linux-shell

A C++ implementation of a Linux shell that is lightweight and customizable. linux-shell provides a familiar command-line interface with support for command history, aliases, and common built-in commands.

Features

• Command Execution: Run any standard Linux programs and commands
• Built-in Commands:
  • cd: Change directory
  • pwd: Print working directory
  • echo: Display text
  • history: View command history
  • alias/unalias: Create and manage command aliases
  • exit: Exit the shell
• Command History: Persistent history between sessions with support for history navigation
• Tab Completion: File and command tab completion
• Aliases: Define custom command shortcuts that persist between sessions
• Signal Handling: Properly handles Ctrl+C (SIGINT) and Ctrl+Z (SIGTSTP)
• Multiline Commands: Support for command continuation with backslash

Installation

Prerequisites

• A C++ compiler with C++11 support
• CMake (version 3.10 or later)
• Readline development library

On Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get install build-essential cmake libreadline-dev

On Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S base-devel cmake readline

On Red Hat/Fedora:

sudo dnf install gcc-c++ cmake readline-devel

Building and Installing

Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/isaiah76/linux-shell.git
cd linux-shell

You have two options to build and install:

Option 1: Automated Build/Installation Script

1. Make the script executable:

chmod +x build_install.sh

2. Run the script:

./build_install.sh

Option 2: Manual Build with CMake

1. Create a build directory, configure and build the project:

mkdir build
cd build
cmake ..
make

2. To install the shell system-wide (the binary will be installed to /usr/local/bin):

sudo make install

Usage

After installation, launch the shell by typing:

linux-shell

Command history

Command history is automatically saved to ~/.linux_shell_history and loaded when the shell starts.

• Use the up and down arrow keys to navigate through command history.
• View history with the history command:

history      # Show all history
history 10   # Show the last 10 commands

Aliases

Create an alias:

alias ll='ls -la'
alias gs='git status'

View all aliases:

alias ll='ls -la'
alias gs='git status'

View a specific alias:

alias ll

Remove an alias:

unalias ll

Aliases are automatically saved to ~/.linux_shell_aliases and loaded when the shell starts.