Developing a Linux command-line utility (IBM developerWorks)
Vasudev Ram
explains the details of command-line utility writing on IBM's developerWorks.
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Learn how to write Linux command-line utilities that are foolproof enough even for end users. Starting with an overview of solid command-line best practices and finishing with a comprehensive tour of a working page-selection tool, this article gives you the background you need to begin writing your own utilities."