Learn to write simple Linux shell scripts

You'd never get any work done if you typed every command that needs to be run on your Linux system when it starts. Likewise, you could work more efficiently if you grouped together sets of commands that you run all the time. Shell scripts can handle these tasks.

A shell script is a group of commands, functions, variables, or just about anything else you can use from a shell. These items are typed into a plain-text file. That file can then be run as a command. Linux systems have traditionally used system initialization shell scripts during system startup to run commands needed to get services going. You can create your own shell scripts to automate the tasks that you need to do regularly.

In Chapter 7 of Liniux Bible 10th Edition, Christopher Negus provides an overview of the inner workings of shell scripts and how they can be used. You'll learn how simple scripts can be harnessed to a scheduling facility (such as cron or at ) to simplify administrative tasks or just run on demand as they are needed.

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Until next time,
James at SitePoint