Bash Scripting Basics
What is the shebang line and how do you write a basic bash script?
What is the shebang line and how do you write a basic bash script?
The shebang (#!) tells the OS which interpreter to use. #!/bin/bash specifies bash. Basic script structure: shebang, variables (VAR=value), conditionals (if/then/fi), loops (for/while), and functions. Make scripts executable with chmod +x. Use set -e to exit on errors and set -x for debugging.
Bash scripting is essential for automating repetitive tasks, deployment scripts, system administration, and CI/CD pipelines. Even with modern tools like Ansible or Terraform, bash scripts remain valuable for quick automation and glue code.
Basic script structure
Loops and input handling
- Forgetting to quote variables (causes issues with spaces)
- Using == instead of = in [ ] conditionals
- Not handling script failures (use set -e or check $?)
- What's the difference between $* and $@ for script arguments?
- How do you handle errors gracefully in bash scripts?
- When would you choose bash over Python for automation?
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