts, and the file systemWeek 3 Data fetching: Version control systems, compiled code, graphical desktop systems, and system administration; Data generation; Regular expressions and data selection with grep, egrep, and fgrepWeek 4 Other data selection tools; Processing: Sorting, working with sorted data, sed, awkWeek 5 Processing: File differences, testing, and expressions dealing with characters, lines, and graphsWeek 6 Processing images and sound; Summarizing; Reporting: Email and text formatting; Good shell practices; Improving your shell style

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Touches on key concepts and covers data analytics, software engineering, and system administration tasks, offering depth

Taught by Diomidis Spinellis, a recognized expert in software tools and applications

Emphasizes practical applications with over 110 knowledge checks and 20 real-world scenario tasks for deep understanding

Suitable for software developers, IT professionals, and data analysts due to its focus on Unix tools and their relevance in these fields

Provides a comprehensive overview of Unix tools, from basic commands to advanced techniques

Builds a strong foundation for beginners in Unix tools and enhances existing skills for intermediate learners

Reviews summary

Well-received unix tool course

Learners say this course is well-received and that it provides a clear and concise overview of Unix tools. Many students reported being able to immediately apply what they learned in their work. They describe the lectures as engaging and well-edited, with helpful tutors and challenging exercises.

Professor Spinellis has a wonderful format.

"Prof Spinellis has a great format for the course and it moves along quickly through Unix fundamentals and shell examples"

"Professor Spinellis is giving a wonderful intermediate course on how to use the terminal pipeline to perform from simple to more complicated."

"No hours and hours of professors droning on repeating content until you understand it."

The course includes challenging exercises.

"The videos were concise, well edited, and packed with information."

"I highly recommend paying to get to do the exercises. They are quite challenging and definitely the best part of the class."

"The course was very helpful in advancing my understanding of the tools that are present to me on my Linux system."

The course offers practical examples and exercises.

"Very well put together. Practical with good examples and exercises."

"I was able to use a lot of what I learnt almost immediately, and have been using it since, in my day to day to solve a variety of problems in my daily programming tasks."

"This course helped me a lot to write some scripts and tools for my day-to-day work and be more efficient."

The course provides clear and concise explanations.

"The content is clear and to the point."

"I have really enjoyed this course! All those years I was promising my self to read in-depth bash scripting, git, awk and never really doing it! With this course I finally found a clear, concise and thorough review of all things a console user usually needs but never reads!"

"The course was very well put together giving an overview of the tools that was easy to grasp"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Unix Tools: Data, Software and Production Engineering with these activities:

Consolidate Course Materials

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Organize your notes, assignments, and other materials regularly to enhance your understanding and retention of the course content.

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Gather notes, assignments, and quizzes
Review and summarize materials
Organize materials into a cohesive structure

Attend a Unix Command-Line Workshop

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Attending a workshop will provide hands-on experience and expert guidance, enhancing your ability to use Unix tools efficiently.

Browse courses on Unix Command Line

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Identify a relevant workshop
Register for the workshop
Attend the workshop
Participate actively
Follow up after the workshop

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Career center

Learners who complete Unix Tools: Data, Software and Production Engineering will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Software Developer

Software Developers design, build, test, and maintain software applications. They use their knowledge of programming languages and software development tools to create software that meets the needs of users. Software Developers can use the skills they learn in the Unix Tools: Data, Software and Production Engineering course to improve their productivity by automating tasks through the command line. This course may help them to learn how to use version control systems, test code, and debug software.

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IT Administrator

IT Administrators manage and maintain computer systems and networks. They ensure that systems are running smoothly and that data is secure. IT Administrators can use the skills they learn in the Unix Tools: Data, Software and Production Engineering course to troubleshoot system issues, monitor performance, and manage user accounts. This course will help them to learn how to use command-line tools to automate tasks, manage files and directories, and secure systems and data.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts have the skills and knowledge to collect, clean, and analyze data. They use their findings to help businesses make informed decisions. Data Analysts can use the skills they learn in the Unix Tools: Data, Software and Production Engineering course to build pipelines for data ingestion and manipulation. This course also teaches how to use regex to extract specific data points. Those that pursue this course may improve their ability to explore, process, and present data. It may also help them to learn how to store data in a database for further analysis.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists use their knowledge of data analysis, machine learning, and statistics to solve business problems. They use data to build predictive models, identify trends, and develop new products and services. Data Scientists can use the skills they learn in the Unix Tools: Data, Software and Production Engineering course to wrangle data, build data pipelines, and analyze large datasets. This course will help them to learn how to use command-line tools to automate their tasks, manage large-scale data sets, and understand how data is processed and analyzed.

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DevOps Engineer

DevOps Engineers work to bridge the gap between development and operations teams. They use their knowledge of both software development and system administration to ensure that software is released quickly and efficiently. DevOps Engineers can use the skills they learn in the Unix Tools: Data, Software and Production Engineering course to automate deployment pipelines, configure infrastructure, and monitor performance. This course will help them to learn how to use command-line tools to automate their tasks, manage large-scale systems, and understand how software is developed and deployed.

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System Administrator

System Administrators manage and maintain computer systems and networks. They ensure that systems are running smoothly and that data is secure. System Administrators can use the skills they learn in the Unix Tools: Data, Software and Production Engineering course to manage files and directories, manage user accounts, and secure systems and data. This course will help them to learn how to use command-line tools to automate their tasks and manage large-scale systems.

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Cloud Architect

Cloud Architects design, build, and manage cloud computing systems. They use their knowledge of cloud computing technologies to create scalable, reliable, and secure systems. Cloud Architects can use the skills they learn in the Unix Tools: Data, Software and Production Engineering course to automate cloud infrastructure, manage cloud resources, and monitor cloud performance. This course will help them to learn how to use command-line tools to automate their tasks, manage large-scale cloud systems, and understand how cloud computing technologies work.

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Site Reliability Engineer

Site Reliability Engineers (SREs) work to ensure that websites and online services are reliable, scalable, and performant. They use their knowledge of software development, system administration, and operations to keep services running smoothly. SREs can use the skills they learn in the Unix Tools: Data, Software and Production Engineering course to automate their tasks, manage infrastructure, and monitor performance. This course will help them to learn how to use command-line tools to automate their tasks, manage large-scale systems, and understand how software is developed and deployed.

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Network Engineer

Network Engineers design, build, and maintain computer networks. They ensure that networks are running smoothly and that data is transmitted securely. Network Engineers can use the skills they learn in the Unix Tools: Data, Software and Production Engineering course to manage network devices, configure network protocols, and troubleshoot network issues. This course will help them to learn how to use command-line tools to automate their tasks and manage large-scale networks.

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Database Administrator

Database Administrators manage and maintain databases. They ensure that databases are running smoothly and that data is stored securely. Database Administrators can use the skills they learn in the Unix Tools: Data, Software and Production Engineering course to manage database servers, configure database settings, and troubleshoot database issues. This course will help them to learn how to use command-line tools to automate their tasks, manage large-scale databases, and understand how databases work.

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Security Analyst

Security Analysts monitor and analyze security systems to identify and prevent security breaches. They use their knowledge of security tools and techniques to keep systems safe from unauthorized access. Security Analysts can use the skills they learn in the Unix Tools: Data, Software and Production Engineering course to analyze security logs, detect suspicious activity, and respond to security breaches. This course will help them to learn how to use command-line tools to automate their tasks, manage security systems, and understand how security tools work.

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Forensic Analyst

Forensic Analysts investigate computer crimes and cyberattacks. They use their knowledge of computer forensics tools and techniques to collect evidence and track down criminals. Forensic Analysts can use the skills they learn in the Unix Tools: Data, Software and Production Engineering course to analyze digital evidence, recover deleted files, and track down cybercriminals. This course will help them to learn how to use command-line tools to automate their tasks, manage digital evidence, and understand how computer forensics tools work.

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Data Engineer

Data Engineers design, build, and maintain data pipelines. They use their knowledge of data engineering tools and techniques to ensure that data is stored, processed, and delivered in a timely and reliable manner. Data Engineers can use the skills they learn in the Unix Tools: Data, Software and Production Engineering course to automate data pipelines, manage data storage systems, and monitor data quality. This course will help them to learn how to use command-line tools to automate their tasks, manage large-scale data systems, and understand how data is stored, processed, and delivered.

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Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineers design, build, and maintain machine learning models. They use their knowledge of machine learning algorithms and techniques to develop models that can learn from data and make predictions. Machine Learning Engineers can use the skills they learn in the Unix Tools: Data, Software and Production Engineering course to build data pipelines, train machine learning models, and evaluate model performance. This course will help them to learn how to use command-line tools to automate their tasks, manage large-scale machine learning models, and understand how machine learning algorithms work.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts use their knowledge of business processes and data analysis to help organizations improve their operations. They use data to identify problems, develop solutions, and improve decision-making. Business Analysts can use the skills they learn in the Unix Tools: Data, Software and Production Engineering course to collect data, analyze data, and present their findings to stakeholders. This course will help them to learn how to use command-line tools to automate their tasks, manage large-scale data sets, and understand how data is processed and analyzed.

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