What is the relationship between linux and bash please?

Apologies for the rawness of this question. I've been looking online and thought I got it, but then... it slips away.

This I think I know: Macs run GUI or Graphical User Interface on the 'regular' part of the computer. Then you can go to 'terminal' for command-lines that seem to go straight to the processor. These command lines are a program (?) called bash (Bourne something-or-other). But then what is linux...?

And what is it, specifically, that I'm trying to learn when I want to learn how to write bash script on my Mac's terminal? Is it bash or linux??

TIA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bash_(Unix_shell)

Bash is a command shell (a command interpreter), just like your "terminal", and where you can enter commands or execute scripts. It's been ported to a number of different OS's. The link provided my the member above me should prove educational.

If you have Bash on your Mac, you're writing a Bash script, although there may be slight differences between shells, and other common tools, on different OS's.

"Linux" is the kernel of your GNU/Linux Operating System. It's the heart of the OS, and it interfaces the rest of your operating system and applications, with the hardware of the machine.

On GNU/Linux operating systems, the GUI environment is usually provided by the "X" Server. X is a client/server graphical interface system that runs on top of your operating system. Without X, you have no "Desktop" environment, but you still have the kernel, and the rest of the OS, and the consoles or "Virtual Terminals" to work in. For more on X, see here for starters:
http://www.x.org/wiki/

1 members found this post helpful.

Thanks, all. I'm slowly bootstrapping my way here. There's a lot to learn.

Welcome to Linux.

There is a learning curve. Linux ain't hard, it's just different.

There is a good primer at about dot com.

Machtelt Garrels has written a fantastic in-depth intro. I have a printed copy of that on my bookshelf and read it all the way through.

The Slackbook is also a good intro. It's oriented towards Slackware, but, since Slackware believes in basic Linux, not in bells-and-whistles Linux, it is good on basic Linux.

1 members found this post helpful.

Thanks!

Is that "linux 101" or Tutorials for new users of the Linux desktop?

Any good tutorial suggestions for bash? I found one at one point, but failed to bookmark it and now can't find it again...

Here is a good Bash tutorial: http://www.hypexr.org/bash_tutorial.php
there are a lot of tutorials out there. google.

Hey thanks man for the linux.about.com link. So many people ask what linux is when I tell them about it, and that is perfect to give to people to learn about linux. You the man! I always struggle to explain linux, especially when most people only ever used windows throughout their whole life.

aliris - It might be tough trying to learn about some different parts and aspects of linux, how it works, runs, programming, etc... you get the picture.... but in the end, it is well worth it. And as far as bash, you can start here:

http://bash.cyberciti.biz/guide/Main_Page
http://lowfatlinux.com/linux-bash-manual.html

If we helped you out enough, and you are good to go, mark the thread as solved. Just common forum courtesy. And giving positive reputation is a plus too. Good luck with everything!

I have not looked at all the links, every one has their favourite explanation but I would add that technical writing is a particular skill and one that few have mastered, think of flat-pack instructions! Thus don't beat yourself up if you don't understand first off.
Perhaps, a Windows user does not think about how the file system works, it just works(hopefully). If you start using GNU/Linux then you are either short of cash or are beginning to think of 'how does all this stuff work?'
Bash is the standard command line that underlies the Gui. It (the gui) gives you easy to use pictures to use the same thing that you would use on the command line.
Windows is slightly different in that it hides its 'code' for a number of reasons.

Fred.
P.S I'm bullet proof.

Basically only two reasons, it's proprietary and closed-source.

Ah, thank you all. I appreciate the references. Indeed I have googled -- and googled and googled for a week-plus now on this subject (it's all been part of a larger snafu the scale and scope of the misery of which I won't bore you with, but is just, well, all-week-long-sized and more).

As noted, there are many, many primers out there and they are not by any means all created equally. Again, I had my hands on a great one and failed to bookmark it (a week of many lessons) - I was asking for some personalized references and so I do appreciate your effort at sharing your favorites. I wasn't trying to imply I was too lazy as to not have simply googled it already. But if it were that easy to find good primers, there would be no need of teachers.

Many thanks all and my apologies for not having noted your appreciated answers to this well-responded-to-question.

Happy programming...