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Home > Cloud & Networking > Shell Scripting > Mastering Linux Shell Scripting
Mastering Linux Shell Scripting
Mastering Linux Shell Scripting

Mastering Linux Shell Scripting: Master the complexities of Bash shell scripting and unlock the power of shell for your enterprise

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Mastering Linux Shell Scripting

Chapter 2. Creating Interactive Scripts

In Chapter 1, What and Why of Scripting with Bash, of this book we learned how to create a script and use some of its basics elements. These include optional parameters that we can pass through to the script when it is executed. In this chapter, we will extend this by using the read shell built-in command to allow for interactive scripts. Interactive scripts are scripts that prompt for information during the script execution. In doing so, we will cover the following topics:

  • Using echo with options
  • Basic script using read
  • Adding comments
  • Enhancing read scripts with prompts
  • Limiting the number of entered characters
  • Control the visibility of the entered text
  • Simple scripts to enforce our learning

Using echo with options

So far, in this book we have been able to see that the echo command is very useful and is going to be in many of our scripts, if not all. We have also seen that this is both a built-in command as well as a command file. When running the echo command, the built-in command will be used unless we state the full path to the file. We can test this with the following command:

$ test -a echo

To gain help on the built-in command, we can use man bash and search for echo; however, the echo command is identical to the internal command so I will recommend that you use man echo in most cases in order to display command options.

The basic use of echo that we have seen so far will produce a text output and a new line. This is often the desired response so we don't have to be concerned that the next prompt will append to the end of the echoed text. The new line separates the script output from the next shell prompt. If we do not supply any text string to print, echo will print...

Basic script using read

When used as a part of a script that prompts for user input, the suppression of the line feed is exactly what we want. We will begin by copying the existing hello2.sh script to hello3.sh and build an interactive script. Initially, we will use echo as the prompt mechanism but as we gradually enhance the script, we will generate the prompt directly from the shell built-in read command:

$ cp $HOME/bin/hello2.sh $HOME/bin/hello3.sh
$ chmod +x $HOME/bin/hello3.sh

Edit the $HOME/bin/hello3.sh script so that it reads as the following:

#!/bin/bash
echo -n "Hello I  $(basename $0) may I ask your name: "
read
echo "Hello $REPLY"
exit 0

As we execute the script, we will be greeted and prompted with our own name. This is echoed out using the $REPLY variable in the echo statement. As we have not yet supplied a variable name to the read built-in command the default $REPLY variable is used. The script execution and output is shown in the following screenshot. Take...

Script comments

We should always introduce commenting scripts early in the piece. A script comment is prefaced with a # symbol. Anything after the # symbol is a comment and is not evaluated by the script. The shebang, #!/bin/bash, is primarily a comment and, as such, is not evaluated by the script. The shell running the script reads the shebang so it knows which command interpreter to hand the script over to. A comment may be at the start of a line or partly into the line. Shell scripting does not have the notion of multi-line comments.

If you are not already familiar with comments, then they are added to the script to tell all about who wrote the script, when it was written and last updated, and what the script does. It is the metadata of the script.

The following is an example of comments in scripts:

#!/bin/bash
# Welcome script to display a message to users on login
# Author: @theurbanpenguin
# Date: 1/1/1971

It is a good practice to comment and add comments that explain what the code is...

Enhancing scripts with read prompts

We have seen how we can use the built in read to populate a variable. So far, we have used echo to produce the prompt but this can be passed to read itself using the -p option. The read command will surpass the additional linefeed, so we reduce both the line count and the complexity to some degree.

We can test this at the command line itself. Try typing the following command to see read in action:

$ read -p "Enter your name: " name

We use the read command with the -p option. The argument that follows the option is the text that appears in the prompt. Normally, we will make sure that there is a trailing space at the end of the text to ensure that we can clearly see what we type. The last argument supplied here is the variable we want to populate, we simply call it name. Variables are case-sensitive too. Even if we did not supply the last argument, we can still store the user's response, but this time in the REPLY variable.

Tip

Note that when...

Limiting the number of entered characters

We do not need functionality in the scripts we have used so far, but we may need to ask users to hit any key to continue. At the moment, we have set it up in such a way that the variable is not populated until we hit the Enter key. Users have to hit Enter to continue. If we use the -n option followed by an integer, we can specify the characters to accept before continuing, we will set 1 in this case. Take a look at the following code extract:

#!/bin/bash
read -p "May I ask your name: " name
echo "Hello $name"
read -n1 -p "Press any key to exit"
echo
exit 0

Now, the script will pause after displaying the name until we press any key; literally, we can press any key before continuing, as we accept just 1 key stroke. Whereas, earlier we were required to leave the default behavior in place, as we could not know how long a entered name would be. We have to wait for the user to hit Enter.

Tip

Note that we add an additional echo...

Using echo with options

So far, in this book we have been able to see that the echo command is very useful and is going to be in many of our scripts, if not all. We have also seen that this is both a built-in command as well as a command file. When running the echo command, the built-in command will be used unless we state the full path to the file. We can test this with the following command:

$ test -a echo

To gain help on the built-in command, we can use man bash and search for echo; however, the echo command is identical to the internal command so I will recommend that you use man echo in most cases in order to display command options.

The basic use of echo that we have seen so far will produce a text output and a new line. This is often the desired response so we don't have to be concerned that the next prompt will append to the end of the echoed text. The new line separates the script output from the next shell prompt. If we do not supply any text string to print, echo will print only...

Basic script using read

When used as a part of a script that prompts for user input, the suppression of the line feed is exactly what we want. We will begin by copying the existing hello2.sh script to hello3.sh and build an interactive script. Initially, we will use echo as the prompt mechanism but as we gradually enhance the script, we will generate the prompt directly from the shell built-in read command:

$ cp $HOME/bin/hello2.sh $HOME/bin/hello3.sh
$ chmod +x $HOME/bin/hello3.sh

Edit the $HOME/bin/hello3.sh script so that it reads as the following:

#!/bin/bash
echo -n "Hello I  $(basename $0) may I ask your name: "
read
echo "Hello $REPLY"
exit 0

As we execute the script, we will be greeted and prompted with our own name. This is echoed out using the $REPLY variable in the echo statement. As we have not yet supplied a variable name to the read built-in command the default $REPLY variable is used. The script execution and output is shown in the following screenshot. Take some time to practice...

Script comments

We should always introduce commenting scripts early in the piece. A script comment is prefaced with a # symbol. Anything after the # symbol is a comment and is not evaluated by the script. The shebang, #!/bin/bash, is primarily a comment and, as such, is not evaluated by the script. The shell running the script reads the shebang so it knows which command interpreter to hand the script over to. A comment may be at the start of a line or partly into the line. Shell scripting does not have the notion of multi-line comments.

If you are not already familiar with comments, then they are added to the script to tell all about who wrote the script, when it was written and last updated, and what the script does. It is the metadata of the script.

The following is an example of comments in scripts:

#!/bin/bash
# Welcome script to display a message to users on login
# Author: @theurbanpenguin
# Date: 1/1/1971

It is a good practice to comment and add comments that explain what the code is...

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Key benefits

  • Identify the high level steps such as verifying user input, using command lines and conditional statements in creating and executing simple shell scripts
  • Create and edit dynamic shell scripts to manage complex and repetitive tasks
  • Learn about scripting in Perl and programming in Python as a BASH scripting alternative with this practical, step-by-step guide

Description

Shell scripting is a quick method to prototype a complex application or a problem by automating tasks when working on Linux-based systems. Using both simple one-line commands and command sequences complex problems can be solved with ease, from text processing to backing up sysadmin tools. In this book, you’ll discover everything you need to know to master shell scripting and make informed choices about the elements you employ. Get to grips with the fundamentals of creating and running a script in normal mode, and in debug mode. Learn about various conditional statements' code snippets, and realize the power of repetition and loops in your shell script. Implement functions and edit files using the Stream Editor, script in Perl, program in Python – as well as complete coverage of other scripting languages to ensure you can choose the best tool for your project.

Who is this book for?

Mastering Linux Shell Scripting has been written for Linux administrators who want to automate tasks in their daily lives, saving time and effort. You’ll need to have command-line experience and be familiar with the tasks that you need to automate.

What you will learn

  • * Use the type command to identify the order of command evaluation
  • * Create interactive scripts that prompt for user input
  • * Foster menu structures for operators with little command-line experience
  • * Develop scripts that dynamically edit web configuration files to produce a new virtual host
  • * Write scripts that use AWK to search and reports on log files
  • * Draft effective scripts using functions as building blocks, reducing maintenance and build time
  • * Make informed choices by comparing different script languages such as Perl and Python with BASH

Product Details

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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Dec 24, 2015
Length: 198 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781784396978
Category :
Cloud & Networking
Concepts :
Shell Scripting
Tools :
Linux

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Product Details

Publication date : Dec 24, 2015
Length: 198 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781784396978
Category :
Cloud & Networking
Concepts :
Shell Scripting
Tools :
Linux

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Mastering Linux Shell Scripting
Mastering Linux Shell Scripting
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Table of Contents

15 Chapters
1. What and Why of Scripting with Bash Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
1. What and Why of Scripting with Bash
Bash vulnerabilities
The bash command hierarchy
Preparing text editors for scripting
Creating and executing scripts
Debugging your scripts
Summary
2. Creating Interactive Scripts Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
2. Creating Interactive Scripts
Using echo with options
Basic script using read
Script comments
Enhancing scripts with read prompts
Limiting the number of entered characters
Controlling the visibility of entered text
Enhancing learning with simple scripts
Summary
3. Conditions Attached Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
3. Conditions Attached
Simple decision paths using command-line lists
Verifying user input with lists
Using the test shell builtin
Creating conditional statements using if
Extending if with else
More conditions with elif
Using case statements
Script – building a front-end with grep
Summary
4. Creating Code Snippets Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
4. Creating Code Snippets
Abbreviations
Using code snippets
Summary
5. Alternative Syntax Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
5. Alternative Syntax
Recapping test
Providing parameter defaults
When in doubt – Quote!
Advanced test using [[
Arithmetic operations using ((
Summary
6. Iterating with Loops Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
6. Iterating with Loops
For loops
Controlling the loop
Reading input from files
Creating operator menus
Summary
7. Creating Building Blocks with Functions Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
7. Creating Building Blocks with Functions
Introducing functions
Passing parameters to functions
Returning values from functions
Using functions in menus
Summary
8. Introducing sed Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
8. Introducing sed
Using grep to display text
Using regular expressions
Understanding the basics of sed
Summary
9. Automating Apache Virtual Hosts Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
9. Automating Apache Virtual Hosts
Apache name-based Virtual Hosts
Automating Virtual Host creation
Summary
10. Awk Fundamentals Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
10. Awk Fundamentals
The history behind awk
Displaying and filtering content from files
Formatting output
Further filtering to display users by UID
Awk control files
Summary
11. Summarizing Logs with Awk Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
11. Summarizing Logs with Awk
The HTTPD log file format
Displaying data from web logs
Displaying the highest ranking IP address
Displaying the browser data
Working with e-mail logs
Summary
12. A Better lastlog with Awk Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
12. A Better lastlog with Awk
Using awk ranges to exclude data
Conditions based on the number of fields
Manipulating the awk record separator to report on XML data
Summary
13. Using Perl as a Bash Scripting Alternative Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
13. Using Perl as a Bash Scripting Alternative
What is Perl?
Hello World
Perl arrays
Conditional statements in Perl
Using functions within Perl
Summary
14. Using Python as a Bash Scripting Alternative Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
14. Using Python as a Bash Scripting Alternative
What is Python?
Saying Hello World the Python way
Pythonic arguments
Significant whitespace
Reading user input
Summary
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index

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Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.3
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SuJo Feb 27, 2016
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
I was extremely skeptical at first glance; however after reading this book it truly covers each topic with enough detail to give a clear understanding of the tasks at hand. Doing a lot of automation work with frameworks like Puppet which can benefit from shell scripts, and all I can say is wow.. you really need to pickup a copy of this book as it is well worth the cost.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
C.P. Feb 26, 2017
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
This book so far has been very useful and I am very pleased with the contents so far. I have read about 1/3 and so far an A+ from me.
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Mark Smith Apr 16, 2016
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Great Book and highly recommend.
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Perry Nally Mar 02, 2016
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Almost all you need, and certainly all you need to get you up and running. Gave me the ins and outs of the bash shell as well as pointed me in the right direction with the intro to Peral and Python as additional resources to use when bash shell does allow my to do what I need. I'll have this book as a reference for a very long time when I start building linux embedded devices. I know I'll be turning to this book for references on creating the scripts I need.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Tim Crothers Mar 10, 2016
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Really, really good coverage of bash scripting core fundamentals. Literally one of the best I've read and I've read many of them. I wouldn't go nearly as far as to say complete as some of the other reviews have stated but it definitely does a really good job of getting you started down the road. The only issue I had in the end is the "mastering" part of the title. I don't think any book under 200 pages should claim to provide mastery of a topic, especially one as complex as bash shell scripting, but in the end I decided not to dock it a start because it does such a good job at what it does cover. My preference would be to drop the small sections on Perl and Python. They are topics worthy of their own treatment and the pages could have been put to better use going deeper on shell scripting.
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About the author

Profile icon Andrew Mallett
Andrew Mallett
Andrew Mallett has been working professionally with Linux since 1999; much of that time as an Instructor. He now runs his consultancy where he works with and writes about Linux. He is onto his 5th book with Packt and has 65,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel: theurbanpenguin. You can be assured that he masters Linux and is passionate to share his knowledge with you.
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To cancel your subscription with us simply go to the account page - found in the top right of the page or at https://subscription.packtpub.com/my-account/subscription - From here you will see the ‘cancel subscription’ button in the grey box with your subscription information in.

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Credits can be earned from reading 40 section of any title within the payment cycle - a month starting from the day of subscription payment. You also earn a Credit every month if you subscribe to our annual or 18 month plans. Credits can be used to buy books DRM free, the same way that you would pay for a book. Your credits can be found in the subscription homepage - subscription.packtpub.com - clicking on ‘the my’ library dropdown and selecting ‘credits’.

What happens if an Early Access Course is cancelled? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Projects are rarely cancelled, but sometimes it's unavoidable. If an Early Access course is cancelled or excessively delayed, you can exchange your purchase for another course. For further details, please contact us here.

Where can I send feedback about an Early Access title? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

If you have any feedback about the product you're reading, or Early Access in general, then please fill out a contact form here and we'll make sure the feedback gets to the right team. 

Can I download the code files for Early Access titles? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

We try to ensure that all books in Early Access have code available to use, download, and fork on GitHub. This helps us be more agile in the development of the book, and helps keep the often changing code base of new versions and new technologies as up to date as possible. Unfortunately, however, there will be rare cases when it is not possible for us to have downloadable code samples available until publication.

When we publish the book, the code files will also be available to download from the Packt website.

How accurate is the publication date? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

The publication date is as accurate as we can be at any point in the project. Unfortunately, delays can happen. Often those delays are out of our control, such as changes to the technology code base or delays in the tech release. We do our best to give you an accurate estimate of the publication date at any given time, and as more chapters are delivered, the more accurate the delivery date will become.

How will I know when new chapters are ready? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

We'll let you know every time there has been an update to a course that you've bought in Early Access. You'll get an email to let you know there has been a new chapter, or a change to a previous chapter. The new chapters are automatically added to your account, so you can also check back there any time you're ready and download or read them online.

I am a Packt subscriber, do I get Early Access? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Yes, all Early Access content is fully available through your subscription. You will need to have a paid for or active trial subscription in order to access all titles.

How is Early Access delivered? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Early Access is currently only available as a PDF or through our online reader. As we make changes or add new chapters, the files in your Packt account will be updated so you can download them again or view them online immediately.

How do I buy Early Access content? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Early Access is a way of us getting our content to you quicker, but the method of buying the Early Access course is still the same. Just find the course you want to buy, go through the check-out steps, and you’ll get a confirmation email from us with information and a link to the relevant Early Access courses.

What is Early Access? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Keeping up to date with the latest technology is difficult; new versions, new frameworks, new techniques. This feature gives you a head-start to our content, as it's being created. With Early Access you'll receive each chapter as it's written, and get regular updates throughout the product's development, as well as the final course as soon as it's ready.We created Early Access as a means of giving you the information you need, as soon as it's available. As we go through the process of developing a course, 99% of it can be ready but we can't publish until that last 1% falls in to place. Early Access helps to unlock the potential of our content early, to help you start your learning when you need it most. You not only get access to every chapter as it's delivered, edited, and updated, but you'll also get the finalized, DRM-free product to download in any format you want when it's published. As a member of Packt, you'll also be eligible for our exclusive offers, including a free course every day, and discounts on new and popular titles.

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