FOSSPicks
Script analyzer
ShellCheck
One of the best things about the command-line shell is that when you find yourself typing the same commands over and over, or when you know you're going to iterate over a command dozens of times, you can dump the whole thing in a script that can be run again and again. Thanks to the way many shells are structured, you don't need to be much of a programmer to get any of this to work,. You can often paste a few commands into a script without knowing anything other than #!/bin/bash
and that a return signal of 0 means a command executed correctly, rather than incorrectly. (Don't forget that with if
statements!) As time goes on, however, scripts will often get augmented with other bits of code, and before long, they've become a vital part of your personal or professional infrastructure. That's when you need to start looking at their contents more seriously.
ShellCheck is a script-checking tool that's intended for beginners but also happens to be useful for solutions that have outgrown their initial single use cases. It's also a great way to improve your script knowledge. It can be run via an online form, and even from within your favorite script editor, but it's often simpler to start with the command itself by passing your script as its only argument. If you get no advice, then ShellCheck has found nothing drastically wrong with your script, but that's unlikely because ShellCheck is very good at identifying errors. It warns you when you don't use a variable, when you should be using double quotes, when to remove dashes, and when to add a return case, alongside dozens of other typing, portability, style, and conditional errors. And unlike some of the scripts we tested, it works perfectly.
Project Website
https://github.com/koalaman/shellcheck
Terminal mathematics
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Linux Servers Targeted by Akira Ransomware
A group of bad actors who have already extorted $42 million have their sights set on the Linux platform.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.
-
XZ Gets the All-Clear
The back door xz vulnerability has been officially reverted for Fedora 40 and versions 38 and 39 were never affected.
-
Canonical Collaborates with Qualcomm on New Venture
This new joint effort is geared toward bringing Ubuntu and Ubuntu Core to Qualcomm-powered devices.
-
Kodi 21.0 Open-Source Entertainment Hub Released
After a year of development, the award-winning Kodi cross-platform, media center software is now available with many new additions and improvements.
-
Linux Usage Increases in Two Key Areas
If market share is your thing, you'll be happy to know that Linux is on the rise in two areas that, if they keep climbing, could have serious meaning for Linux's future.
-
Vulnerability Discovered in xz Libraries
An urgent alert for Fedora 40 has been posted and users should pay attention.
-
Canonical Bumps LTS Support to 12 years
If you're worried that your Ubuntu LTS release won't be supported long enough to last, Canonical has a surprise for you in the form of 12 years of security coverage.
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.
-
New Pentesting Distribution to Compete with Kali Linux
SnoopGod is now available for your testing needs