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Introduction to Bash Script Automation

Hone your Bash scripting skills to help you automate repetitive tasks and boost productivity with this practical online course.

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Introduction to Bash Script Automation

  • 5 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

  • Duration

    5 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours
  • 100% online

    How it works
  • Unlimited subscription

    $244.99 for a whole yearLearn more

Gain a solid understanding of Bash shell scripting

Many organisations favour Bash scripts for executing shell commands and automating repetitive tasks. Therefore, Bash scripting skills are highly sought-after and can help you advance your automation career.

On this five-week course, you’ll learn Bash shell scripting in detail and understand how to apply the acquired skills confidently in the real world.

You’ll start with introductory topics and finish with a practical exercise of designing a simple digital clock and automating multiple server inventory using shell scripts.

Explore test command and arithmetic operators

You’ll become familiar with arithmetic and redirection operators and explore different commands, including test and grep.

Next, you’ll write a simple script to get to grips with using functions such as echo command, variables, strings, comments, and debugging.

Delve into arrays

You’ll explore more advanced topics such as conditional statements and loops before putting your knowledge into practice and demonstrating how to schedule jobs.

Then, you’ll gain an introduction to arrays and in particular, arrays of Bash shell scripting. With this knowledge, you’ll be able to use arrays as a tool to store multiple pieces of the same type of data.

Understand SED command

In order to master server management, you’ll learn how to log into the remote server from the local server using ssh. Within this, you’ll also learn how to use a shell script to execute commands on different servers.

Finally, you’ll explore SED (stream editor) to understand how to use it as a powerful tool to filter or transform text.

By the end of the course, you’ll have become well-versed in Bash shell scripting and developed the skills to automate repetitive tasks.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 1 second SPEAKER: Bash the limits, and set your sights on automation success with this five-week course in Bash Script automation. Learn from expert automation engineer Narendra Kumar Reddy Polu. Follow along as he demonstrates his expertise and helps you become a Bash boss. In this course, you will identify several different Bash commands, experiment writing basic shell script, explore arithmetic operators, use conditional statements, functions, and arrays, describe loops and loop control statements, and practise your skills throughout. Get started today, and learn from wherever and whenever you want. Step into your future with Introduction to Bash Script Automation from Packt and FutureLearn.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Basic steps to write shell script, redirection operators and commands

    • The word Welcome written in white text on a light pink background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Introduction to the course

      Welcome to Introduction to Bash Script Automation and the start of your learning journey, brought to you by Packt.

    • The word One written in white text on a light pink background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Setting up your environment and installing Ubuntu

      In this activity, we will explore setting up your environment to practice bash shell scripting and install Ubuntu on Windows 10.

    • The word Two written in white text on a light pink background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Writing shell script, general commands, configuring Gmail and Docker Installation

      In this activity, we will discuss the basic steps to write and execute a shell script. We will also learn about general commands, configuring Gmail and installing Docker on an Ubuntu server.

    • The word Three written in white text on a pink background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Redirection operators and commands to read file content

      In this activity, we will discuss redirection operators and commands to read the content of a file.

    • The word Four written in white text on a pink background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Grep command

      In this activity, we will discuss the basic and advanced usage of the grep command.

    • The word Five written in white text on a dark pink background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Cut command, AWK command and other useful commands

      In this activity, we will discuss the cut command, the AWK command as well as other simple, but useful commands for bash shell scripting.

    • The words Wrap up written in white text on a dark pink background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Wrap up

      You have reached the end of Week 1. In this activity, you'll reflect on what you have learned.

  • Week 2

    Basic shell scripting, string operations, commands and arithmetic operators

    • The word Welcome written in white text on a light Yellow background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Introduction to Week 2

      Welcome to Week 2. In this activity we'll highlight the main topics that will be covered this week.

    • The word One written in white text on a light Yellow background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Basics of shell scripting

      In this activity, we will discuss the echo command and variables.

    • The word Two written in white text on a light Yellow background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Here string, writing comments and debugging

      In this activity, we will discuss here string. You’ll also learn about writing comments and debugging bash shell script.

    • The word Three written in white text on a Yellow background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      String operations and input and output commands

      In this activity, we will discuss basic string operations as well as input and output commands for bash shell scripting.

    • The word Four written in white text on a Yellow background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Arithmetic operators, case statements, test commands and command chaining

      In this activity, we will discuss arithmetic operators, and the usage of case statements, test commands and command chaining.

    • The words Wrap up written in white text on a dark Yellow background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Wrap up

      You have reached the end of Week 2. In this activity, you'll reflect on what you have learned.

  • Week 3

    Conditional statements, scheduling jobs, arrays and loops

    • The word Welcome written in white text on a light Purple background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Introduction to Week 3

      Welcome to Week 3. In this activity we'll highlight the main topics that will be covered this week.

    • The word One written in white text on a light Purple background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Conditional statements

      In this activity, we will discuss simple if and if-else conditional statements. We’ll also explore verifying the user is root or not, starting Docker service and using logical AND, OR and NOT operators.

    • The word Two written in white text on a light Purple background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Old and new test commands, conditional statements and command line arguments

      In this activity, we will discuss the differences between old and new test commands. We’ll also explore conditional statements and command line arguments.

    • The word Three written in white text on a Purple background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Scheduling jobs

      In this activity, we will discuss scheduling jobs with at and crontab.

    • The word Four written in white text on a Purple background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      An introduction to arrays and loops

      In this activity, we will discuss arrays, associative arrays and loops.

    • The word Five written in white text on a dark Purple background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Loop control commands, statements, and for loop with arrays

      In this activity, we will discuss the difference between $@ and $*, loop control commands, or statements, as well as For loop with arrays.

    • The words Wrap up written in white text on a dark Purple background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Wrap up

      You have reached the end of Week 3. In this activity, you'll reflect on what you have learned.

  • Week 4

    Remote servers, loops, functions, printf command, and AWK command

    • The word Welcome written in white text on a light Red background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Introduction to Week 4

      Welcome to Week 4. In this activity we'll highlight the main topics that will be covered this week.

    • The word One written in white text on a light Red background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Working with remote servers

      In this activity, we will discuss working with remote servers.

    • The word Two written in white text on a light Red background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Loops, loop control statements, and functions

      In this activity, we will discuss loops, loop control statements, and functions.

    • The word Three written in white text on a Red background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Complete printf command and an introduction to the AWK command

      In this activity, we will discuss the printf command and start exploring the AWK command.

    • The word Four written in white text on a Red background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Defining variables, reading variable values and more about the AWK command

      In this activity, we will discuss defining variables, displaying variables, and executing multiple statements. You’ll also discover more about reading variable values and using the AWK command.

    • The words Wrap up written in white text on a dark Red background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Wrap up

      You have reached the end of Week 4. In this activity, you'll reflect on what you have learned.

  • Week 5

    Complete sed command and practical exercises

    • The word Welcome written in white text on a light Blue background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Introduction to Week 5

      Welcome to Week 5. In this activity we'll highlight the main topics that will be covered this week.

    • The word One written in white text on a light Blue background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Complete sed command

      In this activity, we will discuss complete sed command, viewing and searching file content as well as finding and replacing with sed command.

    • The word Two written in white text on a light Blue background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Sed command with regex

      In this activity, we will discuss sed command with regex, specifically deep-diving in regex with special characters.

    • The word Three written in white text on a Blue background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Practice exercises part 1

      In this activity, we will practice how to design a simple digital clock, how to automate server inventory and how to automate the inventories of multiple servers.

    • The word Four written in white text on a Blue background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Practice exercises part 2

      In this activity, we will practice how to monitor file system usage and how to automate the installation of required git versions.

    • The words Wrap up written in white text on a dark Blue background with a white stairs icon to the left.

      Final week wrap up

      You have reached the end of this course. In this activity, you will reflect on what you have learned.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

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Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Identify several different commands.
  • Experiment writing basic bash shell script.
  • Explore arithmetic operators.
  • Discuss conditional statements, functions and arrays.
  • Describe loops and loop control statements.
  • Practice the skills you learned in this course.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone interested in Bash shell scripting and developing key skills in automation.

Who developed the course?

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Packt

Founded in 2004 in Birmingham, UK, Packt’s mission is to help the world put software to work in new ways, through the delivery of effective learning and information services to IT professionals.

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FutureLearn

FutureLearn is a leading social learning platform and has been providing high quality online courses for learners around the world over the last ten years.

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  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$79/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 19 Mar 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

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Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

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