Today we have a simple tip of the shell. Are there applications or scripts that you use that require different environment variables, such as a different PATH or EDITOR? Then meet the env command. env allows you to run a program in a restricted environment with custom variables or so that no “dirty” variables are left around.

awk supports user defined variables as well as variables that are predefined. These variables do not need to be declared like they do in bash scripts. There are three types of variables.

The Java™ language contains two intrinsic synchronization mechanisms: synchronized blocks (and methods) and volatile variables. Both are provided for the purpose of rendering code thread-safe. Volatile variables are the weaker (but sometimes simpler or less expensive) of the two -- but also easier to use incorrectly.

Aliases are great for saving typing time, and you probably already have a handful set up. But you may not be aware that it's possible to set up aliases that take command line variables as an argument. Read on for an example.

The .desktop file fills two primary functions: first, it informs the desktop environment how the file is to be handled by the desktop environment with regard to menu placement, display, environmental variables, and similar. In this function, it resides globally in /usr/share/applications/ and for specific users in $HOME/.local/applications.

If your daily routine means that you spend much of your time behind a Windows system, yet you love the power and flexibility of a Unix-based environment, it might be frustrating not to have access to the tools and environment that you want...Cygwin is a Linux-style environment for Windows.

To put things short, Gconf is a system built in GNOME 2 which stores applications’ preferable configuration data as well as graphical environment variables in its own files (think: GNOME registry). I’d like you to get familiar with the Gconf tool’s functions, engineering, and usage with this article.

chrooting is a very important skill that any *nix administrator must know. It's essentially what allows one to repair an existing Linux environment by entering it from another environment. The process is actually relatively simple, and useful for doing tasks such as reinstalling GRUB, repairing a broken kernel, resetting the root password, etc.

It is amazing when one stops to consider the variety of different types of environments that people use computers in...Depending on the type of environment and "whose" environment it is, will determine not only what OS and software is used, but how it is implemented and accessed as well. Each environment has it's own unique set of needs and requirements for function, access and interaction.