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Linux Shell Scripting Bootcamp
Linux Shell Scripting Bootcamp

Linux Shell Scripting Bootcamp: The fastest way to learn Linux shell scripting

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Linux Shell Scripting Bootcamp

Chapter 2. Working with Variables

This chapter will show how variables are used in a Linux system and in scripts.

The topics covered in this chapter are:

  • Using variables in scripts
  • Validating parameters using conditional statements
  • Comparison operators for strings
  • Environment variables

Using variables in scripts

A variable is simply a placeholder for some value. The value can change; however, the variable name will always be the same. Here is a simple example:

   a=1

This assigns the value 1 to variable a. Here's another one:

   b=2

To display what a variable contains use the echo statement:

   echo Variable a is: $a

Note

Notice the $ preceding the variable name. This is required in order to show the contents of the variable.

If at anytime, you aren't seeing the results you expect first check for the $.

Here's an example using the command line:

$ a=1
$ echo a
a
$ echo $a
1
$ b="Jim"
$ echo b
b
$ echo $b
Jim

All variables in a Bash script are considered to be strings. This is different than in a programming language such as C, where everything is strongly typed. In the preceding example, a and b are strings even though they appear to be integers.

Here's a short script to get us started:

Chapter 2 - Script 1

#!/bin/sh
#
# 6/13/2017
#
echo "script1...

Validating parameters using conditional statements

Variables can be tested and compared against other variables when using a variable as a number.

Here is a list of some of the operators that can be used:

Operator

Description

-eq

This stands for equal to

-ne

This stands for not equal to

-gt

This stands for greater than

-lt

This stands for less than

-ge

This stands for greater than or equal to

-le

This stands for less than or equal to

!

This stands for the negation operator

Let's take a look at this in our next example script:

Chapter 2 - Script 2

#!/bin/sh
#
# 6/13/2017
#
echo "script2"

# Numeric variables
a=100
b=100
c=200
d=300

echo a=$a b=$b c=$c d=$d     # display the values

# Conditional tests
if [ $a -eq $b ] ; then
 echo a equals b
fi

if [ $a -ne $b ] ; then
 echo a does not equal b
fi

if [ $a -gt $c ] ; then
 echo a is greater than c
fi

if [ $a -lt $c ] ; then
 echo a is less than c
fi

if [ $a -ge $d ] ; then
 echo a is greater than...

Comparison operators for strings

The comparison for strings are different than for numbers. Here is a partial list:

Operator

Explanation

=

This stands for equal to

!=

This stands for not equal to

>

This stands for greater than

<

This stands for less than

Now let's take a look at Script 3:

Chapter 2 - Script 3

  1  #!/bin/sh
  2  #
  3  # 6/13/2017
  4  #
  5  echo "script3"
  6  
  7  # String variables
  8  str1="Kirk"
  9  str2="Kirk"
 10  str3="Spock"
 11  str3="Dr. McCoy"
 12  str4="Engineer Scott"
 13  str5="A"
 14  str6="B"
 15  
 16  echo str1=$str1 str2=$str2 str3=$str3 str4=$str4
 17  
 18  if [ "$str1" = "$str2" ] ; then
 19   echo str1 equals str2
 20  else
 21   echo str1 does not equal str2
 22  fi
 23  
 24  if [ "$str1" != "$str2" ] ; then
 25   echo str1 does not equal str2
 26  else
 27   echo str1 equals str2
 28  fi
 29  
 30...

Environment variables

So far we have only talked about variables that are local to a script. There are also system wide environment variables (env vars) which play a very important part of any Linux system. Here are a few, some of which the reader may already be aware of:

Variable

Role

HOME

user's home directory

PATH

directories which are searched for commands

PS1

command line prompt

HOSTNAME

hostname of the machine

SHELL

shell that is being used

USER

user of this session

EDITOR

text editor to use for crontab and other programs

HISTSIZE

number of commands that will be shown by the history command

TERM

type of command line terminal that is being used

Most of these are self-explanatory, however, I will mention a few.

The PS1 environment variable controls what the shell prompt displays as part of the command line. The default setting is usually something like [guest1@big1 ~]$, which is not as useful as it could be. At a minimum, a good prompt shows...

Summary

In this chapter we covered how to declare and use both environment and local variables. We talked about how math is performed and how to work with arrays.

We also covered using variables in scripts. Script 1 showed how to assign a variable and display its value. Script 2 showed how to deal with numeric variables and Script 3 showed how to compare strings. Script 4 showed logical operators and Script 5 showed how math can be performed. Script 6 showed how environment variables are used and Script 7 showed how to use arrays.

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Key benefits

  • Understand expressions and variables and how to use them practically
  • Familiarize yourself with the various text filtering tools available in Linux
  • A fast-paced and concise guide that gets you well versed with linux shell scripting.

Description

Linux Shell Scripting Bootcamp is all about learning the essentials of script creation, validating parameters, and checking for the existence of files and other items needed by the script. We will use scripts to explore iterative operations using loops and learn different types of loop statements, with their differences. Along with this, we will also create a numbered backup script for backup files. Further, you will get well-versed with how variables work on a Linux system and how they relate to scripts. You’ll also learn how to create and call subroutines in a script and create interactive scripts. The most important archive commands, zip and tar, are also discussed for performing backups. Later, you will dive deeper by understanding the use of wget and curl scripts and the use of checksum and file encryption in further chapters. Finally, you will learn how to debug scripts and scripting best practices that will enable you to write a great code every time! By the end of the book, you will be able to write shell scripts that can dig data from the web and process it efficiently.

Who is this book for?

This book is for both GNU/Linux users who want to do amazing things with the shell and for advanced users looking for ways to make their lives with the shell more productive.

What you will learn

  • Get acquainted with the basics of a shell script to serve as a refresher for more advanced topics
  • Learn different ways to create and run a script
  • Discuss the passing and verification of parameters, along with the verification of other items.
  • Understand the different forms of conditions and loops, and go over the sleep command in detail
  • Learn about different ways to handle the reporting of return codes
  • Create an interactive script by reading the keyboard and use subroutines and interrupts
  • Create scripts to perform backups and go over the use of encryption tools and checksums
  • Use wget and curl in scripts to get data directly from the Internet
Estimated delivery fee Deliver to Australia

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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Jul 19, 2017
Length: 208 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781787281103
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Length: 208 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781787281103
Vendor :
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Tools :

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Table of Contents

11 Chapters
1. Getting Started with Shell Scripting Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
2. Working with Variables Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
3. Using Loops and the sleep Command Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
4. Creating and Calling Subroutines Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
5. Creating Interactive Scripts Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
6. Automating Tasks with Scripts Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
7. Working with Files Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
8. Working with wget and curl Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
9. Debugging Scripts Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
10. Scripting Best Practices Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon Empty star icon 3.5
(2 Ratings)
5 star 50%
4 star 0%
3 star 0%
2 star 50%
1 star 0%
DreamWeaver Aug 20, 2017
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Finally a book that gives you the meat and bones of scripting! An easy and practical read for those who are looking for no nonsense scripting knowledge. Worth every dollar!
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Charles Smiles Jan 20, 2020
Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 2
First of all, i've probably purchased 10 bad books on amazon and only left one bad review. Even when they are bad i respect the time an author puts in preparing a book. The author of this book simply does not deserve this kind of respect. Never mind this is a 200 page book, very little effort was put forth to ensure the material was comprehensive and gave readers depth in the material. I actually know how to shell script and have been doing it for my job for years. I purchased this book as a refresher. This author made no effort to explain much of the concepts. I stopped after the first chapter. Granted i understood all 6 basic scripts, but if i had little to no experience i would be completely lost. Can't believe on page 7 he actually typed "The meaning of the remaining lines can be determined by the script itself..." WTF?? No...you explain those lines in your script. That's your job.Like seriously? I actually looked at the intended audience section of the book and made no mention that you had to be an experienced scripter so i really feel for newbies that hit this point only 7 pages into the book and you are lost. I further glanced at other pages in the book and noticed that reoccuring pattern of "here is my script...you figure it out".I've produced technical documentation for mentees at work and under no way would i do this to them.This should be no surprise. Packt publishing has a habit of producing some of the industries worst technical books. They are of low quality. This book is offensive and should be pulled.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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