Custom Shell Scripts

Tutorial – Shell Scripting

Article from Issue 219/2019
Author(s):

You do not need to learn low-level programming languages to become a real Linux power user. Shell scripting is all you need.

For most people, shell scripting is all you need to become a very, very powerful Linux user: Text processing, backups, image watermarking, movie editing, digital mapping, and database management are just a few of the many tasks where shell scripting can help you, even if you are just an end user.

This tutorial is the first installment in a series that explores why and how to write shell scripts – whatever your Linux needs and skills are.

No previous shell experience is necessary to use this tutorial. This installment describes what shell variables are, how the shell handles them, and some simple ways to use and process shell variables to get the job done. Before getting started, however, a brief introduction to a few fundamental concepts is necessary.

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