dot files

A dot file is a file that is not normally visible using a basic ls command. These files tend to be configuration files for other programs, but not always.

List any sites, books, or sources utilized when researching information on this topic. (Remove any filler text).

• Reference 1
• Reference 2
• Reference 3

pipes

In Unix, a pipe (or pipeline) is used to direct the flow of output from one command as input to another command. This can be used to connect two operations together on a single command line, instead of having to use multiple command line inputs to receive the same result.

In Unix systems, pipes are shown using a vertical bar symbol, |. This bar will take the output from the command on the left, and use it as the input for the command on the right.

An example of this would be:

who | grep $USER

This would execute the who command, and then use it as input to the grep command, which would parse who for all instances of your own username.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipeline_(Unix)

lab46:~$ who | grep $USER
mowens3  + pts/22       2012-10-25 14:00   .          4935 (grrasp.offbyone.lan
lab46:~$