Unix/Linux Development Tools

Shells (command interpreters)

#!/bin/THE_SHELL_COMMAND
• sh: Bourne Shell - the standard shell ($)

  if [ -f /etc/passwd ]
  then
  echo "Found it!"
  fi

• csh/tcsh: C-like sh (%) ($HOME/{.cshrc,.login})
  

  alias a alias
  a host hostname
  a pwd 'echo $cwd'
  a p less

  source .cshrc

• ksh: Korn Shell which is based upon sh ($HOME/.profile)
  

  host=hostname
  pwd='echo $cwd'
  p=less

  ./.profile

• bash: incorporates useful features from ksh and csh. You may also this programming help.

• ed: a simple text editor (must learn).

  'a': append
  '.': ending the insertion
  'w': write
  'q': quit
  'p': print (e.g.: 5p)
  '+/-': next/previous line
  's': substitution (e.g.: 1,$s/ABC/xyz/)
  

• vi: screen-oriented (visual) display editor. Vi contains two modes. I.e. command mode and insert mode. To enter text, one has to enter 'i' for insert mode and hit "Esc" to toggle back to command mode.
• Emacs/ Xemacs/ Mule is an extensible, customizable, self-documenting real-time display editor. For a quick start, refer to this "Brief Guide to Emacs Editor". or this URL for more information.
  Emacs includes ELisp (Emacs Lisp) which is a programming language for artificial intelligence. ELisp makes emacs to be extensible and customizable anyway you want; which makes it to be the most powerful editor in the world. Note: Mule is capable of handling many different languages including Asian languages such as Taiwanese.

  Emacs commands generally involve the CONTROL key (sometimes labeled CTRL or CTL) or the META key (sometimes labeled ALT).

  • C - < chr >: means hold the CONTROL key while typing the character Thus, C-f would be: hold the CONTROL key and type f.
  • M - < chr >: means hold the META or ALT key down while typing . If there is no META, or ALT key, hit ESC key and then type . is for the ESC key.
  E.g.:
  M-x tab
  M-x help-with-tutorial
  

Programming Languages

• GNU: C (gcc), and C++ (g++) compiler
• Perl: an interpreted language optimized for scanning arbitrary text files, extracting information from those text files, and printing reports based on that information. It's also a good language for many system management tasks because of its excellent regular expression feature. It combines some of the best features of C, sed, awk, and sh from Unix.
• tcl/tk: Tool Command Language provides a parser for a simple textual command language; a collection of builtin utility commands, and a C interface. Tcl is particularly attractive when integrated with the widget library of a window system; and it offers a simple but powerful communication mechanism between interactive programs.
• Python: an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented programming language. It is also good for GUI programming and easier to read than Perl. There is an excellent tutorial which has a section discussing the comparison with other scripting languages.
• PHP: an HTML-embedded scripting language for writing dynamically generated pages. It adopts Java and Perl syntax. For adding to Apache, you may check check.
• Bison and Flex (vs. Yacc and Lex): parser and lexer which are used for building compilers and interpreters. They also have a wider range of applications such simple desk calculator and pattern matching on text.
• Java: A high-level object-oriented programming language. Java was originally called OAK, and was designed for handheld devices and set-top boxes. Oak was unsuccessful so in 1995 Sun changed the name to Java and modified the language to take advantage of the burgeoning World Wide Web. Java compiler will compile a Java code into an architecture-independent distribution format called bytecode which can be transferred over the network and executed by Java Virtual Machine. You may refer to this tutorial to install one of the following implements of Java:
  Sun The Java Language Specification.

  JFC/Swing: The Java Foundation Classes software extends the original Abstract Windowing Toolkit (AWT) by adding a comprehensive set of graphical user interface class libraries. The Swing components facilitates a customizable look and feel without relying on the native windowing system, and simplifies the deployment of applications.

  Jini: The idea is to plug in Jini device into the network, it works. Right away. E.g. Connect Jini appliances at home; connect your office equipment for resources sharing; connect to services from the road.

  J2EE (includes EJB, Servlets, and Java Server Pages (JSP) which is an extension of Servlet API.

  Java Spaces: a simple unified mechanism for dynamic communication, coordination, and sharing of objects between Java technology-based network resources. In a distributed application, JavaSpaces technology acts as a virtual space between providers and requesters of network resources or objects. This allows participants in a distributed solution to exchange tasks, requests and information in the form of Java technology-based objects. JavaSpaces technology provides developers with the ability to create and store objects with persistence, which allows for process integrity.

Debuggers that are either free or come with products (IDE) such as Unix dbx, GNU gdb, and Java jdb.

Autoconfig and Make

SCCS, RCS, CVS, and PRCS

Note: a true configuration management system would contain elements of the following:

• Source control
• Dependency tracking
• Build systems (i.e. What to build and how to find things during a build. What is shared? What is local?)
• Bug tracking
• Automated Testing procedures
• Release Engineering documentation and procedures
• Tape/CD-ROM/Floppy Construction
• Customer Installation: A way for users to run different versions of the same software on the same host at the same time

CVSup: a software package for distributing and updating collections of files across a network. It can efficiently and accurately mirror all types of files, including sources, binaries, hard links, symbolic links, and even device nodes. It also includes special features and optimizations specifically tailored to CVS repositories.

Database

• Mini SQL (mSQL): a light weight relational database management system with very little overhead. It also offers a scripting language named Lite which works with mSQL. w3-mSQL is also available for rapid web application development
• MySql: true multi-user, multi-threaded SQL database server. For integrate with Apache refers to Developing Web Applications at Home, and this tutorial.
• PostgreSQL: an object-relational DBMS. It supports almost all SQL constructs, including subselects, transactions, and user-defined types and functions. It is the most advanced open-source database available.
• Leap: an educational free RDBM tool around the world to help students, researchers and teachers to study and teach databases.

Graphics User Interface

• Motif: the industry standard graphical user interface and the leading user interface for the UNIX. (CDE)
• LessTif: the Hungry Programmers' version of OSF/Motif.
• GNU Image Manipulation Program. (Gimp): a freely distributed software suitable for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. You may refer to this
• tutorial.
• GTK+: an Open Source Free Software GUI Toolkit based upon Gimp. See the Tutorial for guideness.

Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

• JBuilder is free for Linux, Solaris and WinNT
• FreeBuilder: a FREE, visual programming environment based on Java (JFC/Swing). It runs on any platform that supports JDK 1.1.x and JDK 1.2.x, including Win9[58]/NT, Linux, Solaris and Mac.
• jBuilder: a FREE IDE ready for download.
• VisualAge: a full-featured IDE that allows developers to create Java applications, applets, and JavaBeans, and provides the features that enable you to perform a wide range of Java programming tasks. It includes "Open Tools Integrator API" which makes it possible to integrate non-VisualAge development tools.
• NetBeans: supports Swing and it runs on all platforms that support JDK 1.[12], including Windows 9[58]/NT, Linux, Solaris, HP-UX, and others.
• BlueJ (Free): object-oriented IDE which allows users to interact and visualizes with classes and objects.
• AnyJ: includes version control tool, advanced code completion, and HelpAgent to display JavaDoc on a method level.
• CodeFusion: optimized for Intel Architecture and combines the latest GNU tools release (compilers, debuggers, libs, utils).
• Simplicity for Java: able to drop Java Layouts, AWT Components, its own extended components, Swing Components and third party Java Beans into an application.
• CodeGuide: the first really intelligent Java IDE. Its on-the-fly code analysis is unique in the world. CodeGuide analyses your programs as you type, shows you errors instantaneously and gives you powerful programming assistance.
• JDesignerPro: combines a production-grade application server with advanced tools for rapid development and deployment. It also includes a robust screen designer, wizards and SQL builder.
• Cafe: the first graphics environment/debugger for Java. Cafe automates various small, and onerous chores.
• Elixir: contains built-in Incremental Obfuscator which also optimizes your byte code, Build Engine to automate multi-step build cycle, Inspector, multiple scripting languages including a Java interpreter, plus many more innovative features. All Elixir IDE files are either plain text or XML allowing users to leverage the project files with other custom tools and not having to re-enter all the project information.

Pros
• Easier to learn - GUI shortens learning curve.
• Multiple views of your work at the project, class, or method level, with appropriate tools associated with each level.
• Comes with visual editor.

Cons
• Limited choice of development tools: won't integrate with Emacs.
• Single process problems: If individual component (such as the debugger) crashes, it creates a chain-reaction and the developer is forced to reopen all the files.
• project management systems: own built-in CM tool.
• GUI avoidance: makes sufficiently complicated task either difficult or impossible.