Number Representation and Base Conversion in Bash

Working with system configurations, network addresses, and device data often requires translating numbers between different bases. This text-based course guides you through the fundamental concepts of how data is represented in computer memory and how to manage these values directly within your command-line environment. You will start by mastering foundational computer science numbering systems, establishing a clear understanding of binary, octal, decimal, and hexadecimal formats before writing any scripts. From there, you will learn how to leverage native Bash arithmetic, printf, and standard command-line tools to perform seamless conversions and bitwise operations. What you'll learn: - Understand core concepts of binary, octal, decimal, and hexadecimal number systems - Convert numbers between different bases using native Bash arithmetic expansion - Use printf to format and display numbers in various notations - Perform bitwise operations in Bash to manipulate individual data bits - Parse and interpret raw device data or log files containing non-decimal values - Apply modern command-line best practices to write clean, readable shell scripts This course is structured to build your confidence step-by-step, starting with essential definitions and mathematical principles before moving on to practical scripting exercises and data-parsing scenarios. This course is designed for beginner system administrators, developers, and tech enthusiasts who want to understand low-level data representation in the terminal. No prior programming or advanced math experience is required. Start reading today to demystify binary and hexadecimal operations in your daily command-line workflows.