GRUB Ref per Libor Benes (Dr. B)

GRUB Ref provides immediate access to the bootloader's capabilities, supporting professionals who rely on Linux systems and need quick access to boot commands during critical situations while maintaining strict security and privacy standards.

GRUB (GRand Unified Bootloader) is the most widely used bootloader for Linux systems, handling the critical task of loading the Linux kernel into memory and passing control to the operating system. GRUB has evolved into GRUB 2, the current standard across virtually all Linux distributions. Its interactive command-line interface is essential for system recovery, multi-boot configurations, and kernel troubleshooting when normal booting fails.

GRUB Strengths:
• Multi-boot support for Linux, Windows, macOS, and other operating systems.
• Interactive command-line interface for rescue situations.
• Extensive filesystem support (ext4, XFS, Btrfs, NTFS, ZFS, etc.).
• Network booting via PXE, HTTP, and TFTP.
• Scripting capabilities for complex boot scenarios.
• UEFI and Secure Boot support.

GRUB Ref includes essential GRUB elements across 12 categories:
• Navigation and Discovery: ls, cat, search, find, help – Explore drives, partitions, and files.
• Booting and Kernel Loading: linux, kernel, initrd, boot, chainloader – Load kernels and boot operating systems.
• Configuration and Variables: set, unset, export, default, timeout – Control GRUB environment.
• Module Management: insmod, rmmod, lsmod – Load filesystem and feature support.
• Scripting and Conditionals: if, test, for, while, function – Advanced boot scripting.
• Advanced Boot Techniques: loopback, drivemap, parttool, serial – ISO booting, drive mapping.
• UEFI Specific: fwsetup, exit, loadenv, saveenv – UEFI firmware interaction.
• Filesystem Operations: uuid, probe, stat, lsfs – Filesystem examination.
• System Control: reboot, halt, poweroff, clear – System management.
• Network and Bootp: net_bootp, tftp, http – PXE and network booting.
• Security and Password: lock, password_pbkdf2, trust – Secure boot and authentication.
• Miscellaneous: echo, read, date, time – Utility commands.

Target Audience:
• System Administrators fixing boot failures and managing multi-boot servers.
• Linux Users recovering from system crashes and kernel issues.
• DevOps Engineers debugging deployment images and cloud instances.
• Dual-Boot Enthusiasts configuring Windows/Linux coexistence.
• Embedded Developers working with custom boot configurations.
• IT Support Professionals troubleshooting client systems.
• Linux Beginners learning boot process and rescue techniques.

Use Cases & Practical Applications:
• System Rescue.
• Boot from ISO File.
• Windows Dual-Boot.
• Kernel Troubleshooting.
• Filesystem Examination.
• Network Boot (PXE).

Features:
• 111 Comprehensive Entries: Covering all GRUB commands, kernel loading syntax, rescue procedures, and advanced boot techniques.
• GRUB Version Filtering: Commands tagged for GRUB 2, Legacy GRUB, UEFI, or module-required.
• Instant Dynamic Smart Search with Highlighting: Real-time efficient filtering by command, description, or aliases.
• Click-to-Copy: One-click command copying for immediate terminal use.
• Compact Interface: Space-efficient sidebar optimized for quick reference during system recovery.
• Clean Formatting with distinct command/description styling.
• Terminal-Inspired Colors.
• Keyboard Friendly: Escape key clears search field.

Security-First Design:
• Minimal Permission: Only clipboardWrite required for copy functionality.
• No Data Collection: Explicitly declared in manifest.json.
• Offline Operation: Works completely offline with no network connections.
• Secure Implementation: Vanilla JavaScript. No risky or vulnerable features.
• Secure DOM manipulation.
• No Third-Party Code: Pure implementation with no external dependencies.
• Input Validation.
• Manifest v2 Compliant: Adheres to Mozilla's security standards and privacy requirements.

Technical Specifications:
• Compatibility: Firefox 140.0+ (64-bit desktop).
• Runtime Execution RAM Footprint: <65 KB (sidebar.js + sidebar.html + manifest.json).
• Total Add-On Download/Install Size: <135 KB (including README.md documentation).
• Testing: Verified on Firefox 148.0 (February 2026).
• Encoding: UTF-8 compatible.