https://github.com/triangle-motelti/mini-bash
a simple Unix shell supporting commands, redirections, pipes, built-ins, env vars, and signal handling in C.
https://github.com/triangle-motelti/mini-bash
42born2code 42projects 42school bash c-language-project c-programming collaboration implementation-from-scratch implementation-of-algorithms low-level low-level-programming makefile shell system-calls system-programming team-project team-repo unix unix-shell
Last synced: 22 days ago
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a simple Unix shell supporting commands, redirections, pipes, built-ins, env vars, and signal handling in C.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/triangle-motelti/mini-bash
- Owner: triangle-motelti
- Created: 2025-06-16T16:34:52.000Z (about 1 year ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2025-10-27T01:08:56.000Z (8 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-10-27T03:09:34.857Z (8 months ago)
- Topics: 42born2code, 42projects, 42school, bash, c-language-project, c-programming, collaboration, implementation-from-scratch, implementation-of-algorithms, low-level, low-level-programming, makefile, shell, system-calls, system-programming, team-project, team-repo, unix, unix-shell
- Language: C
- Homepage:
- Size: 6.14 MB
- Stars: 0
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
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README
# mini-bash
mini-bash is a simple Unix shell designed as a learning and educational project. It supports a variety of basic shell functionalities including command execution, redirections, pipes, built-in commands, environment variable handling, and signal management. This project is primarily written in C, with a small portion of Makefile code for building the project.
## Features
- **Command Execution:** mini-bash can execute built-in commands as well as external binaries available on the system.
- **Redirections:** The shell supports redirection of input and output, enabling users to run commands with files as input or output.
- **Pipes:** Users can chain commands together using pipes, passing the output of one command as the input to the next.
- **Built-ins:** The shell includes common built-in commands which are implemented directly in the program.
- **Environment Variables:** mini-bash reads and manages environment variables, which can be used within the shell or passed to executed programs.
- **Signal Handling:** The shell appropriately handles signals, making it robust against interruptions and ensuring smooth execution of background and foreground processes.
## How It Works
1. **Initialization:** When mini-bash starts, it sets up the environment and initializes necessary variables and signal handlers.
2. **Input Parsing:** It reads user input and parses the command line to identify commands, arguments, and special symbols such as redirection operators or pipes.
3. **Command Execution:** Depending on whether the command is built-in or external, mini-bash either executes the command directly or spawns a child process to run an external binary.
4. **Redirection & Pipes:** The shell processes redirections and pipes by manipulating file descriptors, ensuring that data flows correctly between commands.
5. **Signal Handling:** Special attention is given to signal management, so that signals like SIGINT (Ctrl+C) are correctly interpreted, allowing the shell to maintain stable operation.
## Building and Running
A Makefile is provided for easy compilation. To build the project, simply run:
```bash
make
```
Then, launch the shell with:
```bash
./mini-bash
```
## Project Structure
- **C Source Files:** The bulk of the project is written in C, implementing the core shell functionalities.
- **Makefile:** Contains build instructions for compiling the project.
## Conclusion
mini-bash is a compact and efficient implementation of a Unix shell. It serves as an excellent example of system programming in C and provides a hands-on approach to understanding shell mechanics.
Happy hacking!