Welcome to Day 6 of my DevOps journey! Today marks the beginning of an exciting sub-journey into the world of shell scripting. This is an essential skill for any aspiring DevOps professional, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to share what I’ve learned.
Why Learn Shell Scripting?
Shell scripting is the art of automating tasks in the Unix/Linux shell. It allows us to:
Simplify repetitive tasks
Create powerful tools for system administration
Orchestrate complex workflows
Enhance productivity and efficiency
Mastering shell scripting is a stepping stone to effective DevOps practices, as it lays the foundation for automation and scripting workflows.
What I Covered Today
I focused on the basics of shell scripting, progressing up to the concept of arrays. Here’s a detailed breakdown of my learning:
1. Introduction to Shell Scripting
Shell scripting involves writing scripts (text files) containing a sequence of commands to be executed by the shell. I explored the following foundational concepts:
What is a Shell? The interface between the user and the operating system.
Popular Shells: bash, sh, zsh, etc.
Creating a Script:
Use a text editor (e.g.,
nano,vim).Save the script with a
.shextension.Make it executable using
chmod +x.
Running a Script: Execute it with
./script_name.sh.
2. Basic Shell Script Syntax
I learned the fundamental building blocks of a shell script:
Comments: Use
#to add comments.Variables: Store and manipulate data.
Displaying output:
echo.
3. Working with Arrays
Arrays allow storing multiple values in a single variable. I explored:
Defining Arrays
Accessing Elements
Array with key value pair
That’s all from my day 6 update my plan for tomorrow is to learn the control flow, reading input, loop and to create some basic projects.