Bash Scripting 1-Hour Crash Course: Write Scripts Today!

Learn to set up a vpn server on Digital Ocean, install an ssh client, connect to the server, and write your script while exploring execution methods, variables, redirections, and pipes.

Provision a DigitalOcean vps by creating a droplet, selecting a $5/month server, retrieving its ip address, and noting the temporary root password.

Install an ssh client and connect to the server via a command line. Log in with the provided credentials, add profiles, and change the password to secure access.

Create a first script in vi named hello.sh that echoes hello world, make it executable with chmod +x, and run it with ./hello.sh after adding a shebang.

Declare and use bash variables by assigning values without spaces and printing with a dollar sign; compare script scope to interactive shell and variables defined in scripts disappear after execution.

Each script runs in a new shell process, and the variable $$ reveals its process id, while you learn how local variables differ from global ones and export affects scope.

Explore redirection and pipes in bash, redirecting standard output and standard error to files, managing file descriptors, and chaining commands with pipes to process data efficiently.

Practice writing your first Bash script through exercise questions on running scripts, using the shebang line, script naming with .sh, and basic variable assignments.

Discover automation with cron, exit statuses, and bash scripting using functions, positional arguments, user input, if and case commands, while until and for loops, and numerical operations.

Master cron scheduling to automate script execution, understanding system vs user cron, crontab usage, and the five time fields—minute, hour, day of month, month, and weekday—plus practical examples.

Explore bash exit status using the special $? variable, showing 0 for success and non-zero for failures with ls and echo; create scripts with custom exit codes like exit 55.

Define and call bash functions with the reserved word function, a name, and braces; invoke them by name and read the return status. Use tomorrow's date as an example.

Explains reading user input in bash with prompts and silent input, and using positional arguments and function arguments with $# , $1 , and $2 to print values.

Explore bash scripting control flow with if and case statements, using test conditions inside square brackets, then and else logic, and fi; learn argument handling and basic file checks.

Learn how to use loop constructs in Bash: while, until, and for loops, with practical counter example and simple echoes that print and increment values.

Learn bash numerical operations, including integer addition with $((A + B)) and integer division behavior. Explore modulus for remainders and using bc with -l for exponentiation and controlled decimal scale.

Explore practical bash scripting concepts through exercise questions on cron basics, exit statuses, functions, positional parameters, and conditional statements to test and reinforce scripting skills.

Install a Subversion server, create a central repository, and use a command-line Subversion client to import, commit, list, and export scripts from any server, enabling centralized version control and collaboration.

Learn to parse Apache access logs, extract the IP and date, and store entries in a MySQL database via a Bash script.

Highlight the power of shell scripting and provide a practical overview to get you started, while inviting feedback to shape an upcoming advanced scripting course.

Discover how to access course discounts and join the newsletter in this bonus lecture, enriching your bash scripting 1-hour crash course with practical enrollment perks.