UNIX/Linux Shell Programming

The course is designed for OS UNIX administrators who need to write scripts in shell environment.

The course participant will learn about the possibilities which are offered in shell. He will acquire the basic programming techniques and through practical examples he will learn to create useful scripts which make his or other users´s work easier.

Good knowledge of OS UNIX environment. Knowledge of basic users´ commands. The knowledge of vi editor is essential.

 Introduction

Overview of basic UNIX shell constructions 
UNIX architecture
Possibilities and support of scripting in Bourne shell, Korn shell and Bash
Processes control
Types of commands
Processes
Commands starting
Basics for scripts writing
Scripts starting
Comments
Code tuning
Echo command, print, formatting output using printf

Variables

User variables
Variable environment
Read command
Positional parameters
Special variables

Quoting

Metacharacters, differences in their use
Commands substitution
Eval command

Decision contruction

Returne codes
Command test and [ ] 
Command if
Command case
Special constructions

Cycles

Command expr
Command while
Command until
Command for
Parameters processing using getopts command
Working with descriptor files using exec

Functions

Functions in shell
Parameters handing over
Return command

Working with signals

Asynchronous events
Signals generation
Signals processing using trap command

Enlargements available in ksh and bash

Select command
Arithmetic support
Working with field
[[ ]] command
Enlarged pattern-matching
Ksh and bash environment modification

Tools and external programs

Data mining from files
Combination of data content
Sorting out the file content
Editing using sed and awk
Regular expressions

Effective creation of scripts

Time command
Working with PATH variable
Absolute vs. relative paths
Shell built-in commands
Effective way of using the pipe

Previous courses

Introduction to UNIX [UNIX1]

Next courses

UNIX/Linux Advanced Scripting [UNIXSH2]