This learning path will give you the practical knowledge and hands-on skills that you need to start shell scripting on your own. Each course within this learning path includes exercises that guide you through the shell scripting topics covered and that you can follow along with in your own Linux environment.

We'll work through a wide variety of shell scripts using project-based examples, which will help you to reach the learning objectives listed below. In order to follow along with the guided exercises in this learning path, all of the resources used can be downloaded here.

Learning Objectives

Name your shell scripts.
Use the proper permissions on your shell scripts.
Create and use variables in your scripts.
Use shell built-in commands and operating system commands.
Make the most out of special variables that are available to you in your scripts.
Make decisions by using if statements and performing several different kinds of tests
Check the exit statuses of commands and why you need to.
Use cryptographic hash functions
Create random data so you can do things like automatically generate strong passwords for user accounts.
Perform the same action or set of actions over a series of data utilizing for loops, while loops, and infinite loops.
Control all types of input and output.
Accept standard input from a user as well as from another program.
Redirect standard output and standard error.
Combine standard output and standard error
Use command pipelining
Perform text and string manipulation.
Process command-line arguments
Creating functions and when to do so.
Parsing, analyzing, and reporting on log files, CSV files, and other data.
Writing scripts that execute commands on other systems.

Intended Audience

Anyone who wants to learn Linux shell scripting
Linux system administrators, developers, or programmers

Prerequisites

A basic understanding of the Linux command line
Access to a computer with a 64-bit processor running either Windows, Mac, or Linux. (You do NOT need Linux already installed to take this course.)