John D. Cook • 8/12/2026

Cryptic but consistent

This article discusses how command line shortcuts, such as !$, are initially cryptic and hard to remember, but become intuitive with practical use. It emphasizes that Unix syntax is consistent, with ! referring to commands and $ denoting the end, making shortcuts logical. Examples include event designators like !:s/foo/bar/ for substitution, similar to sed and vi. The author argues that learning is most effective when the student recognizes the need, referencing a saying about readiness. The post also includes related links and a brief note on Unix vs. Linux terminology.

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#command line #bash #unix