Linux File End Display

Introduction

Welcome to the ancient labyrinth where secrets and knowledge are tucked away in the most unexpected corners. In this Lab, you will take on the role of an apprentice to the renowned Riddle Master of the Labyrinth, whose wisdom is encoded within the walls of this intricate maze. The Riddle Master has long guarded a mystical script that reveals the future by reading the end of age-old scrolls. Your goal is to master the art of unveiling these hidden truths using the tail command in Linux, thus proving yourself worthy of the Riddle Master’s teachings and possibly uncovering whispers of destiny woven into the files of the digital maze.

Skills Graph

Setting up the Labyrinth Scrolls

In this step, you will prepare the ancient scrolls that contain the riddles you are to unveil. You will create a file to represent an old scroll and use the tail command to view the last lines of the file, where the riddle's answer is hidden.

Let's start by creating a new file named riddle_scroll.txt in the ~/project directory. To do this, follow the command below:

echo "Line one of riddle\nLine two of riddle\nThe last line holds the key to the labyrinth." > ~/project/riddle_scroll.txt

This will create the file with initial content. The echo command outputs the given text, and > directs this output to the file. Now execute the tail command to display the last line of your new scroll:

tail -n 1 ~/project/riddle_scroll.txt

The -n 1 option tells tail to display just the last line. You should see the output:

The last line holds the key to the labyrinth.

Updating the Labyrinth Scrolls

Scrolls in the labyrinth aren't static, as the Riddle Master often updates them with new riddles. In this step, you must append new lines to the existing scroll and again use tail to read the latest riddle.

Firstly, append new lines to your scroll using the echo command:

echo "Beware the Minotaur's wrath hidden in the lines before the last\nSeek the truth beyond the maze, to find your path to paradise." >> ~/project/riddle_scroll.txt

The >> operator appends the new line to the file without overwriting its content. Now, once again, use the tail command to read 2 lines of the latest addition:

tail -n 2 ~/project/riddle_scroll.txt

The output should now show your appended line:

Beware the Minotaur's wrath hidden in the lines before the last
Seek the truth beyond the maze, to find your path to paradise.

Summary

In this lab, you navigated through the chambers of an ancient Linux labyrinth under the guidance of the Riddle Master, where you uncovered the mysteries of the tail command. By creating scrolls and unveiling the encrypted wisdom at their end, you've grasped an essential skill for any Linux enthusiast: inspecting the final segments of files. This skill becomes invaluable when monitoring logs, reading configuration files, or seeking answers hidden at the end of digital records. May your newly acquired knowledge serve you well on your continued journey through the vast expanses of the Linux universe.