Shell Scripting: From Fundamentals to Automation

Course Description

Unlock the power of automation on Linux with this hands-on shell scripting course. You'll start with the fundamentals, learning the structure of a script, how to use variables, and how to handle data. From there, you will master the building blocks of programming—conditional logic (if-else, case) and loops (for, while)—to control the flow of your scripts. You'll learn to write clean, reusable code with functions and, finally, apply all your knowledge to build a portfolio of practical, real-world utility scripts for tasks like password generation, automated backups, user management, and system monitoring. This course is designed to turn you from a command-line user into a command-line automator.

Who is this course for

This course is designed for individuals who are comfortable using the Linux command line and want to take their skills to the next level by automating repetitive tasks. It is ideal for:

• Linux System Administrators: Professionals who manage Linux servers and want to automate administrative tasks.

• DevOps Engineers: Individuals who need to script infrastructure provisioning, deployments, and other pipeline tasks.

• Backend Developers: Programmers who work in a Linux environment and can benefit from automating build processes and other development tasks.

• IT Professionals & Power Users: Anyone who frequently uses the Linux terminal and wants to improve their efficiency and productivity.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Write and Execute Shell Scripts: Understand the structure of a shell script and confidently write, execute, and debug your own scripts.

• Use Core Scripting Concepts: Implement variables, data types, and perform basic string manipulations.

• Control Script Logic: Use conditional statements (if-else, case) and loops (for, while, until) to create dynamic and powerful scripts.

• Create Reusable Code: Write modular, maintainable scripts by creating and using functions.

• Build Automation Utilities: Develop practical, real-world shell scripts to automate common system administration and personal productivity tasks.

Prerequisites

To succeed in this course, you should have:

1. Linux Command-Line Proficiency: You must be comfortable navigating the Linux file system and using common commands (e.g., ls, cd, cp, mv, grep).

2. Access to a Linux Environment: You will need a Linux system to practice and complete the labs. This can be a virtual machine, a dual-boot system, or a cloud server.

Course outline

Section 1: Introduction to Shell Scripting

1. Linux Terminal: Introduction & History

2. Hands-on Lab: Shell Script Structure, Comments, and Running a Script

3. Hands-on Lab: Using Variables in Linux Shell Scripting

4. Hands-on Lab: Understanding Data Types in Linux Shell Scripting

5. Lab Assignment: Shell Script for String Length and String Reversal

6. Lab Assignment: Shell Script for Word Count in a String

7. Lab Assignment: Shell Script for a String Palindrome Checker

8. QUIZ: Introduction to Shell Scripting

Section 2: If-else in Shell Scripting

1. Comparators in Shell Scripting

2. Hands-on Lab: Using if, else, and elif

3. Hands-on Lab: Using the case Statement

4. Lab Assignment: Shell Script Number Comparator

5. Lab Assignment: Shell Script for a Simple Calculator

6. Lab Assignment: Shell Script for User Age Group Categorizer

Section 3: Loops in Shell Scripting

1. Using for Loop in Linux Shell Scripting

2. HOL Using While Loop in Linux Shell Scripting

3. HOL Using Until Loop in Linux Shell Scripting

4. CODE Shell Scripting for common use cases using Loop

5. LABASGN Shell Script to Calculate the Sum of the First N Natural Numbers

6. LABASGN Print Multiplication Table of a Number

7. QUIZ Control Structures in Shell Scripting

Section 4: Functions in Shell Scripting

1. HOL Working with Functions in Linux

2. QUIZ Functions in Shell Scripting

3. LABASGN Shell Script with Function to Print given String Argument

4. LABASGN Shell script function for Sum of Two Numbers

5. LABASGN Shell Script Function to Check Even or Odd

6. LABASGN Shell Script Function to calculate area of a rectangle

Section 5: Creating Utility Scripts using Shell Scripting

1. CODE Creating Password Generator using Shell Scripting

2. CODE Shell Script for User Account Management

3. CODE Shell Script for Backup of User Directory

4. CODE Shell Script for Disk Space Monitoring

5. CODE Countdown Timer Shell Script

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