The Ultimate Linux Shell Scripting Guide: Automate, Optimize, and Empower tasks with Linux Shell Scripting

Donald A. Tevault

$54.99

5 (1 Ratings)

Paperback Oct 2024 696 pages 1st Edition

Donald A. Tevault

$54.99

5 (1 Ratings)

Paperback Oct 2024 696 pages 1st Edition

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The Ultimate Linux Shell Scripting Guide

Interpreting Commands

To fulfill its job as the interface between the user and the operating system kernel, a shell has to perform five different functions. These functions include interpreting commands, setting variables, enabling input/output redirection, enabling pipelines, and allowing customization of a user’s working environment. In this chapter, we’ll look at how bash and zsh interpret commands. As an added bonus, much of what we’ll cover in the next few chapters will also help you prepare for certain Linux certification exams, such as the Linux Professional Institute or CompTIA Linux+ exams.

Topics in this chapter include:

Understanding the structure of a command
Executing multiple commands at once
Running commands recursively
Understanding the command history
Escaping and quoting

To follow along, you can use pretty much any Linux distro that you desire, as long as it’s running with either bash or...

Executing Multiple Commands at Once

From either the command-line or from within shell scripts, it’s handy to know how to combine multiple commands into one single command. In this section, I’ll demonstrate three ways to do that which are:

Running commands interactively
Using command sequences
Using the find utility

Running Commands Interactively

This is a form of shell-script programming, except that you’re just executing all commands from the command-line, instead of actually writing, saving, and executing a script. Here, you are creating a for loop – with each command of the loop on its own separate line – to perform a directory listing three times.

[donnie@fedora ~]$ for var in arg1 arg2 arg3
> do
> echo $var
> ls
> done
. . .
. . .
[donnie@fedora ~]$

At the end of each line, you’ll hit the Enter key. But, nothing will happen until you type the done command on the final line. The...

Understanding the Command History

Whenever you work with the command-line, there will be times when you’ll have to enter some commands more than once. If you’ve just entered a command that’s long and complex, you may not exactly be thrilled at the prospect of having to type it in all over again. Not to worry, though. For this, bash and zsh give you the ability to recall and/or edit commands that you’ve previously entered. There are a few ways to do this.

Whenever you enter a command, it gets stored in memory until you exit the shell session. The command will then get added to a file that’s specified by the HISTFILE variable. Usually, this is the .bash_history file on bash, and the .histfile file on zsh. You’ll find these stored in each user’s home directory. To verify that, you can use the echo command, like this:

[donnie@fedora ~]$ echo $HISTFILE
/home/donnie/.bash_history
[donnie@fedora ~]$

On zsh, you’ll see this...

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Key benefits

Embrace Bash, Zsh, and PowerShell across Linux, macOS, Unix
Seamlessly progress through chapters with conceptual explanations, illustrative examples, and immersive labs for hands-on skill development
Build real-world Linux administration scripts, enhancing your troubleshooting and management skills

Description

Embark on a comprehensive journey through command shells with this hands-on manual. While Bash is a Linux staple, Z shell and PowerShell are rising stars, applicable to Linux, macOS, and Unix. Progress seamlessly through chapters, each building on the last, creating a solid foundation. Learn through a unique approach: concepts, examples, and interactive labs. These labs, nearly a hundred strong, form the core of experiential learning, essential for script creation. Focusing on Linux commands and their scripting applications, this manual is universally relevant across Linux and select Unix-like systems. It goes beyond theory, offering practical scripts for real-world Linux administration. Scripts are designed for manageability, aiding learning and troubleshooting. The goal is to nurture the ability to craft intelligent, functional shell scripts. While centered on Bash, this book offers a peek into the future with Z Shell and PowerShell, expanding your skills and adaptability. This book is systematically structured and engaging so that it will guide you to master command shells, equipping you for real-world Linux challenges.

Who is this book for?

This book is for programmers who use the command line on Unix and Linux servers already, but don't write primarily in Bash. This book is ideal for programmers who've been using a scripting language such as Python, JavaScript or PHP, and would like to understand and use Bash more effectively. It’s also great for beginning programmers, who want to learn programming concepts.

What you will learn

Grasp the concept of shells and explore their diverse types for varied system interactions
Master redirection, pipes, and compound commands for efficient shell operations
Leverage text stream filters within scripts for dynamic data manipulation
Harness functions and build libraries to create modular and reusable shell scripts
Explore the basic programming constructs that apply to all programming languages
Engineer portable shell scripts, ensuring compatibility across diverse platforms beyond Linux

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A. Zubarev Oct 24, 2024

This book is probably one of, if not the most, comprehensive of all on the capabilities of scripting on Linux.It covers all the common scripting shells, even PowerShell (who knew it would be possible to run Microsoft's shell on Linux?!), methods of securing scripts, text manipulation, advanced scripting techniques including automation, shell configuration, error handling, piping and much more.I especially liked the chapters on image manipulations and creating user interfaces.Be aware that this book assumes you are scripting for an on-prem resident machine and it is probably the only shortcoming I can mention.

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The Ultimate Linux Shell Scripting Guide: Automate, Optimize, and Empower tasks with Linux Shell Scripting

What do you get with Print?

The Ultimate Linux Shell Scripting Guide

Interpreting Commands

Understanding the Structure of a Command

Using Command Options

Executing Multiple Commands at Once

Running Commands Interactively

Running Commands Recursively

Hands-on Lab – Using Commands with...

Understanding the Command History

Escaping and Quoting

Summary

Questions

Further Reading

Answers

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The Ultimate Linux Shell Scripting Guide: Automate, Optimize, and Empower tasks with Linux Shell Scripting

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