Preface

Shell scripts are an essential part of any modern operating system, such as Unix, Linux, or Windows. The scripting language and its syntax may vary from OS to OS, but the fundamental principles remain the same. I first encountered Linux shell scripts during the development of embedded Linux product development. Shell scripts initialized the complete product, from basic booting procedure to the user logging, to the complete operating system being initialized. Another situation was automation of regular activities such as build and release management of the source codes of very complex products, where more than 10,000 files were part of the single project. Similarly, another very common requirement is, automatic routine administration activities.

Initially, I learned scripts to solve practical problems and customize pre-existing products. This book is a summary of what I have learned over the years about Linux shell scripting through project development work, consultancy, and corporate training and Q&A sessions.

In this book, we will learn the very basics of shell scripting to real-world complex, customized automation. By the end of the book, the reader will be able to confidently use their own shell scripts for the real-world problems out there. The idea is to be as practical as possible and give the reader the look and feel of what real-world scripting looks like.

This book covers the GNU Bourne Again Shell (BASH) scripting. You can use the knowledge gained by reading this book for any shell of any of the UNIX flavors or Linux distributions. You may need to take care of few syntax changes if you are working in other shells, such as Korn or similar. You should be able to read this book cover to cover, or just pick it up and read anything you find interesting. But, perhaps most importantly, if you have a question about how to solve a particular problem or you need a hint, you will find it easy to find the right solution—or something close enough—to save your time and energy.