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Linux Shell Scripting Essentials

You're reading from   Linux Shell Scripting Essentials Learn shell scripting to solve complex shell-related problems and to efficiently automate your day-to-day tasks

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Product type Paperback
Published in Nov 2015
Publisher
ISBN-13 9781785284441
Length 282 pages
Edition 1st Edition
Tools
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Toc

Table of Contents (10) Chapters Close

Preface 1. The Beginning of the Scripting Journey FREE CHAPTER 2. Getting Hands-on with I/O, Redirection Pipes, and Filters 3. Effective Script Writing 4. Modularizing and Debugging 5. Customizing the Environment 6. Working with Files 7. Welcome to the Processes 8. Scheduling Tasks and Embedding Languages in Scripts Index

Switch to my choice


Switch is used to jump and run a certain case as per the result of the condition or expression is evaluated. It acts as an alternative to using multiple if in bash and keeps bash script much clear and readable.

The syntax of switch is as follows:

case $variable in
  pattern1)
  # Tasks to be executed
  ;;
  pattern2)
  # Tasks to be executed
  ;;
  …
  pattern n)
  # Tasks to be executed
  ;;
  *)
esac

In syntax, $variable is the expression or value that needs to be matched among the list of choices provided.

In each choice, a pattern or a combination of patterns can be specified. The ;; tells bash that end of given choice block. The esac keyword specify end of case block.

The following is an example to count the number of files and directories in a given path:

#!/bin/bash
# Filename: switch_case.sh
# Description: Using case to find count of directories and files in a # path

echo "Enter target path"
read path
files_count=0
dirs_count=0

for file in 'ls -l $path | cut -d '...
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