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Shell Scripting Tutorial for DevOps

Shell scripting is the glue that holds DevOps together. From automating deployments to checking server health, every DevOps engineer needs to master bash scripting.

This guide is a step-by-step tutorial designed to take you from writing your first script to building complex automation tools.

🧭 Shell Scripting Learning Path

Follow this order for best results 👇

👉 Part 1: Basics & Error Handling

Start here to understand the foundation.

Topics covered: - What is a Shell Script? - Shebang (#!) and Permissions - Variables and Execution - Error Handling (set -e)

👉 Part 2: For Loops & Arrays

Learn how to iterate and manage data.

Topics covered: - for loops syntax - Iterating through numbers and files - Working with Arrays - Automating file creation/deletion

👉 Part 3: While Loops & Conditionals

Master logic and conditional execution.

Topics covered: - while loops and Infinite loops - if, else, elif conditions - Reading files line-by-line - Logic operators (-eq, -gt, ==, !=)

👉 Part 4: Functions & Automation

Structure your code for reusability.

Topics covered: - Writing Functions - Passing arguments to functions - Return values - Real-world example: User management automation

🎯 Why Learn Shell Scripting?

  1. Automation: Automate repetitive tasks like backups, logs cleaning, and deployments.
  2. OS Interaction: Interact directly with the Linux kernel and system resources.
  3. CI/CD Glue: Most CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitLab CI) rely heavily on shell scripts.
  4. Debugging: Quickly troubleshoot production issues on remote servers.

To become job-ready, combine Shell Scripting with:

🚀 Final Note

Shell scripting is a superpower. Start practicing today!

👉 Start Part 1: Basics

Happy Learning! 🚀

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