Linux Bash Shell Scripting with Real-Life Examples from Coursera

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Syllabus

Introduction and Course Overview

In this module, we will introduce the tutor and provide an overview of the course. We will also outline the structure of the syllabus, helping you understand what to expect from each section and how to navigate through the course content effectively.

Set Up the Lab

In this module, we will guide you through setting up your lab environment. You will learn about Virtual Box, how to install it, and create your first virtual machine. Finally, we will cover the installation of CentOS 7, ensuring you have a functional setup for hands-on practice.

Shell Scripting Basics

In this module, we will introduce you to the fundamentals of shell scripting. You will learn about the kernel and shell, the different types of shells available, and how to start and run a basic shell script. This foundational knowledge is essential for progressing to more advanced scripting tasks.

Scripting Standards

In this module, we will cover the standards and best practices for writing shell scripts. You will learn about naming conventions, file permissions, and the proper format for shell scripts. Understanding these standards will help you write clear, maintainable, and efficient scripts.

Basic Shell Scripting

In this module, we will delve into basic shell scripting. You will create your first script, "Hello World," and learn to perform various tasks using scripts. We will also cover defining variables, handling input/output, and using control structures like loops and conditionals to add logic to your scripts.

Real Life Scripting

In this module, we will focus on applying your scripting knowledge to real-life scenarios. You will learn to access and manipulate file data, automate routine tasks, and implement scripts for user account management and system monitoring. These skills are crucial for managing and maintaining complex systems efficiently.

Additional Resources

In this module, we will provide additional resources and advanced topics to further enhance your skills. You will learn to troubleshoot connectivity issues, explore advanced Linux commands, and understand the differences between various Linux distributions. We will also cover system performance issues, virtualization, and security practices to ensure a robust and secure environment.

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Provides practical examples of automating file backups, remote server connectivity checks, and user account management, which are common administrative tasks

Covers scripting standards, including naming conventions, file permissions, and script formatting, which are essential for writing clear and maintainable scripts

Uses CentOS 7 in the lab setup, which may require learners to adapt their knowledge to newer versions of Linux in real-world environments

Requires learners to set up a lab environment using Oracle Virtual Box, which may require additional time and resources for those unfamiliar with virtualization

Builds a solid foundation in shell scripting, starting with the kernel and different types of shells, which is essential for progressing to more advanced tasks

Includes additional resources and advanced topics, such as troubleshooting connectivity issues and exploring advanced Linux commands, to further enhance skills

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Linux Bash Shell Scripting with Real-Life Examples with these activities:

Review Basic Linux Commands

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Reinforce your understanding of fundamental Linux commands before diving into shell scripting. This will make it easier to understand how scripts automate these commands.

Browse courses on Linux Commands

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List and practice common commands like ls, cd, mkdir, rm, cp, mv.
Review command options and usage using man pages.
Practice piping and redirection to manipulate command output.

Review 'Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible'

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Use this book to build a strong foundation in Linux command-line operations and shell scripting. It will serve as a valuable reference throughout the course.

View CompTIA Linux+ Study Guide: Exam XK0-005 (Sybex... on Amazon

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Read the introductory chapters on the Linux command line.
Work through the examples on basic shell scripting.
Refer to the book for explanations of specific commands and syntax.

Write Scripts for File Manipulation

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Practice writing shell scripts that perform common file manipulation tasks. This will reinforce your understanding of file system operations and scripting syntax.

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Write a script to back up all files in a directory to another location.
Create a script to find and delete files older than a certain date.
Develop a script to rename multiple files based on a pattern.

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Document Your Scripts

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Create documentation for the scripts you write, following best practices for commenting and formatting. This will improve the readability and maintainability of your code.

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Add comments to your scripts explaining the purpose of each section.
Use consistent indentation and formatting to improve readability.
Create a README file for each script explaining how to use it.

Automate System Monitoring

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Start a project to automate system monitoring tasks using shell scripts. This will give you practical experience in applying your scripting skills to real-world problems.

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Write a script to monitor CPU usage and send an alert if it exceeds a threshold.
Create a script to check disk space and send a warning when it's running low.
Develop a script to monitor network connectivity and restart services if necessary.

Review 'Classic Shell Scripting'

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Use this book to deepen your understanding of shell scripting and learn advanced techniques. It will help you write more efficient and reliable scripts.

View Classic Shell Scripting on Amazon

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Read the chapters on advanced scripting techniques.
Study the examples of real-world shell scripts.
Experiment with the techniques described in the book.

Contribute to a Shell Scripting Project

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Contribute to an open-source shell scripting project on platforms like GitHub. This will provide valuable experience in collaborating with other developers and working on real-world projects.

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Find an open-source shell scripting project on GitHub.
Fork the repository and clone it to your local machine.
Identify a bug or feature to work on.
Submit a pull request with your changes.

Career center

Learners who complete Linux Bash Shell Scripting with Real-Life Examples will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

System Administrator

A system administrator is responsible for the upkeep, configuration, and reliable operation of computer systems, especially in multi-user environments. This course on Linux Bash Shell Scripting directly aligns with the tasks a system administrator performs daily. They frequently automate tasks such as file backups, server checks, and user account management, which are all covered in the real-life scripting projects of this course. This course helps build a foundation for automating and streamlining system administration tasks through efficient scripting, which is a critical skill for a system administrator.

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DevOps Engineer

DevOps engineers combine software development and IT operations to automate and streamline the process of software deployment and infrastructure management. A DevOps engineer will use scripting extensively to automate infrastructure provisioning, continuous integration, and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines. The course's emphasis on real-life scripting projects, such as file manipulation, routine task automation, and user management, are directly applicable to the work a DevOps engineer does. This course helps build a foundation in scripting which is a key skill for the role. Learning how to set up a virtual machine and configure a Linux environment, as taught in this course, is valuable for DevOps engineers.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer

Automation Engineer

An automation engineer designs, develops, and implements automated solutions for various processes, often involving software and systems. Automating tasks using scripts is a core responsibility of an automation engineer, and this course provides direct experience in this area. The real-life scripting projects, which focus on automating processes such as file backups and remote server connectivity checks, provide hands-on training that is immediately relevant. This course helps build practical skills for any automation engineer, especially when it comes to automating tasks involving Linux systems. The scripting standards taught in the course also help to create maintainable and efficient solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Automation Engineer

Cloud Engineer

A Cloud engineer is responsible for the design, implementation, and maintenance of cloud computing infrastructure and services. Cloud environments often rely on Linux systems and automation, making this course helpful. The skills taught, such as scripting for automation, file access, and system monitoring, are highly relevant to a Cloud engineer. This course may help by providing a strong foundation in Linux environments and scripting which are key to effectively managing cloud-based resources and operations. This course provides the skills to automate cloud management tasks.

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Software Developer

Software developers write and maintain code for various software applications. While they might not always directly script in Bash, a strong understanding of shell scripting, as taught in this course, may be useful for their work. Software developers often need to interact with Linux systems, debug code, create automation for development tasks, and manage server environments. This course may be useful because it provides insights into how to manage and automate the development environment with Bash scripts and helps a software developer build a foundation for automating and streamlining their workflows.

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Technical Support Specialist

A technical support specialist provides assistance to end-users, solving issues and maintaining systems. This course may be useful to a tech support specialist who works on Linux environments. A technical support specialist may use scripting for diagnostics, or to automate some common actions. This course gives such a specialist the ability to create scripts to automate routine tasks, and troubleshoot issues on Linux systems. The real-life scripting projects, such as connectivity checks, may help a technical support specialist to better understand common problems and how to solve them. The course also provides a foundation for how to effectively manage systems.

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Network Engineer

Network engineers design, implement, and maintain computer networks. This usually involves working with servers and systems that run on Linux. While a network engineer may not script every day, understanding Linux, as well as automation through scripting, may be useful for managing network infrastructure. This course helps build a foundation in Linux system administration and scripting. A network engineer might use the skills taught in this course, such as scripting for connectivity checks and system monitoring, to better manage network devices and servers. This course may help a network engineer to automate repetitive tasks.

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Database Administrator

A database administrator is responsible for the performance, integrity, and security of databases. Although they do not script in Bash daily, there are many scenarios where scripting is invaluable. Many production databases run on Linux, and the course provides real-life examples relevant to administering Linux systems. A database administrator often performs routine tasks that can be automated through scripts. This course may help build the ability to automate such tasks and streamline database maintenance operations. Understanding file permissions is also highly relevant to a database administrator to keep data safe.

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IT Analyst

An IT analyst examines business processes and recommends improvements, often involving technology. While the core responsibilities of this role are not directly related to Linux scripting, an IT analyst with this knowledge may be better prepared to make recommendations around Linux system administration. This course may be valuable if an IT analyst needs to assess system efficiency, or needs to automate routine tasks. This course helps build a foundation in understanding the possibilities of automation and system management, and allows an IT analyst to better assess and recommend technology-based solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Analyst

Security Analyst

A security analyst monitors and analyzes security systems to protect an organization's network and data. While this role involves analyzing security data, an understanding of Linux systems and scripting may be helpful in diagnosing and automating responses to security incidents. The focus on file permissions and system monitoring in this course may help a security analyst understand how to audit and secure Linux environments. This course may provide deeper insight into system activities and automation, useful for a security analyst.

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Data Analyst

Data analysts collect, process, and analyze data to provide insights for decision-making. While this role primarily involves data analysis, a data analyst may access or process data that resides on Linux-based systems. This course may be useful to automate processes and manipulate data stored in files. This course helps build a foundation for effectively managing data that might be available on Linux systems. Though a data analyst rarely scripts, a basic understanding may be useful to automate certain data operations.

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Quality Assurance Engineer

Quality assurance engineers test software and systems to identify defects and ensure quality. While this role primarily involves testing procedures, there are instances where understanding Linux systems, as well as automation, may be important. A quality assurance engineer often works within the same environments as developers, so this course may be helpful to develop useful testing scripts. This course helps build the foundations for creating automation for testing and monitoring. It may also provide a quality assurance engineer with the ability to better understand the environment in which code is run.

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Research Scientist

Research scientists conduct experiments and analyze data to advance knowledge in their field. Often, research scientists may do their work using Linux based high-performance computing environments. This course may be useful for research scientists to automate data processing or experimental procedures. The skills taught in this course will be useful when it comes to automating routine tasks. This course helps build a foundation to better manage the Linux based resources typically used in research and development.

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Technical Writer

A technical writer creates documentation for technical products and services. While not directly involved in scripting, technical writers who understand these environments can create more accurate documentation. This course may be useful because it gives a technical writer an understanding of Linux scripting, standards, and the ability to test and document these systems more effectively. This course may provide a technical writer with working knowledge of Linux and the Bash shell, useful for creating user manuals, system documentation, or training materials.

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Project Manager

A project manager plans, executes, and oversees projects, often involving technology. While a project manager doesn't typically script, they often manage teams of people who do. Having an understanding of the skills the team uses, may help them better manage the team. This course may be useful to better understand the technical challenges their team may face. This course helps build an understanding of the kinds of automation that can be achieved. Although this course is not directly necessary for a project manager, it may still be valuable.

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Linux Bash Shell Scripting with Real-Life Examples

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