S5

Linux Shell Programming Course Overview

This Linux Bash Shell Programming training course is designed to give delegates practical experience in developing and writing LINUX shell scripts.  Most of the built-in shell commands are introduced together with the main program control structures.  This course is not suitable for C shell programmers.

Skills Gained

The delegates will practise:

• Writing simple scripts to enhance basic command output
• Using the various shell quoting mechanisms appropriately
• Manipulating shell variables and user-defined variables in scripts
• Implementing conditional execution facilities
• Using the shell's built-in loop constructs where appropriate
• Writing scripts to trap user interrupts
• User defined Functions
• Developing menu-driven shell scripts

Who will the Course Benefit?

Programmers, administrators and support personnel who need to understand existing shell scripts, automate procedures and write their own utilities.

Course Objectives

To provide the skills needed to develop and customise shell programs.

Requirements

The Linux Shell Programming course assumes knowledge of the LINUX Operating System to the level covered in the Linux Introduction Course. Some programming experience may also prove advantageous.

Pre-Requisite Courses

• Linux Introduction

Follow-On Courses

• Linux System Administration (LPI)
• Oracle SQL
• Linux Advanced Shell Programming Tools

NOTE: Course technical content is subject to change without notice.

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Linux Shell Programming Training Course

Course Contents - DAY 1

Course Introduction

• Administration and Course Materials
• Course Structure and Agenda
• Delegate and Trainer Introductions

Session 1: LINUX COMMAND REVIEW

• Basic Unix commands
• General commands
• File and directory handling commands
• Filename generation characters
• I/O Redirection features
• Other commands

Session 2: GETTING STARTED

• What is a shell script?
• Development guidelines
• Creating and editing shell scripts
• Naming and storing shell scripts
• Executing shell scripts
• Exercise:   Write a simple shell script

Session 3: USING VARIABLES

• Environment variables
• Local variables
• Assigning values to variables
• Assessing variable values
• Using quotes
• Delimiting variable names
• Echo control sequences
• Exercise:   Add variables to a script

Session 4: INTEGER ARITHMETIC

• Using the expr command
• Using the (( )) notation
• Exercise:   Add integer arithmetic to a shell script

Session 5: HANDLING RUN TIME DATA

• The read command
• Command line arguments
• Exercise:   Writing a generic shell script
• Exercise:   Writing an interactive shell script

Session 6: CONDITION EXECUTION

• The if statement
• The test command
• Other test notations
• Default and substitute variables
• Exit status codes
• Exercise:   Adding validation to previous scripts

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Linux Shell Programming Training Course

Course Contents - DAY 2

Session 7: LOOP CONSTRUCTS

• The while loop
• The until loop
• The for loop
• The while true and until false loops
• Loop control commands
• Exercise:   Enhancing the previously written scripts
• Exercise:   Writing a guess-the-number game

Session 8: MULTI-BRANCH DECISIONS

• The case statement
• Menu driven applications
• Exercise:   Developing and writing a menu system

Session 9: FUNCTIONS

• What is a function?
• Syntax
• Examples
• Exercise:   Add a function to a script

Session 10: INTERRUPT HANDLING

• Interrupt signals
• Trapping interrupts
• Exercise:   Adding traps to the menu script

Session 11: ADDITIONAL FEATURES AND FACILITIES

• The exec commands
• The includes notation
• More about loops
• Arrays
• Here Documents
• Exercise:   Create a here script