Linux in a Nutshell, Third Edition

Invoking the Shell

A shell command interpreter can be invoked as follows:

csh  [options]  [arguments] tcsh  [options]  [arguments]

csh and tcsh use syntax resembling C and execute commands from a terminal or a file. Options -n, -v, and -x are useful when debugging scripts.

Options

-b

Allow the remaining command-line options to be interpreted as options to a specified command, rather than as options to csh itself.

-c

Execute command specified following the argument.

-d

Load directory stack from ~/.cshdirs even if not a login shell. (tcsh)

-e

Exit if a command produces errors.

-f

Fast startup; start without executing .cshrc or .tcshrc.

-i

Invoke interactive shell (prompt for input).

-l

Login shell (must be the only option specified).

-m

Load ~/.tcshrc even if effective user is not the owner of the file. (tcsh)

-n

Parse commands, but do not execute.

-s

Read commands from the standard input.

-t

Exit after executing one command.

-v

Display commands before executing them; expand history substitutions, but not other substitutions (e.g., filename, variable, and command). Same as setting verbose.

-V

Same as -v, but also display .cshrc.

-x

Display commands before executing them, but expand all substitutions. Same as setting echo.

-X

Same as -x, but also display .cshrc.

Arguments

Arguments are assigned, in order, to the positional parameters $1, $2, and so on. If the first argument is an executable script, commands are read from it, and remaining arguments are assigned to $1, $2, and so forth. ...