Linux Shell Scripting Tutorial

Linux Shell Scripting Tutorial Ver. 1.0

Written by Vivek G Gite

I N D EX
● In t ro d u ct io n
❍ Ke rn e l
❍ S h e ll
❍ Ho w t o u s e S h e ll
❍ Co m m o n Lin u x Co m m a n d In t ro d u ct io n
● Pro ce s s
❍ Wh y Pro ce s s re q u ire d
❍ Lin u x co m m a n d s re la t e d wit h p ro ce s s
● Re d ire ct io n o f S t a n d a rd o u t p u t / in p u t
❍ Re d ire ct o rs
❍ Pip e s
❍ Filt e rs
● S h e ll Pro g ra m m in g
❍ Va ria b le s in Lin u x
❍ Ho w t o d e fin e Us e r d e fin e d va ria b le s
❍ Ru le s fo r Na m in g va ria b le n a m e
❍ Ho w t o p rin t o r a cce s s va lu e o f UDV ( Us e r d e fin e d va ria b le s )
❍ Ho w t o writ e s h e ll s crip t
❍ Ho w t o Ru n S h e ll S crip t s
❍ Qu o t e s in S h e ll S crip t s

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Linux Shell Scripting Tutorial

❍ S h e ll Arit h m e t ic
❍ Co m m a n d Lin e Pro ce s s in g ( Co m m a n d Lin e Arg u m e n t s )
❍ Wh y Co m m a n d Lin e a rg u m e n t s re q u ire d
❍ Exit S t a t u s
❍ File n a m e S h o rt h a n d o r m e t a Ch a ra ct e rs ( i. e . wild ca rd s )
● Pro g ra m m in g Co m m a n d s
❍ e ch o co m m a n d
❍ De cis io n m a kin g in s h e ll s crip t ( i. e . if co m m a n d )
❍ t e s t co m m a n d o r [ e xp r ]
❍ Lo o p in s h e ll s crip t s
❍ Th e ca s e S t a t e m e n t
❍ Th e re a d S t a t e m e n t
● Mo re Ad va n ce d S h e ll S crip t Co m m a n d s
❍ / d e v/ n u ll - Us e t o s e n d u n wa n t e d o u t p u t o f p ro g ra m
❍ Lo ca l a n d Glo b a l S h e ll va ria b le ( e xp o rt co m m a n d )
❍ Co n d it io n a l e xe cu t io n i. e . && a n d | |
❍ I/ O Re d ire ct io n a n d file d e s crip t o rs
❍ Fu n ct io n s
❍ Us e r In t e rfa ce a n d d ia lo g u t ilit y
❍ t ra p co m m a n d
❍ g e t o p t s co m m a n d
❍ Mo re e xa m p le s o f S h e ll S crip t ( Exe rcis e fo r Yo u : - )
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 Linux Shell Script Tutorial

I n t ro d u c t io n
Th is t u t o ria l is d e s ig n e d fo r b e g in n e rs o n ly a n d Th is t u t o ria l e xp la in s t h e b a s ics o f
s h e ll p ro g ra m m in g b y s h o win g s o m e e xa m p le s o f s h e ll p ro g ra m s . It s n o t h e lp o r
m a n u a l fo r t h e s h e ll. Wh ile re a d in g t h is t u t o ria l yo u ca n fin d m a n u a l q u it e u s e fu l (
t yp e m a n b a s h a t $ p ro m p t t o s e e m a n u a l p a g e s ) . Ma n u a l co n t a in s a ll n e ce s s a ry
in fo rm a t io n yo u n e e d , b u t it wo n 't h a ve t h a t m u ch e xa m p le s , wh ich m a ke s id e a
m o re cle a r. Fo r t h a t re a s o n , t h is t u t o ria l co n t a in s e xa m p le s ra t h e r t h a n a ll t h e
fe a t u re s o f s h e ll. I a s s u m e s yo u h a ve a t le a s t wo rkin g kn o wle d g e o f Lin u x i. e . b a s ic
co m m a n d s like h o w t o cre a t e , co p y, re m o ve file s / d ire ct o rie s e t c o r h o w t o u s e
e d it o r like vi o r m ce d it a n d lo g in t o yo u r s ys t e m . Be fo re S t a rt in g Lin u x S h e ll S crip t
Pro g ra m m in g yo u m u s t kn o w
● Ke rn e l

● S h e ll

● Pro ce s s

● Re d ire ct o rs , Pip e s , Filt e rs e t c.

W h a t 's Ke rn e l
Ke rn e l is h a rt o f Lin u x O/ S . It m a n a g e s re s o u rce o f Lin u x O/ S . Re s o u rce s m e a n s
fa cilit ie s a va ila b le in Lin u x. Fo r e g . Fa cilit y t o s t o re d a t a , p rin t d a t a o n p rin t e r,
m e m o ry, file m a n a g e m e n t e t c . Ke rn e l d e cid e s wh o will u s e t h is re s o u rce , fo r h o w
lo n g a n d wh e n . It ru n s yo u r p ro g ra m s ( o r s e t u p t o e xe cu t e b in a ry file s ) It 's
Me m o ry re s id e n t p o rt io n o f Lin u x. It p e rfo rm a n ce fo llo win g t a s k : -
● I/ O m a n a g e m e n t

● Pro ce s s m a n a g e m e n t

● De vice m a n a g e m e n t

● File m a n a g e m e n t

● Me m o ry m a n a g e m e n t

W h a t 's Lin u x S h e ll
Co m p u t e r u n d e rs t a n d t h e la n g u a g e o f 0 's a n d 1 's ca lle d b in a ry la n g u a g e , In e a rly
d a ys o f co m p u t in g , in s t ru ct io n a re p ro vid e d u s in g b in a ry la n g u a g e , wh ich is d ifficu lt
fo r a ll o f u s , t o re a d a n d writ e . S o in O/ s t h e re is s p e cia l p ro g ra m ca lle d S h e ll. S h e ll
a cce p t s yo u r in s t ru ct io n o r co m m a n d s in En g lis h a n d t ra n s la t e it in t o co m p u t e rs
n a t ive b in a ry la n g u a g e .

Th is is wh a t S h e ll Do e s fo r US

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 Linux Shell Script Tutorial

Yo u t yp e Yo u r co m m a n d a n d s h e ll co n ve rt it a s

It 's e n viro n m e n t p ro vid e d fo r u s e r in t e ra ct io n . S h e ll is a n co m m a n d la n g u a g e

in t e rp re t e r t h a t e xe cu t e s co m m a n d s re a d fro m t h e s t a n d a rd in p u t d e vice
( ke yb o a rd ) o r fro m a file . Lin u x m a y u s e o n e o f t h e fo llo win g m o s t p o p u la r s h e lls
( In MS - DOS , S h e ll n a m e is COMMAND. COM wh ich is a ls o u s e d fo r s a m e p u rp o s e ,
b u t it 's n o t a s p o we rfu l a s o u r Lin u x S h e lls a re !)
Shell Name Developed by Where Remark
Most common shell in
BASH ( Bourne-Again Brian Fox and Chet Free Software
Linux. It's Freeware
SHell ) Ramey Foundation
shell.
The C shell's syntax and
University of California usage are very similar to
CSH (C SHell) Bill Joy
(For BSD) the C programming
language.
KSH (Korn SHell) David Korn AT & T Bell Labs

An y o f t h e a b o ve s h e ll re a d s co m m a n d fro m u s e r ( via Ke yb o a rd o r Mo u s e ) a n d t e lls

Lin u x O/ s wh a t u s e rs wa n t . If we a re g ivin g co m m a n d s fro m ke yb o a rd it is ca lle d
co m m a n d lin e in t e rfa ce ( Us u a lly in - fro n t o f $ p ro m p t , Th is p ro m p t is d e p e n d u p o n
yo u r s h e ll a n d En viro n m e n t t h a t yo u s e t o r b y yo u r S ys t e m Ad m in is t ra t o r,
t h e re fo re yo u m a y g e t d iffe re n t p ro m p t ) .
NOTE: To fin d yo u r s h e ll t yp e fo llo win g co m m a n d
$ e c h o $ S HELL

Ho w t o u s e S h e ll
To u s e s h e ll ( Yo u s t a rt t o u s e yo u r s h e ll a s s o o n a s yo u lo g in t o yo u r s ys t e m ) yo u
h a ve t o s im p ly t yp e co m m a n d s . Fo llo win g is t h e lis t o f co m m o n co m m a n d s .

Lin u x Co m m o n Co m m a n d s
NOTE t h a t fo llo win g co m m a n d s a re fo r Ne w u s e rs o r fo r Be g in n e rs o n ly. Th e
p u rp o s e is if yo u u s e t h is co m m a n d yo u will b e m o re fa m ilia r wit h yo u r s h e ll a n d
s e co n d ly, yo u n e e d s o m e o f t h e s e co m m a n d in yo u r S h e ll s crip t . If yo u wa n t t o g e t
m o re in fo rm a t io n o r h e lp fo r t h is co m m a n d t ry fo llo win g co m m a n d s Fo r e . g . To s e e
h e lp o r o p t io n s re la t e d wit h d a t e co m m a n d t ry
$ d a t e - - h e lp
o r To s e e h e lp o r o p t io n s re la t e d wit h ls co m m a n d ( He re yo u will s cre e n b y s cre e n
h e lp , s in ce h e lp o f ls co m m a n d is q u it e b ig t h a t ca n 't fit o n s in g le s cre e n )

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 Linux Shell Script Tutorial

$ ls - - h e lp | m o re
S yn t a x: co m m a n d - n a m e - - h e lp
S yn t a x: m a n co m m a n d - n a m e
S yn t a x: in fo co m m a n d - n a m e
S e e wh a t h a p p e n e d wh e n yo u t yp e fo llo win g
$ m a n ls
$ in fo b a s h
NOTE: In MS - DOS , yo u g e t h e lp b y u s in g / ? clu e o r b y t yp in g h e lp co m m a n d a s
C:\ > d ir / ?
C:\ > d a t e / ?
C:\ > h e lp t im e
C:\ > h e lp d a t e
C:\ > h e lp

Lin u x Co m m a n d
Example ( In front of $
For this Purpose Use this Command Syntax
Prompt)
To see date da te $ da te
To see who's using
wh o $ w ho
system.
Print working directory p wd $ pw d
List name of files in
ls o r d irs $ ls
current directory
To create text file $ c a t > m y file
NOTE: Press and hold ty pe y our te x t
CTRL key and press D to ca t > { file n a m e } w h e n d o n e p re s s
stop or to end file ^D
(CTRL+D)
To text see files ca t { file n a m e } $ cat m y file
To display file one full
m o re { file n a m e } $ m o re m y file
screen at a time
To m o ve o r re n a m e $ m v s a le s
mv {file1} {file2}
file / d ire ct o ry s a le s . 9 9
To create multiple file
copies with various link.
After this both oldfile ln {oldfile} {newfile} $ ln Page1 Book1
newfile refers to same
name
To remove file rm file1 $ rm m y file

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Linux Shell Script Tutorial

Remove all files in given

directory/subdirectory. rm -rf {dirname} $ rm -rf oldfiles
Use it very carefully.
To change file access $ chmod
permissions u+x,g+wx,o+x myscript
u - User who owns the NOTE: This command set
file permission for file called
g - Group file owner 'myscript' as User (Person
o - User classified as who creates that file or
other directory) has execute
a - All other system user chmod {u|g|o|a} {+|-} {r|w|x} {filename} permission (u+x) Group of
file owner can write to this
+ Set permission
file as well as execute this
- Remove permission
file (g+wx) Others can
only execute file but can
r - Read permission not modify it, Since we
w - Write permission have not given w (write
x - Execute permission permission) to them. (o+x).
Read your mail. mail $ m a il
To See more about
currently login person who am i $ w ho am i
(i..e. yourself)
$ lo g o u t
( No t e : It m a y a s k
y o u p a s s w o rd t y p e
y o u r lo g in p a s s w o rd ,
To login out logout (OR press CTRL+D)
In s o m e ca s e t h is
fe a t u re is d is a b le d b y
S yste m
Ad m in is t ra t o r)
Send mail to other person mail {user-name} $ m a il a s h is h
To count lines, words and
wc {file-name} $wc m y file
characters of given file
To searches file for line $ g re p fo x
grep {word-to-lookup} {filename}
that match a pattern. m y file
To sort file in following
order
-r Reverse normal order
sort -r -n -nr {filename} $ s o rt m y file
-n Sort in numeric order
-nr Sort in reverse
numeric order

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Linux Shell Script Tutorial

To print last | first line of

tail -|+ { linenumber } {filename} $ t a il + 5 m y file
given file
cm p { file 1 } { file 2 }
$ cm p m y file
To Use to compare files OR
m y file . o ld
d iff { file 1 } { file 2 }
To print file pr {file-name} $ pr m y file
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 Linux Shell Script Tutorial

W h a t is P ro c e s s e s
Pro ce s s is a n y kin d o f p ro g ra m o r t a s k ca rrie d o u t b y yo u r PC. Fo r e . g . $ ls - lR , is
co m m a n d o r a re q u e s t t o lis t file s in a d ire ct o ry a n d a ll s u b d ire ct o ry in yo u r cu rre n t
d ire ct o ry. It is a p ro ce s s . A p ro ce s s is p ro g ra m ( co m m a n d g ive n b y u s e r) t o
p e rfo rm s o m e Jo b . In Lin u x wh e n yo u s t a rt p ro ce s s , it g ive s a n u m b e r ( ca lle d PID
o r p ro ce s s - id ) , PID s t a rt s fro m 0 t o 6 5 5 3 5 .

W h y P ro c e s s re q u ire d
Lin u x is m u lt i- u s e r, m u lt it a s kin g o / s . It m e a n s yo u ca n ru n m o re t h a n t wo p ro ce s s
s im u lt a n e o u s ly if yo u wis h . Fo r e . g . . To fin d h o w m a n y file s d o yo u h a ve o n yo u r
s ys t e m yo u m a y g ive co m m a n d like
$ ls / - R | w c - l
Th is co m m a n d will t a ke lo t o f t im e t o s e a rch a ll file s o n yo u r s ys t e m . S o yo u ca n
ru n s u ch co m m a n d in Ba ckg ro u n d o r s im u lt a n e o u s ly b y g ivin g co m m a n d like
$ ls / - R | w c - l &
Th e a m p e rs a n d ( &) a t t h e e n d o f co m m a n d t e lls s h e lls s t a rt co m m a n d ( ls / - R | wc
- l) a n d ru n it in b a ckg ro u n d t a ke s n e xt co m m a n d im m e d ia t e ly. An in s t a n ce o f
ru n n in g co m m a n d is ca lle d p ro ce s s a n d t h e n u m b e r p rin t e d b y s h e ll is ca lle d
p ro ce s s - id ( PID) , t h is PID ca n b e u s e t o re fe r s p e cific ru n n in g p ro ce s s .

Lin u x Co m m a n d Re la t e d w it h P ro c e s s
Fo r t h is p u rp o s e Us e t h is Co m m a n d Exa m p le
To s e e cu rre n t ly ru n n in g
ps $ ps
p ro ce s s
To s t o p a n y p ro ce s s i. e . t o
kill { PID} $ k ill 1 0 1 2
kill p ro ce s s
To g e t in fo rm a t io n a b o u t a ll
ps -ag $ ps -ag
ru n n in g p ro ce s s
To s t o p a ll p ro ce s s e xce p t
kill 0 $ k ill 0
yo u r s h e ll
Fo r b a ckg ro u n d p ro ce s s in g
( Wit h &, u s e t o p u t p a rt icu la r
lin u x- co m m a n d & $ ls / - R | w c - l &
co m m a n d a n d p ro g ra m in
b a ckg ro u n d )
NOTE t h a t yo u ca n o n ly kill p ro ce s s wh ich a re cre a t e d b y yo u rs e lf. A Ad m in is t ra t o r
ca n a lm o s t kill 9 5 - 9 8 % p ro ce s s . Bu t s o m e p ro ce s s ca n n o t b e kille d , s u ch a s VDU
Pro ce s s .
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 Linux Shell Script Tutorial

Re d ire c t io n o f S t a n d a rd o u t p u t / in p u t o r I n p u t - Ou t p u t
re d ire c t io n
Mo s t ly a ll co m m a n d g ive s o u t p u t o n s cre e n o r t a ke in p u t fro m ke yb o a rd , b u t in
Lin u x it 's p o s s ib le t o s e n d o u t p u t t o file o r t o re a d in p u t fro m file . Fo r e . g . $ ls
co m m a n d g ive s o u t p u t t o s cre e n ; t o s e n d o u t p u t t o file o f ls g ive co m m a n d , $ ls
> file n a m e . It m e a n s p u t o u t p u t o f ls co m m a n d t o file n a m e . Th e re a re t h re e m a in
re d ire ct io n s ym b o ls > , > > , <

( 1 ) > Re d ire c t o r S y m b o l
S yn t a x: Lin u x - co m m a n d > file n a m e
To o u t p u t Lin u x- co m m a n d s re s u lt t o file . No t e t h a t If file a lre a d y e xis t , it will b e
o ve rwrit t e n e ls e n e w file is cre a t e d . Fo r e . g . To s e n d o u t p u t o f ls co m m a n d g ive
$ ls > m y file s
No w if 'm yfile s ' file e xis t in yo u r cu rre n t d ire ct o ry it will b e o ve rwrit t e n wit h o u t a n y
t yp e o f wa rn in g . ( Wh a t if I wa n t t o s e n d o u t p u t t o file , wh ich is a lre a d y e xis t a n d
wa n t t o ke e p in fo rm a t io n o f t h a t file wit h o u t lo o s in g p re vio u s in fo rm a t io n / d a t a ? ,
Fo r t h is Re a d n e xt re d ire ct o r)

( 2 ) > > Re d ire c t o r S y m b o l

S yn t a x: Lin u x - co m m a n d > > file n a m e
To o u t p u t Lin u x- co m m a n d s re s u lt t o END o f file . No t e t h a t If file e xis t , it will b e
o p e n e d a n d n e w in fo rm a t io n / d a t a will b e writ t e n t o END o f file , wit h o u t lo s in g
p re vio u s in fo rm a t io n / d a t a , An d if file is n o t e xis t , t h e n n e w file is cre a t e d . Fo r e . g .
To s e n d o u t p u t o f d a t e co m m a n d t o a lre a d y e xis t file g ive
$ d a t e > > m y file s

( 3 ) < Re d ire c t o r S y m b o l
S yn t a x: Lin u x - co m m a n d < file n a m e
To t a ke in p u t t o Lin u x- co m m a n d fro m file in s t e a d o f ke y- b o a rd . Fo r e . g . To t a ke
in p u t fo r ca t co m m a n d g ive
$ c a t < m y file s

P ip s
A p ip e is a wa y t o co n n e ct t h e o u t p u t o f o n e p ro g ra m t o t h e in p u t o f a n o t h e r
p ro g ra m wit h o u t a n y t e m p o ra ry file .

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 Linux Shell Script Tutorial

A p ip e is n o t h in g b u t a t e m p o ra ry s t o ra g e p la ce wh e re t h e o u t p u t o f o n e co m m a n d
is s t o re d a n d t h e n p a s s e d a s t h e in p u t fo r s e co n d co m m a n d . Pip e s a re u s e d t o ru n
m o re t h a n t wo co m m a n d s ( Mu lt ip le co m m a n d s ) fro m s a m e co m m a n d lin e .
S yn t a x: co m m a n d 1 | co m m a n d 2
Command using Pips Meaning or Use of Pipes
Here the output of ls command is given as input to
$ ls | more more command So that output is printed one screen
full page at a time
Here output of who command is given as input to
$ who | sort sort command So that it will print sorted list of
users
Here output of who command is given as input to
$ who | wc -l wc command So that it will number of user who
logon to system
Here output of ls command is given as input to wc
$ ls -l | wc -l command So that it will print number of files in
current directory.
Here output of who command is given as input to
grep command So that it will print if particular user
$ who | grep raju
name if he is logon or nothing is printed ( To see
for particular user logon)

Filt e r
If a Lin u x co m m a n d a cce p t s it s in p u t fro m t h e s t a n d a rd in p u t a n d p ro d u ce s it s
o u t p u t o n s t a n d a rd o u t p u t is kn o w a s a filt e r. A filt e r p e rfo rm s s o m e kin d o f
p ro ce s s o n t h e in p u t a n d g ive s o u t p u t . Fo r e . g . . S u p p o s e we h a ve file ca lle d
'h o t e l. t xt ' wit h 1 0 0 lin e s d a t a , An d fro m 'h o t e l. t xt ' we wo u ld like t o p rin t co n t a in s
fro m lin e n u m b e r 2 0 t o lin e n u m b e r 3 0 a n d s t o re t h is re s u lt t o file ca lle d 'h lis t ' t h e n
g ive co m m a n d
$ t a il + 2 0 < h o t e l. t x t | h e a d - n 3 0 > h lis t
He re h e a d is filt e r wh ich t a ke s it s in p u t fro m t a il co m m a n d ( t a il co m m a n d s t a rt
s e le ct in g fro m lin e n u m b e r 2 0 o f g ive n file i. e . h o t e l. t xt ) a n d p a s s e s t h is lin e s t o
in p u t t o h e a d , wh o s e o u t p u t is re d ire ct e d t o 'h lis t ' file .
© 1998-2000 FreeOS.com (I) Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.

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I n t ro d u c t io n t o S h e ll P ro g ra m m in g
S h e ll p ro g ra m is s e rie s o f Lin u x co m m a n d s . S h e ll s crip t is ju s t like b a t ch file is MS - DOS b u t h a ve
m o re p o we r t h a n t h e MS - DOS b a t ch file . S h e ll s crip t ca n t a ke in p u t fro m u s e r, file a n d o u t p u t t h e m
o n s cre e n . Us e fu l t o cre a t e o u r o wn co m m a n d s t h a t ca n s a ve o u r lo t s o f t im e a n d t o a u t o m a t e s o m e
t a s k o f d a y t o d a y life .

Va ria b le s in Lin u x
S o m e t im e s t o p ro ce s s o u r d a t a / in fo rm a t io n , it m u s t b e ke p t in co m p u t e rs RAM m e m o ry. RAM
m e m o ry is d ivid e d in t o s m a ll lo ca t io n s , a n d e a ch lo ca t io n h a d u n iq u e n u m b e r ca lle d m e m o ry
lo ca t io n / a d d re s s , wh ich is u s e d t o h o ld o u r d a t a . Pro g ra m m e r ca n g ive a u n iq u e n a m e t o t h is
m e m o ry lo ca t io n / a d d re s s ca lle d m e m o ry va ria b le o r va ria b le ( It s a n a m e d s t o ra g e lo ca t io n t h a t m a y
t a ke d iffe re n t va lu e s , b u t o n ly o n e a t a t im e ) . In Lin u x, t h e re a re t wo t yp e s o f va ria b le
1 ) S y s t e m v a ria b le s - Cre a t e d a n d m a in t a in e d b y Lin u x it s e lf. Th is t yp e o f va ria b le d e fin e d in
CAPITAL LETTERS .
2 ) Us e r d e fin e d v a ria b le s ( UD V) - Cre a t e d a n d m a in t a in e d b y u s e r. Th is t yp e o f va ria b le d e fin e d
in lo we r LETTERS .

S o m e S y s t e m v a ria b le s
Yo u ca n s e e s ys t e m va ria b le s b y g ivin g co m m a n d like $ s e t , S o m e o f t h e im p o rt a n t S ys t e m
va ria b le s a re
System Variable Meaning
BASH=/bin/bash Our shell name
BASH_VERSION=1.14.7(1) Our shell version name
COLUMNS=80 No. of columns for our screen
HOME=/home/vivek Our home directory
LINES=25 No. of columns for our screen
LOGNAME=students Our logging name
OSTYPE=Linux Our o/s type : -)
PATH=/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin Our path settings
PS1=[\u@\h \W]\$ Our prompt settings
PWD=/home/students/Common Our current working directory
SHELL=/bin/bash Our shell name
USERNAME=vivek User name who is currently login to this PC

NOTE t h a t S o m e o f t h e a b o ve s e t t in g s ca n b e d iffe re n t in yo u r PC. Yo u ca n p rin t a n y o f t h e a b o ve

va ria b le s co n t a in a s fo llo ws
$ e c h o $ US ERN AME
$ e c h o $ HOME
Ca u t io n : Do n o t m o d ify S ys t e m va ria b le t h is ca n s o m e t im e cre a t e p ro b le m s .

Ho w t o d e fin e Us e r d e fin e d v a ria b le s ( UD V)

To d e fin e UDV u s e fo llo win g s yn t a x
S yn t a x: v a ria b le n a m e = v a lu e
NOTE: He re 'va lu e ' is a s s ig n e d t o g ive n 'va ria b le n a m e ' a n d Va lu e m u s t b e o n rig h t s id e = s ig n Fo r
e .g.
$ no= 1 0 # t h is is o k
$ 1 0 = no # Erro r, NOT Ok, Va lu e m u s t b e o n rig h t s id e o f = s ig n .
To d e fin e va ria b le ca lle d 've ch ' h a vin g va lu e Bu s

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$ v e c h = Bu s
To d e fin e va ria b le ca lle d n h a vin g va lu e 1 0
$ n= 1 0

Ru le s fo r N a m in g v a ria b le n a m e ( Bo t h UD V a n d S y s t e m Va ria b le )
( 1 ) Va ria b le n a m e m u s t b e g in wit h Alp h a n u m e ric ch a ra ct e r o r u n d e rs co re ch a ra ct e r ( _ ) , fo llo we d b y
o n e o r m o re Alp h a n u m e ric ch a ra ct e r. Fo r e . g . Va lid s h e ll va ria b le a re a s fo llo ws
HOME
S YS TEM_ VERS ION
ve ch
no

( 2 ) Do n 't p u t s p a ce s o n e it h e r s id e o f t h e e q u a l s ig n wh e n a s s ig n in g va lu e t o va ria b le . Fo r e . g . . In
fo llo win g va ria b le d e cla ra t io n t h e re will b e n o e rro r
$ no= 1 0
Bu t h e re t h e re will b e p ro b le m fo r fo llo win g
$ no = 10
$ no= 10
$ no = 10

( 3 ) Va ria b le s a re ca s e - s e n s it ive , ju s t like file n a m e in Lin u x. Fo r e . g .

$ no= 1 0
$ No = 1 1
$ N O= 2 0
$ n O= 2
Ab o ve a ll a re d iffe re n t va ria b le n a m e , s o t o p rin t va lu e 2 0 we h a ve t o u s e $ e c h o $ N O a n d No t a n y
o f t h e fo llo win g
$ e cho $ no # will p rin t 1 0 b u t n o t 2 0
$ e cho $ No # will p rin t 1 1 b u t n o t 2 0
$ e cho $ nO # will p rin t 2 b u t n o t 2 0

( 4 ) Yo u ca n d e fin e NULL va ria b le a s fo llo ws ( NULL va ria b le is va ria b le wh ich h a s n o va lu e a t t h e t im e

o f d e fin it io n ) Fo r e . g .
$ ve ch=
$ v e c h = ""
Try t o p rin t it 's va lu e $ e c h o $ v e c h , He re n o t h in g will b e s h o wn b e ca u s e va ria b le h a s n o va lu e i. e .
NULL va ria b le .

( 5 ) Do n o t u s e ? , * e t c, t o n a m e yo u r va ria b le n a m e s .

Ho w t o p rin t o r a c c e s s v a lu e o f UD V ( Us e r d e fin e d v a ria b le s )

To p rin t o r a cce s s UDV u s e fo llo win g s yn t a x
S yn t a x: $ v a ria b le n a m e
Fo r e g . To p rin t co n t a in s o f va ria b le 've ch '
$ e cho $ ve ch
It will p rin t 'Bu s ' ( if p re vio u s ly d e fin e d a s ve ch = Bu s ) , To p rin t co n t a in s o f va ria b le 'n ' $ e c h o $ n
It will p rin t '1 0 ' ( if p re vio u s ly d e fin e d a s n = 1 0 )
Ca u t io n : Do n o t t ry $ e c h o v e c h It will p rin t ve ch in s t e a d it s va lu e 'Bu s ' a n d $ e ch o n , It will p rin t
n in s t e a d it s va lu e '1 0 ', Yo u m u s t u s e $ fo llo we d b y va ria b le n a m e .

Q. 1 . Ho w t o De fin e va ria b le x wit h va lu e 1 0 a n d p rin t it o n s cre e n

$ x= 10
$ e cho $ x

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Q. 2 . Ho w t o De fin e va ria b le xn wit h va lu e Ra n i a n d p rin t it o n s cre e n

$ x n = Ra n i
$ e cho $ xn

Q. 3 . Ho w t o p rin t s u m o f t wo n u m b e rs , le t 's s a y 6 a n d 3
$ e cho 6 + 3
Th is will p rin t 6 + 3 , n o t t h e s u m 9 , To d o s u m o r m a t h o p e ra t io n s in s h e ll u s e e xp r, s yn t a x is a s
fo llo ws S yn t a x: e x p r o p 1 o p e ra t o r o p 2
Wh e re , o p 1 a n d o p 2 a re a n y In t e g e r Nu m b e r ( Nu m b e r wit h o u t d e cim a l p o in t ) a n d o p e ra t o r ca n b e
+ Ad d it io n
- S u b t ra ct io n
/ Divis io n
% Mo d u la r, t o fin d re m a in d e r Fo r e . g . 2 0 / 3 = 6 , t o fin d re m a in d e r 2 0 % 3 = 2 , ( Re m e m b e r it s
in t e g e r ca lcu la t io n )
\ * Mu lt ip lica t io n
$ e xpr 6 + 3
No w It will p rin t s u m a s 9 , Bu t
$ e xpr 6 + 3
will n o t wo rk b e ca u s e s p a ce is re q u ire d b e t we e n n u m b e r a n d o p e ra t o r ( S e e S h e ll Arit h m e t ic)

Q. 4 . Ho w t o d e fin e t wo va ria b le x= 2 0 , y= 5 a n d t h e n t o p rin t d ivis io n o f x a n d y ( i. e . x/ y)

$x= 20
$ y= 5
$ e xpr x / y

Q. 5 . Mo d ify a b o ve a n d s t o re d ivis io n o f x a n d y t o va ria b le ca lle d z

$ x= 20
$ y= 5
$ z= ` e xpr x / y`
$ e cho $ z
No t e : Fo r t h ird s t a t e m e n t , re a d S h e ll Arit h m e t ic.

Ho w t o w rit e s h e ll s c rip t
No w we writ e o u r firs t s crip t t h a t will p rin t "Kn o wle d g e is Po we r" o n s cre e n . To writ e s h e ll s crip t yo u
ca n u s e in o f t h e Lin u x's t e xt e d it o r s u ch a s vi o r m ce d it o r e ve n yo u ca n u s e ca t co m m a n d . He re we
a re u s in g ca t co m m a n d yo u ca n u s e a n y o f t h e a b o ve t e xt e d it o r. Firs t t yp e fo llo win g ca t co m m a n d
a n d re s t o f t e xt a s it s

$ c a t > firs t
#
# My firs t s h e ll s c rip t
#
c le a r
e c h o "Kn o w le d g e is P o w e r"

Pre s s Ct rl + D t o s a ve . No w o u r s crip t is re a d y. To e xe cu t e it t yp e co m m a n d
$ . / firs t
Th is will g ive e rro r s in ce we h a ve n o t s e t Exe cu t e p e rm is s io n fo r o u r s crip t firs t ; t o d o t h is t yp e
co m m a n d
$ c h m o d + x firs t
$ . / firs t
Firs t s cre e n will b e cle a r, t h e n Kn o wle d g e is Po we r is p rin t e d o n s cre e n . To p rin t m e s s a g e o f
va ria b le s co n t a in s we u s e r e ch o co m m a n d , g e n e ra l fo rm o f e ch o co m m a n d is a s fo llo ws
e ch o "Me s s a g e "
e ch o "Me s s a g e v a ria b le 1 , v a ria b le 2 . . . . v a ria b le N"

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Ho w t o Ru n S h e ll S c rip t s
Be ca u s e o f s e cu rit y o f file s , in Lin u x, t h e cre a t o r o f S h e ll S crip t d o e s n o t g e t e xe cu t io n p e rm is s io n b y
d e fa u lt . S o if we wis h t o ru n s h e ll s crip t we h a ve t o d o t wo t h in g s a s fo llo ws
( 1 ) Us e ch m o d co m m a n d a s fo llo ws t o g ive e xe cu t io n p e rm is s io n t o o u r s crip t
S yn t a x: ch m o d +x s h e ll- s crip t - n a m e
OR S yn t a x: ch m o d 777 s h e ll- s crip t - n a m e
( 2 ) Ru n o u r s crip t a s
S yn t a x: . / y o u r- s h e ll- p ro g ra m - n a m e
Fo r e . g .
$ . / firs t
He re '. '( d o t ) is co m m a n d , a n d u s e d in co n ju n ct io n wit h s h e ll s crip t . Th e d o t ( . ) in d ica t e s t o cu rre n t
s h e ll t h a t t h e co m m a n d fo llo win g t h e d o t ( . ) h a s t o b e e xe cu t e d in t h e s a m e s h e ll i. e . wit h o u t t h e
lo a d in g o f a n o t h e r s h e ll in m e m o ry. Or yo u ca n a ls o t ry fo llo win g s yn t a x t o ru n S h e ll S crip t
S yn t a x: b a s h &n b s h ; &n b s h ; y o u r- s h e ll- p ro g ra m - n a m e
OR / b in / s h &n b s h ; &n b s h ; y o u r- s h e ll- p ro g ra m - n a m e
Fo r e . g .
$ b a s h firs t
$ / b in / s h firs t
No t e t h a t t o ru n s crip t , yo u n e e d t o h a ve in s a m e d ire ct o ry wh e re yo u cre a t e d yo u r s crip t , if yo u a re
in d iffe re n t d ire ct o ry yo u r s crip t will n o t ru n ( b e ca u s e o f p a t h s e t t in g s ) , Fo r e g . Yo u r h o m e d ire ct o ry
is ( u s e $ p wd t o s e e cu rre n t wo rkin g d ire ct o ry) / h o m e / vive k. Th e n yo u cre a t e d o n e s crip t ca lle d
'firs t ', a ft e r cre a t io n o f t h is s crip t yo u m o ve d t o s o m e o t h e r d ire ct o ry le t s s a y
/ h o m e / vive k/ Le t t e rs / Pe rs o n a l, No w if yo u t ry t o e xe cu t e yo u r s crip t it will n o t ru n , s in ce s crip t 'firs t '
is in / h o m e / vive k d ire ct o ry, t o Ove rco m e t h is p ro b le m t h e re a re t wo wa ys Firs t , s p e cify co m p le t e
p a t h o f yo u r s crip t wh e n e ve r yo u wa n t t o ru n it fro m o t h e r d ire ct o rie s like g ivin g fo llo win g
co m m a n d
$ / b in / s h / h o m e / v iv e k / firs t

No w e ve ry t im e yo u h a ve t o g ive a ll t h is d e t a ile d a s yo u wo rk in o t h e r d ire ct o ry, t h is t a ke t im e a n d

yo u h a ve t o re m e m b e r co m p le t e p a t h . Th e re is a n o t h e r wa y, if yo u n o t ice t h a t a ll o f o u r p ro g ra m s
( in fo rm o f e xe cu t a b le file s ) a re m a rke d a s e xe cu t a b le a n d ca n b e d ire ct ly e xe cu t e d fro m p ro m p t
fro m a n y d ire ct o ry ( To s e e e xe cu t a b le s o f o u r n o rm a l p ro g ra m g ive co m m a n d $ ls - l / b in o r ls - l
/ u s r/ b in ) b y t yp in g co m m a n d like
$ bc
$ c c m y p rg . c
$ cal
e t c, Ho w t h is h a p p e d ? All o u r e xe cu t a b le s file s a re in s t a lle d in d ire ct o ry ca lle d / b in a n d / b in d ire ct o ry
is s e t in yo u r PATH s e t t in g , No w wh e n yo u t yp e n a m e o f a n y co m m a n d a t $ p ro m p t , wh a t s h e ll d o is
it firs t lo o k t h a t co m m a n d in it s in t e rn a l p a rt ( ca lle d a s in t e rn a l co m m a n d , wh ich is p a rt o f S h e ll
it s e lf, a n d a lwa ys a va ila b le t o e xe cu t e , s in ce t h e y d o n o t n e e d e xt ra e xe cu t a b le file ) , if fo u n d a s
in t e rn a l co m m a n d s h e ll will e xe cu t e it , If n o t fo u n d It will lo o k fo r cu rre n t d ire ct o ry, if fo u n d s h e ll
will e xe cu t e co m m a n d fro m cu rre n t d ire ct o ry, if n o t fo u n d , t h e n S h e ll will Lo o k PATH s e t t in g , a n d t ry
t o fin d o u r re q u e s t e d co m m a n d s e xe cu t a b le file in a ll o f t h e d ire ct o rie s m e n t io n e d in PATH s e t t in g s ,
if fo u n d it will e xe cu t e it , o t h e rwis e it will g ive m e s s a g e "b a s h : xxxx : co m m a n d n o t fo u n d ", S t ill
t h e re is o n e q u e s t io n re m a in ca n I ru n m y s h e ll s crip t s a m e a s t h e s e e xe cu t a b le s . Ye s yo u ca n , fo r

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t h is p u rp o s e cre a t e b in d ire ct o ry in yo u r h o m e d ire ct o ry a n d t h e n co p y yo u r t e s t e d ve rs io n o f s h e ll

s crip t t o t h is b in d ire ct o ry. Aft e r t h is yo u ca n ru n yo u s crip t a s e xe cu t a b le file wit h o u t u s in g $ . / s h e ll
s crip t - n a m e s yn t a x, Fo llo win g a re s t e p s
$ cd
$ m k d ir b in
$ c p firs t ~ / b in
$ firs t
Ea ch o f a b o ve co m m a n d Exp la n a t io n
Each of above command Explanation
$ cd Go to your home directory
Now created bin directory, to install your own shell
$ mkdir bin script, so that script can be run as independent
program or can be accessed from any directory
$ cp first ~/bin copy your script 'first' to your bin directory
$ first Test whether script is running or not (It will run)

In s h e ll s crip t co m m e n t is g ive n wit h # ch a ra ct e r. Th is co m m e n t s a re ig n o re d b y yo u r s h e ll.

Co m m e n t s a re u s e d t o in d ica t e u s e o f s crip t o r p e rs o n wh o cre a t e s / m a in t a in e d s crip t , o r fo r s o m e
p ro g ra m m in g e xp la n a t io n e t c. Re m e m b e r a lwa ys s e t Ex e cu t e p e rm is s io n fo r y o u s crip t .

Co m m a n d s Re la t e d w it h S h e ll P ro g ra m m in g
( 1 ) e ch o [o p t io n s ] [s t rin g , v a ria b le s . . . ]
Dis p la ys t e xt o r va ria b le s va lu e o n s cre e n .
Op t io n s
- n Do n o t o u t p u t t h e t ra ilin g n e w lin e .
- e En a b le in t e rp re t a t io n o f t h e fo llo win g b a cks la s h e s ca p e d ch a ra ct e rs in t h e s t rin g s :
\ a a le rt ( b e ll)
\ b b a cks p a ce
\ c s u p p re s s t ra ilin g n e w lin e
\ n n e w lin e
\ r ca rria g e re t u rn
\ t h o rizo n t a l t a b
\ \ b a cks la s h
Fo r e g . $ e c h o - e "An a p p le a d a y k e e p s a w a y \ a \ t \ t d o c t o r\ n "

( 2 ) Mo re a b o u t Qu o t e s
Th e re a re t h re e t yp e s o f q u o t e s
" i. e . Do u b le Qu o t e s
' i. e . S in g le q u o t e s
` i. e . Ba ck q u o t e
1 . "Do u b le Qu o t e s " - An yt h in g e n clo s e in d o u b le q u o t e s re m o ve d m e a n in g o f t h a t ch a ra ct e rs ( e xce p t
\ and $).
2 . 'S in g le q u o t e s ' - En clo s e d in s in g le q u o t e s re m a in s u n ch a n g e d .
3 . ` Ba ck q u o t e ` - To e xe cu t e co m m a n d .
Fo r e g .
$ e c h o "To d a y is d a t e "
Ca n 't p rin t m e s s a g e wit h t o d a y's d a t e .
$ e c h o "To d a y is ` d a t e ` ".
No w it will p rin t t o d a y's d a t e a s , To d a y is Tu e Ja n . . . . , S e e t h e ` d a t e ` s t a t e m e n t u s e s b a ck q u o t e ,
( S e e a ls o S h e ll Arit h m e t ic NOTE) .

( 3 ) S h e ll Arit h m e t ic

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Us e t o p e rfo rm a rit h m e t ic o p e ra t io n s Fo r e . g .
$ e xpr 1 + 3
$ e xpr 2 - 1
$ e xpr 1 0 / 2
$ e x p r 2 0 % 3 # re m a in d e r re a d a s 2 0 m o d 3 a n d re m a in d e r is 2 )
$ e x p r 1 0 \ * 3 # Mu lt ip lic a t io n u s e \ * n o t * s in c e it s w ild c a rd )
$ e cho ` e xpr 6 + 3 `
Fo r t h e la s t s t a t e m e n t n o t t h e fo llo win g p o in t s
1 ) Firs t , b e fo re e xp r ke ywo rd we u s e d ` ( b a ck q u o t e ) s ig n n o t t h e ( s in g le q u o t e i. e . ') s ig n . Ba ck
q u o t e is g e n e ra lly fo u n d o n t h e ke y u n d e r t ild e ( ~ ) o n PC ke yb o a rd s OR To t h e a b o ve o f TAB ke y.
2 ) S e co n d , e xp r is a ls o e n d wit h ` i. e . b a ck q u o t e .
3 ) He re e xp r 6 + 3 is e va lu a t e d t o 9 , t h e n e ch o co m m a n d p rin t s 9 a s s u m
4 ) He re if yo u u s e d o u b le q u o t e o r s in g le q u o t e , it will NOT wo rk, Fo r e g .
$ e c h o "e x p r 6 + 3 " # It will p rin t e xp r 6 + 3
$ e c h o 'e x p r 6 + 3 '

Co m m a n d Lin e P ro c e s s in g
No w t ry fo llo win g co m m a n d ( a s s u m e s t h a t t h e file "g ra t e _ s t o rie s _ o f" is n o t e xis t o n yo u r d is k)
$ ls g ra t e _ s t o rie s _ o f
It will p rin t m e s s a g e s o m e t h in g like -
g ra t e _ s t o rie s _ o f: No s u ch file o r d ire ct o ry
We ll a s it t u rn s o u t ls wa s t h e n a m e o f a n a ct u a l co m m a n d a n d s h e ll e xe cu t e d t h is co m m a n d wh e n
g ive n t h e co m m a n d . No w it cre a t e s o n e q u e s t io n Wh a t a re co m m a n d s ? Wh a t h a p p e n e d wh e n yo u
t yp e $ ls g ra t e _ s t o rie s _ o f? Th e firs t wo rd o n co m m a n d lin e , ls , is n a m e o f t h e co m m a n d t o b e
e xe cu t e d . Eve ryt h in g e ls e o n co m m a n d lin e is t a ke n a s a rg u m e n t s t o t h is co m m a n d . Fo r e g .
$ t a il + 1 0 m y f
He re t h e n a m e o f co m m a n d is t a il, a n d t h e a rg u m e n t s a re + 1 0 a n d m yf.
No w t ry t o d e t e rm in e co m m a n d a n d a rg u m e n t s fro m fo llo win g co m m a n d s :
$ ls fo o
$ cp y y .ba k
$ mv y .ba k y .o ka y
$ t a il - 1 0 m yf
$ m a il ra j
$ s o rt -r -n m yf
$ da te
$ c le a r
Command No. of argument to this command Actual Argument
ls 1 foo
cp 2 y and y.bak
mv 2 y.bak and y.okay
tail 2 -10 and myf
mail 1 raj
sort 3 -r, -n, and myf
date 0
clear 0

NOTE: $ # h o ld s n u m b e r o f a rg u m e n t s s p e cifie d o n co m m a n d lin e . a n d $ * o r $ @ re fe r t o a ll

a rg u m e n t s in p a s s e d t o s crip t . No w t o o b t a in t o t a l n o . o f Arg u m e n t t o p a rt icu la r s crip t , yo u r $ #
va ria b le .

W h y Co m m a n d Lin e a rg u m e n t s re q u ire d

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Le t 's t a ke rm co m m a n d , wh ich is u s e d t o re m o ve file , Bu t wh ich file yo u wa n t t o re m o ve a n d h o w

yo u will yo u t a il t h is t o rm co m m a n d ( Eve n rm co m m a n d d o e s n o t a s k yo u n a m e o f file t h a t wo u ld
like t o re m o ve ) . S o wh a t we d o is we writ e a s co m m a n d a s fo llo ws
$ rm { file - n a m e }
He re rm is co m m a n d a n d file - n a m e is file wh ich yo u wo u ld like t o re m o ve . Th is wa y yo u t a il t o rm
co m m a n d wh ich file yo u wo u ld like t o re m o ve . S o we a re d o in g o n e wa y co m m u n ica t io n wit h o u r
co m m a n d b y s p e cifyin g file - n a m e . Als o yo u ca n p a s s co m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t s t o yo u r s crip t t o
m a ke it m o re u s e rs frie n d ly. Bu t h o w we a d d re s s o r a cce s s co m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t in o u r s crip t .
Le t s t a ke ls co m m a n d
$ ls - a / *
Th is co m m a n d h a s 2 co m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t - a a n d / * is a n o t h e r. Fo r s h e ll s crip t ,
$ m y s h e ll fo o b a r

S h e ll S crip t n a m e i. e . m ys h e ll

Firs t co m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t p a s s e d t o m ys h e ll i. e . fo o

S e co n d co m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t p a s s e d t o m ys h e ll i. e . b a r

In s h e ll if we wis h t o re fe r t h is co m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t we re fe r a b o ve a s fo llo ws

m ys h e ll it is $ 0

fo o it is $ 1

b a r it is $ 2

He re $ # will b e 2 ( S in ce fo o a n d b a r o n ly t wo Arg u m e n t s ) , Ple a s e n o t e At a t im e s u ch 9 a rg u m e n t s

ca n b e u s e d fro m $ 0 . . $ 9 , Yo u ca n a ls o re fe r a ll o f t h e m b y u s in g $ * ( wh ich e xp a n d t o
` $ 0 , $ 1 , $ 2 . . . $ 9 ` ) No w t ry t o writ e fo llo win g fo r co m m a n d s , S h e ll S crip t Na m e ( $ 0 ) , No . o f
Arg u m e n t s ( i. e . $ # ) , An d a ct u a l a rg u m e n t ( i. e . $ 1 , $ 2 e t c)
$ s um 1 1 2 0
$ m a th 4 - 7
$ d
$ bp -5 m yf + 2 0
$ ls *
$ cal
$ fin d BS 4 8 2 4 BI G
Shell Script Name No. Of Arguments to script Actual Argument ($1,..$9)
$0 $# $0 $1 $2 $3 $4
sum 2 11 20
math 3 4 - 7
d 0

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bp 3 -5 myf +20
ls 1 *
cal 0
findBS 4 4 8 24 BIG
Fo r e . g . n o w will writ e s crip t t o p rin t co m m a n d lin g a rg u m e n t a n d we will s e e h o w t o a cce s s t h e m
$ cat > de m o
# !/ b in / s h
#
# S c rip t t h a t d e m o s , c o m m a n d lin e a rg s
#
e c h o "To t a l n u m b e r o f c o m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t a re $ # "
e c h o "$ 0 is s c rip t n a m e "
e c h o "$ 1 is firs t a rg u m e n t "
e c h o $ 2 is s e c o n d a rg u m e n t "
e c h o "All o f t h e m a re :- $ * "

S a ve t h e a b o ve s crip t b y p re s s in g ct rl+ d , n o w m a ke it e xe cu t a b le
$ chm o d + x de m o
$ . / d e m o He llo W o rld
$ c p d e m o ~ / b in
$ de m o
No t e : Aft e r t h is , Fo r a n y s crip t yo u h a ve t o u s e d a b o ve co m m a n d , in s e q u e n ce , I a m n o t g o in g t o
s h o w yo u a ll o f t h e a b o ve .

( 5 ) Ex it S t a t u s
By d e fa u lt in Lin u x if p a rt icu la r co m m a n d is e xe cu t e d , it re t u rn t wo t yp e o f va lu e s , ( Va lu e s a re u s e d
t o s e e wh e t h e r co m m a n d is s u cce s s fu l o r n o t ) if re t u rn va lu e is ze ro ( 0 ) , co m m a n d is s u cce s s fu l, if
re t u rn va lu e is n o n ze ro ( > 0 ) , co m m a n d is n o t s u cce s s fu l o r s o m e s o rt o f e rro r e xe cu t in g
co m m a n d / s h e ll s crip t . Th is va lu e is kn o w a s Exit S t a t u s o f t h a t co m m a n d . To d e t e rm in e t h is e xit
S t a t u s we u s e $ ? va ria b le o f s h e ll. Fo r e g .
$ rm u n k n o w 1 file
It will s h o w e rro r a s fo llo ws
rm : ca n n o t re m o ve ` u n ko wm 1 file ': No s u ch file o r d ire ct o ry
a n d a ft e r t h a t if yo u g ive co m m a n d $ e c h o $ ?
it will p rin t n o n ze ro va lu e ( > 0 ) t o in d ica t e e rro r. No w g ive co m m a n d
$ ls
$ e cho $ ?
It will p rin t 0 t o in d ica t e co m m a n d is s u cce s s fu l. Try t h e fo llo win g co m m a n d s a n d n o t d o wn t h e re
e xit s t a t u s
$ e xpr 1 + 3
$ e cho $ ?

$ e c h o W e lc o m e
$ e cho $ ?

$ w ild w e s t c a n w o rk ?
$ e cho $ ?

$ da te
$ e cho $ ?

$ e chon $ ?

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$ e cho $ ?

( 6 ) if- t h e n - fi fo r d e cis io n m a k in g is s h e ll s crip t Be fo re m a kin g a n y d e cis io n in S h e ll s crip t yo u m u s t

kn o w fo llo win g t h in g s Typ e b c a t $ p ro m p t t o s t a rt Lin u x ca lcu la t o r p ro g ra m
$ bc
Aft e r t h is co m m a n d b c is s t a rt e d a n d wa it in g fo r yo u co m m a n d s , i. e . g ive it s o m e ca lcu la t io n a s
fo llo ws t yp e 5 + 2 a s
5 + 2
7
7 is re s p o n s e o f b c i. e . a d d it io n o f 5 + 2 yo u ca n e ve n t ry
5 - 2
5 / 2
No w wh a t h a p p e n e d if yo u t yp e 5 > 2 a s fo llo ws
5 > 2
0
0 ( Ze ro ) is re s p o n s e o f b c, Ho w? He re it co m p a re 5 wit h 2 a s , Is 5 is g re a t e r t h e n 2 , ( If I a s k s a m e
q u e s t io n t o yo u , yo u r a n s we r will b e YES ) In Lin u x ( b c) g ive s t h is 'YES ' a n s we r b y s h o win g 0 ( Ze ro )
va lu e . It m e a n s wh e n e ve r t h e re is a n y t yp e o f co m p a ris o n in Lin u x S h e ll It g ive s o n ly t wo a n s we r
o n e is YES a n d NO is o t h e r.
Linux Shell
Meaning Example
Value
Zero Value (0) Yes/True 0
-1, 32, 55
NON-ZERO
No/False anything but not
Value (> 0)
zero

Try fo llo win g in b c t o cle a r yo u r Id e a a n d n o t d o wn b c's re s p o n s e

5 > 12
5 = = 10
5 != 2
5 == 5
12 < 2
BC's Response (i.e. Linux Shell
Expression Meaning to us Your Answer representation in zero & non-zero
value)
5 > 12 Is 5 greater than 12 NO 0
5 == 10 Is 5 is equal to 10 NO 0
5 != 2 Is 5 is NOT equal to 2 YES 1
5 == 5 Is 5 is equal to 5 YES 1
1<2 Is 1 is less than 2 Yes 1
No w will s e e , if co n d it io n wh ich is u s e d fo r d e cis io n m a kin g in s h e ll s crip t , If g ive n co n d it io n is t ru e
t h e n co m m a n d 1 is e xe cu t e d .
S yn t a x:
if co n d it io n
the n
co m m a n d 1 if co n d it io n is t ru e o r if e x it s t a t u s
o f co n d it io n is 0 ( z e ro )
...
...

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fi
He re co n d it io n is n o t h in g b u t co m p a ris o n b e t we e n t wo va lu e s , fo r co m p re s s io n we ca n u s e t e s t o r [
e xp r ] s t a t e m e n t s o r e ve n e xis t s t a t u s ca n b e a ls o u s e d . An e x p re s s io n is n o t h in g b u t co m b in a t io n o f
va lu e s , re la t io n a l o p e ra t o r ( s u ch a s > , < , < > e t c) a n d m a t h e m a t ica l o p e ra t o rs ( s u ch a s + , - , / e t c ) .
Fo llo win g a re a ll e xa m p le s o f e xp re s s io n :
5 > 2
3 + 6
3 * 65
a < b
c > 5
c > 5 + 30 -1
Typ e fo llo win g co m m a n d ( a s s u m e s yo u h a ve file ca lle d fo o )
$ c a t fo o
$ e cho $ ?
Th e ca t co m m a n d re t u rn ze ro ( 0 ) o n s u cce s s fu l, t h is ca n b e u s e d in if co n d it io n a s fo llo ws , Writ e s h e ll
s crip t a s
$ c a t > s h o w file
# !/ b in / s h
#
# S c rip t t o p rin t file
#
if c a t $ 1
the n
e c h o - e "\ n \ n File $ 1 , fo u n d a n d s u c c e s s fu lly e c h o e d "
fi

No w ru n it .
$ c h m o d + x s h o w file
$ . / s h o w file fo o
He re
$ . / s h o w file fo o
Ou r s h e ll s crip t n a m e is s h o wfile ( $ 0 ) a n d fo o is a rg u m e n t ( wh ich is $ 1 ) . No w we co m p a re a s fo llo ws
if ca t $ 1 ( i. e . if ca t fo o )
No w if ca t co m m a n d fin d s fo o file a n d if it s s u cce s s fu lly s h o wn o n s cre e n , it m e a n s o u r ca t co m m a n d
is s u cce s s fu l a n d it s e xis t s t a t u s is 0 ( in d ica t e s s u cce s s ) S o o u r if co n d it io n is a ls o t ru e a n d h e n ce
s t a t e m e n t e ch o - e "\ n \ n File $ 1 , fo u n d a n d s u cce s s fu lly e ch o e d " is p ro ce e d b y s h e ll. No w if ca t
co m m a n d is n o t s u cce s s fu l t h e n it re t u rn s n o n - ze ro va lu e ( in d ica t e s s o m e s o rt o f fa ilu re ) a n d t h is
s t a t e m e n t e ch o - e "\ n \ n File $ 1 , fo u n d a n d s u cce s s fu lly e ch o e d " is s kip p e d b y o u r s h e ll.
No w t ry t o writ e a n s we r fo r fo llo win g
1 ) Cre a t e fo llo win g s crip t
c a t > t rm if
#
# S c rip t t o t e s t rm c o m m a n d a n d e x is t s t a t u s
#
if rm $ 1
the n
e c h o "$ 1 file d e le t e d "
fi

( Pre s s Ct rl + d t o s a ve )
$ c h m o d + x t rm if
No w a n s we r t h e fo llo win g
A) Th e re is file ca lle d fo o , o n yo u r d is k a n d yo u g ive co m m a n d , $ . / t rm fi fo o wh a t will b e o u t p u t .

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B) If b a r file n o t p re s e n t o n yo u r d is k a n d yo u g ive co m m a n d , $ . / t rm fi b a r wh a t will b e o u t p u t .

C) An d if yo u t yp e $ . / t rm fi, Wh a t will b e o u t p u t .

( 7 ) t e s t co m m a n d o r [ e x p r ]
t e s t co m m a n d o r [ e xp r ] is u s e d t o s e e if a n e xp re s s io n is t ru e , a n d if it is t ru e it re t u rn ze ro ( 0 ) ,
o t h e rwis e re t u rn s n o n ze ro ( > 0 ) fo r fa ls e . S yn t a x: t e s t e x p re s s io n OR [ e x p re s s io n ]
No w will writ e s crip t t h a t d e t e rm in e wh e t h e r g ive n a rg u m e n t n u m b e r is p o s it ive . Writ e s crip t a s
fo llo ws
$ c a t > is p o s t iv e
# !/ b in / s h
#
# S c rip t t o s e e w h e t h e r a rg u m e n t is p o s it iv e
#
if t e s t $ 1 - g t 0
the n
e c h o "$ 1 n u m b e r is p o s it iv e "
fi

Ru n it a s fo llo ws
$ c h m o d + x is p o s t iv e
$ is p o s t iv e 5
He re o / p : 5 n u m b e r is p o s it ive
$ is p o s t iv e - 4 5
He re o / p : No t h in g is p rin t e d
$ is p o s t iv e
He re o / p : . / is p o s t ive : t e s t : - g t : u n a ry o p e ra t o r e xp e ct e d
Th e lin e , if t e s t $ 1 - g t 0 , t e s t t o s e e if firs t co m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t ( $ 1 ) is g re a t e r t h a n 0 . If it is
t ru e ( 0 ) t h e n t e s t will re t u rn 0 a n d o u t p u t will p rin t e d a s 5 n u m b e r is p o s it ive b u t fo r - 4 5 a rg u m e n t
t h e re is n o o u t p u t b e ca u s e o u r co n d it io n is n o t t ru e ( 0 ) ( n o - 4 5 is n o t g re a t e r t h a n 0 ) h e n ce e ch o
s t a t e m e n t is s kip p e d . An d fo r la s t s t a t e m e n t we h a ve n o t s u p p lie d a n y a rg u m e n t h e n ce e rro r
. / is p o s t ive : t e s t : - g t : u n a ry o p e ra t o r e xp e ct e d is g e n e ra t e d b y s h e ll , t o a vo id s u ch e rro r we ca n t e s t
wh e t h e r co m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t is s u p p lie d o r n o t . ( S e e co m m a n d 8 S crip t e xa m p le ) . t e s t o r [ e xp r
] wo rks wit h
1 . In t e g e r ( Nu m b e r wit h o u t d e cim a l p o in t )
2 . File t yp e s
3 . Ch a ra ct e r s t rin g s
Fo r Ma t h e m a t ics u s e fo llo win g o p e ra t o r in S h e ll S crip t
Math- ematical
Normal Arithmetical/
Operator in Meaning But in Shell
Mathematical Statements
Shell Script
For [ expr ]
For test statement
statement with if
with if command
command
-eq is equal to 5 == 6 if test 5 -eq 6 if expr [ 5 -eq 6 ]
-ne is not equal to 5 != 6 if test 5 -ne 6 if expr [ 5 -ne 6 ]
-lt is less than 5<6 if test 5 -lt 6 if expr [ 5 -lt 6 ]
is less than or
-le 5 <= 6 if test 5 -le 6 if expr [ 5 -le 6 ]
equal to
-gt is greater than 5>6 if test 5 -gt 6 if expr [ 5 -gt 6 ]
is greater than or
-ge 5 >= 6 if test 5 -ge 6 if expr [ 5 -ge 6 ]
equal to

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NOTE: = = is e q u a l, != is n o t e q u a l.
Fo r s t rin g Co m p a ris o n s u s e
Operator Meaning
string1 = string2 string1 is equal to string2
string1 != string2 string1 is NOT equal to string2
string1 string1 is NOT NULL or not defined
-n string1 string1 is NOT NULL and does exist
-z string1 string1 is NULL and does exist

S h e ll a ls o t e s t fo r file a n d d ire ct o ry t yp e s
Test Meaning
-s file Non empty file
-f file Is File exist or normal file and not a directory
-d dir Is Directory exist and not a file
-w file Is writeable file
-r file Is read-only file
-x file Is file is executable

Lo g ica l Op e ra t o rs
Lo g ica l o p e ra t o rs a re u s e d t o co m b in e t wo o r m o re co n d it io n a t a t im e
Operator Meaning
! expression Logical NOT
expression1 -a expression2 Logical AND
expression1 -o expression2 Logical OR

( 8 ) if. . . e ls e . . . fi
If g ive n co n d it io n is t ru e t h e n co m m a n d 1 is e xe cu t e d o t h e rwis e co m m a n d 2 is e xe cu t e d .
S yn t a x:

if condition
then
command1 if condition is true or if exit status
of condition is 0(zero)
...
...
else
command2 if condition is false or if exit status
of condition is >0 (nonzero)
...
...
fi

Fo r e g . Writ e S crip t a s fo llo ws

$ c a t > is n u m p _ n
# !/ b in / s h
#

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# S c rip t t o s e e w h e t h e r a rg u m e n t is p o s it iv e o r n e g a t iv e
#
if [ $ # - e q 0 ]
the n
e c h o "$ 0 : Yo u m u s t g iv e / s u p p ly o n e in t e g e rs "
e x it 1
fi

if t e s t $ 1 - g t 0
the n
e c h o "$ 1 n u m b e r is p o s it iv e "
e ls e
e c h o "$ 1 n u m b e r is n e g a t iv e "
fi

Try it a s fo llo ws
$ c h m o d + x is n u m p _ n
$ is n u m p _ n 5
He re o / p : 5 n u m b e r is p o s it ive
$ is n u m p _ n - 4 5
He re o / p : - 4 5 n u m b e r is n e g a t ive
$ is n u m p _ n
He re o / p : . / is p o s _ n : Yo u m u s t g ive / s u p p ly o n e in t e g e rs
$ is n u m p _ n 0
He re o / p : 0 n u m b e r is n e g a t ive
He re firs t we s e e if n o co m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t is g ive n t h e n it p rin t e rro r m e s s a g e a s ". / is p o s _ n :
Yo u m u s t g ive / s u p p ly o n e in t e g e rs ". if s t a t e m e n t ch e cks wh e t h e r n u m b e r o f a rg u m e n t ( $ # ) p a s s e d
t o s crip t is n o t e q u a l ( - e q ) t o 0 , if we p a s s e d a n y a rg u m e n t t o s crip t t h e n t h is if s t a t e m e n t is fa ls e
a n d if n o co m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t is g ive n t h e n t h is if s t a t e m e n t is t ru e . Th e e ch o co m m a n d i. e .
e ch o "$ 0 : Yo u m u s t g ive / s u p p ly o n e in t e g e rs "
| |
| |
1 2
1 will p rin t Na m e o f s crip t
2 will p rin t t h is e rro r m e s s a g e
An d fin a lly s t a t e m e n t e xit 1 ca u s e s n o rm a l p ro g ra m t e rm in a t io n wit h e xit s t a t u s 1 ( n o n ze ro m e a n s
s crip t is n o t s u cce s s fu lly ru n ) , Th e la s t s a m p le ru n $ is n u m p _ n 0 , g ive s o u t p u t a s "0 n u m b e r is
n e g a t ive ", b e ca u s e g ive n a rg u m e n t is n o t > 0 , h e n ce co n d it io n is fa ls e a n d it 's t a ke n a s n e g a t ive
n u m b e r. To a vo id t h is re p la ce s e co n d if s t a t e m e n t wit h if t e s t $ 1 - g e 0 .

( 9 ) Mu lt ile v e l if- t h e n - e ls e
S yn t a x:

if condition
then
condition is zero (true - 0)
execute all commands up to elif statement
elif condition1
condition1 is zero (true - 0)
execute all commands up to elif statement
elif condition2
condition2 is zero (true - 0)
execute all commands up to elif statement

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else
None of the above condtion,condtion1,condtion2 are true (i.e.
all of the above nonzero or false)
execute all commands up to fi
fi

Fo r e . g . Writ e s crip t a s $ c a t > e lf # !/ b in / s h # # S c rip t t o t e s t if. . e lif. . . e ls e # # if [ $ 1 - g t 0 ]

the n e c h o "$ 1 is p o s it iv e " e lif [ $ 1 - lt 0 ] t h e n e c h o "$ 1 is n e g a t iv e " e lif [ $ 1 - e q 0 ]
the n e c h o "$ 1 is z e ro " e ls e e c h o "Op p s ! $ 1 is n o t n u m b e r, g iv e n u m b e r" fi Try a b o ve
s crip t wit h $ c h m o d +x e lf $ . / e lf 1 $ . / e lf - 2 $ . / e lf 0 $ . / e lf a He re o / p fo r la s t
s a m p le ru n : . / e lf: [ : - g t : u n a ry o p e ra t o r e xp e ct e d . / e lf: [ : - lt : u n a ry o p e ra t o r e xp e ct e d . / e lf: [ : - e q :
u n a ry o p e ra t o r e xp e ct e d Op p s ! a is n o t n u m b e r, g ive n u m b e r Ab o ve p ro g ra m g ive s e rro r fo r la s t
ru n , h e re in t e g e r co m p a ris o n is e xp e ct e d t h e re fo re e rro r like ". / e lf: [ : - g t : u n a ry o p e ra t o r e xp e ct e d "
o ccu rs , b u t s t ill o u r p ro g ra m n o t ify t h is t h in g t o u s e r b y p ro vid in g m e s s a g e "Op p s ! a is n o t n u m b e r,
g ive n u m b e r". ( 1 0 ) Lo o p s in S h e ll S crip t s
Co m p u t e r ca n re p e a t p a rt icu la r in s t ru ct io n a g a in a n d a g a in , u n t il p a rt icu la r co n d it io n s a t is fie s . A
g ro u p o f in s t ru ct io n t h a t is e xe cu t e d re p e a t e d ly is ca lle d a lo o p .
( a ) fo r lo o p S yn t a x:

for { variable name } in { list }

do
execute one for each item in the list until the list is
not finished (And repeat all statement between do and done)
done

Suppose ,
$ c a t > t e s t fo r
fo r i in 1 2 3 4 5
do
e c h o "W e lc o m e $ i t im e s "
do ne
Ru n it a s ,
$ c h m o d + x t e s t fo r
$ . / t e s t fo r
Th e fo r lo o p firs t cre a t e s i va ria b le a n d a s s ig n e d a n u m b e r t o i fro m t h e lis t o f n u m b e r fro m 1 t o 5 ,
Th e s h e ll e xe cu t e e ch o s t a t e m e n t fo r e a ch a s s ig n m e n t o f i. ( Th is is u s u a lly kn o w a s it e ra t io n ) Th is
p ro ce s s will co n t in u e u n t il a ll t h e it e m s in t h e lis t we re n o t fin is h e d , b e ca u s e o f t h is it will re p e a t 5
e ch o s t a t e m e n t s . fo r e . g . No w t ry s crip t a s fo llo ws
$ c a t > m t a b le
# !/ b in / s h
#
# S c rip t t o t e s t fo r lo o p
#
#
if [ $ # - e q 0 ]
the n
e c h o "Erro r - N u m b e r m is s in g fo rm c o m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t "
e c h o "S y n t a x : $ 0 n u m b e r"
e c h o " Us e t o p rin t m u lt ip lic a t io n t a b le fo r g iv e n n u m b e r"
e x it 1
fi
n= $ 1
fo r i in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0

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do
e c h o "$ n * $ i = ` e x p r $ i \ * $ n ` "
do ne

S a ve a n d Ru n it a s
$ c h m o d + x m t a b le
$ . / m t a b le 7
$ . / m t a b le
Fo r firs t ru n , Ab o ve p ro g ra m p rin t m u lt ip lica t io n t a b le o f g ive n n u m b e r wh e re i = 1 , 2 . . . 1 0 is
m u lt ip ly b y g ive n n ( h e re co m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t 7 ) in o rd e r t o p ro d u ce m u lt ip lica t io n t a b le a s
7 * 1 = 7
7 * 2 = 14
...
..
7 * 1 0 = 7 0 An d fo r S e co n d ru n , it will p rin t m e s s a g e -
Erro r - Nu m b e r m is s in g fo rm co m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t
S yn t a x : . / m t a b le n u m b e r
Us e t o p rin t m u lt ip lica t io n t a b le fo r g ive n n u m b e r
Th is h a p p e n e d b e ca u s e we h a ve n o t s u p p lie d g ive n n u m b e r fo r wh ich we wa n t m u lt ip lica t io n t a b le ,
He n ce we a re s h o win g Erro r m e s s a g e , S yn t a x a n d u s a g e o f o u r s crip t . Th is is g o o d id e a if o u r
p ro g ra m t a ke s s o m e a rg u m e n t , le t t h e u s e r kn o w wh a t is u s e o f t h is s crip t a n d h o w t o u s e d it . No t e
t h a t t o t e rm in a t e o u r s crip t we u s e d 'e xit 1 ' co m m a n d wh ich t a ke s 1 a s a rg u m e n t ( 1 In d ica t e s e rro r
a n d t h e re fo re s crip t is t e rm in a t e d )

( b ) w h ile lo o p
S yn t a x:

while [ condition ]
do
command1
command2
command3
..
....
done

Lo o p is e xe cu t e d a s lo n g a s g ive n co n d it io n is t ru e . Fo r e g . Ab o ve fo r lo o p p ro g ra m ca n b e writ t e n
u s in g wh ile lo o p a s
$ ca t > nt1
# !/ b in / s h
#
# S c rip t t o t e s t w h ile s t a t e m e n t
#
#
if [ $ # - e q 0 ]
the n
e c h o "Erro r - N u m b e r m is s in g fo rm c o m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t "
e c h o "S y n t a x : $ 0 n u m b e r"
e c h o " Us e t o p rin t m u lt ip lic a t io n t a b le fo r g iv e n n u m b e r"
e x it 1
fi
n= $ 1
i= 1
w h ile [ $ i - le 1 0 ]

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do
e c h o "$ n * $ i = ` e x p r $ i \ * $ n ` "
i= ` e x p r $ i + 1 `
do ne

S a ve it a n d t ry a s
$ chm o d + x nt1
$ ./ n t1 7
Ab o ve lo o p ca n b e e xp la in e d a s fo llo ws
Set the value of command line argument to
n=$1
variable n. (Here it's set to 7 )
i=1 Set variable i to 1
This is our loop condition, here if value of i is less
while [ $i -le 10 ] than 10 then, shell execute all statements between
do and done
do Start loop
Print multiplication table as
7*1=7
7 * 2 = 14
echo "$n * $i = `expr $i \* $n`"
....
7 * 10 = 70, Here each time value of variable n is
multiply be i.
Increment i by 1 and store result to i. ( i.e. i=i+1)
Caution: If we ignore (remove) this statement than
our loop become infinite loop because value of
variable i always remain less than 10 and program
i=`expr $i + 1` will only output
7*1=7
...
...
E (infinite times)
Loop stops here if i is not less than 10 i.e.
done condition of loop is not true. Hence
loop is terminated.

Fro m t h e a b o ve d is cu s s io n n o t fo llo win g p o in t s a b o u t lo o p s

( a ) Firs t , t h e va ria b le u s e d in lo o p co n d it io n m u s t b e in it ia lize d , Ne xt e xe cu t io n o f t h e lo o p b e g in s .
( b ) A t e s t ( co n d it io n ) is m a d e a t t h e b e g in n in g o f e a ch it e ra t io n .
( c) Th e b o d y o f lo o p e n d s wit h a s t a t e m e n t t h a t m o d ifie s t h e va lu e o f t h e t e s t ( co n d it io n ) va ria b le .

( 1 1 ) Th e ca s e S t a t e m e n t
Th e ca s e s t a t e m e n t is g o o d a lt e rn a t ive t o Mu lt ile ve l if- t h e n - e ls e - fi s t a t e m e n t . It e n a b le yo u t o m a t ch
s e ve ra l va lu e s a g a in s t o n e va ria b le . It s e a s ie r t o re a d a n d writ e .
S yn t a x:

case $variable-name in
pattern1) command
...
..
command;;
pattern2) command

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...
..
command;;
patternN) command
...
..
command;;
*) command
...
..
command;;
esac

Th e $ va ria b le - n a m e is co m p a re d a g a in s t t h e p a t t e rn s u n t il a m a t ch is fo u n d . Th e s h e ll t h e n
e xe cu t e s a ll t h e s t a t e m e n t s u p t o t h e t wo s e m ico lo n s t h a t a re n e xt t o e a ch o t h e r. Th e d e fa u lt is * )
a n d it s e xe cu t e d if n o m a t ch is fo u n d . Fo r e g . Cre a t e s crip t a s fo llo ws
$ cat > car
#
# if n o v e h ic le n a m e is g iv e n
# i. e . - z $ 1 is d e fin e d a n d it is N ULL
#
# if n o c o m m a n d lin e a rg

if [ - z $ 1 ]
the n
re n t a l= "* * * Un k n o w n v e h ic le * * * "
e lif [ - n $ 1 ]
the n
# o t h e rw is e m a k e firs t a rg a s re n t a l
re n t a l= $ 1
fi

c a s e $ re n t a l in
"c a r") e c h o "Fo r $ re n t a l Rs . 2 0 p e r k / m ";;
"v a n ") e c h o "Fo r $ re n t a l Rs . 1 0 p e r k / m ";;
"je e p ") e c h o "Fo r $ re n t a l Rs . 5 p e r k / m ";;
"b ic y c le ") e c h o "Fo r $ re n t a l 2 0 p a is a p e r k / m ";;
* ) e c h o "S o rry , I c a n n o t g a t a $ re n t a l fo r y o u ";;
e sac

S a ve it b y p re s s in g CTRL+ D
$ chm od + x car
$ car van
$ car car
$ c a r Ma ru t i- 8 0 0
He re firs t we will ch e ck, t h a t if $ 1 ( firs t co m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t ) is n o t g ive n s e t va lu e o f re n t a l
va ria b le t o "* * * Un kn o wn ve h icle * * * ", if va lu e g ive n t h e n s e t it t o g ive n va lu e . Th e $ re n t a l is
co m p a re d a g a in s t t h e p a t t e rn s u n t il a m a t ch is fo u n d . He re fo r firs t ru n it s m a t ch wit h va n a n d it will
s h o w o u t p u t Fo r va n Rs . 1 0 p e r k/ m . Fo r s e co n d ru n it p rin t , "Fo r ca r Rs . 2 0 p e r k/ m ". An d fo r la s t
ru n , t h e re is n o m a t ch fo r Ma ru t i- 8 0 0 , h e n ce d e fa u lt i. e . * ) is e xe cu t e d a n d it p rin t s , "S o rry, I ca n
n o t g a t a Ma ru t i- 8 0 0 fo r yo u ". No t e t h a t e s a c is a lwa ys re q u ire d t o in d ica t e e n d o f ca s e s t a t e m e n t .

( 1 2 ) Th e re a d S t a t e m e n t
Us e t o g e t in p u t fro m ke yb o a rd a n d s t o re t h e m t o va ria b le .

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S yn t a x: re a d v a rib le 1 , v a rib le 2 , . . . v a rib le N

Cre a t e s crip t a s
$ cat > s ayH
#
# S c rip t t o re a d y o u r n a m e fro m k e y - b o a rd
#
e c h o "Yo u r firs t n a m e p le a s e :"
re a d fn a m e
e c h o "He llo $ fn a m e , Le t s b e frie n d !"

Ru n it a s fo llo ws
$ chm od + x s ayH
$ ./ s a y H
Th is s crip t firs t a s k yo u yo u r n a m e a n d t h e n wa it s t o e n t e r n a m e fro m t h e u s e r, Th e n u s e r e n t e rs
n a m e fro m ke yb o a rd ( Aft e r g ivin g n a m e yo u h a ve t o p re s s ENTER ke y) a n d t h is e n t e re d n a m e
t h ro u g h ke yb o a rd is s t o re d ( a s s ig n e d ) t o va ria b le fn a m e .

( 1 3 ) File n a m e S h o rt h a n d o r m e t a Ch a ra ct e rs ( i. e . w ild ca rd s )
* o r ? o r [ . . . ] is o n e o f s u ch s h o rt h a n d ch a ra ct e r.

* Ma t ch e s a n y s t rin g o r g ro u p o f ch a ra ct e rs .
Fo r e . g . $ ls * , will s h o w a ll file s , $ ls a * - will s h o w a ll file s wh o s e firs t n a m e is s t a rt in g wit h le t t e r
'a ', $ ls * . c , will s h o w a ll file s h a vin g e xt e n s io n . c $ ls u t * . c , will s h o w a ll file s h a vin g e xt e n s io n . c
b u t firs t t wo le t t e rs o f file n a m e m u s t b e 'u t '.

? Ma t ch e s a n y s in g le ch a ra ct e r.
Fo r e . g . $ ls ? , will s h o w o n e s in g le le t t e r file n a m e , $ ls fo ? , will s h o w a ll file s wh o s e n a m e s a re 3
ch a ra ct e r lo n g a n d file n a m e b e g in wit h fo

[ . . . ] Ma t ch e s a n y o n e o f t h e e n clo s e d ch a ra ct e rs .
Fo r e . g . $ ls [ a b c ] * - will s h o w a ll file s b e g in n in g wit h le t t e rs a , b , c
[ . . - . . ] A p a ir o f ch a ra ct e rs s e p a ra t e d b y a m in u s s ig n d e n o t e s a ra n g e ;
Fo r e g . $ ls / b in / [ a - c] * - will s h o w a ll file s n a m e b e g in n in g wit h le t t e r a , b o r c like

/bin/arch /bin/awk /bin/bsh /bin/chmod /bin/cp

/bin/ash /bin/basename /bin/cat /bin/chown /bin/cpio
/bin/ash.static /bin/bash /bin/chgrp /bin/consolechars /bin/csh

Bu t
$ ls / b in / [ !a - o ]
$ ls / b in / [ ^ a - o ]
If t h e firs t ch a ra ct e r fo llo win g t h e [ is a ! o r a ^ t h e n a n y ch a ra ct e r n o t e n clo s e d is m a t ch e d i. e . d o
n o t s h o w u s file n a m e t h a t b e g in n in g wit h a , b , c, e . . . o , like

/bin/ps /bin/rvi /bin/sleep /bin/touch /bin/view

/bin/pwd /bin/rview /bin/sort /bin/true /bin/wcomp
/bin/red /bin/sayHello /bin/stty /bin/umount /bin/xconf
/bin/remadmin /bin/sed /bin/su /bin/uname /bin/ypdomainname
/bin/rm /bin/setserial /bin/sync /bin/userconf /bin/zcat
/bin/rmdir /bin/sfxload /bin/tar /bin/usleep
/bin/rpm /bin/sh /bin/tcsh /bin/vi
( 1 4 ) co m m a n d 1 ; co m m a n d 2
To ru n t wo co m m a n d wit h o n e co m m a n d lin e . Fo r e g . $ d a t e ;w h o , Will p rin t t o d a y's d a t e fo llo we d

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b y u s e rs wh o a re cu rre n t ly lo g in . No t e t h a t Yo u ca n 't u s e $ d a t e wh o fo r s a m e p u rp o s e , yo u m u s t
p u t s e m ico lo n in b e t we e n d a t e a n d wh o co m m a n d .
© 1998-2000 FreeOS.com (I) Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Mo re Ad v a n c e d S h e ll S c rip t Co m m a n d s
/ d e v / n u ll - Us e t o s e n d u n w a n t e d o u t p u t o f p ro g ra m
Th is is s p e cia l Lin u x file wh ich is u s e d t o s e n d a n y u n wa n t e d o u t p u t fro m p ro g ra m / co m m a n d .
S yn t a x: co m m a n d > / d e v / n u ll
Fo r e . g . $ ls > / d e v / n u ll , o u t p u t o f t h is co m m a n d is n o t s h o wn o n s cre e n it s s e n d t o t h is s p e cia l file .
Th e / d e v d ire ct o ry co n t a in s o t h e r d e vice file s . Th e file s in t h is d ire ct o ry m o s t ly re p re s e n t p e rip h e ra l
d e vice s s u ch d is ks liks flo p p y d is k, s o u n d ca rd , lin e p rin t e rs e t c.

Lo c a l a n d Glo b a l S h e ll v a ria b le ( e x p o rt c o m m a n d )
No rm a lly a ll o u r va ria b le s a re lo ca l. Lo ca l va ria b le ca n b e u s e d in s a m e s h e ll, if yo u lo a d a n o t h e r co p y o f
s h e ll ( b y t yp in g t h e / b in / b a s h a t t h e $ p ro m p t ) t h e n n e w s h e ll ig n o re d a ll o ld s h e ll's va ria b le . Fo r e . g .
Co n s id e r fo llo win g e xa m p le
$ v e c h = Bu s
$ e cho $ ve ch
Bu s
$ / b in / b a s h
$ e cho $ ve ch

NOTE: - Em p t y lin e p rin t e d

$ v e c h = Ca r
$ e cho $ ve ch
Ca r
$ e x it
$ e cho $ ve ch
Bu s
Command Meaning
Create new local variable 'vech' with Bus as value
$ vech=Bus
in first shell
$ echo $vech Print the contains of variable vech
Now load second shell in memory (Which ignores
$ /bin/bash
all old shell's variable)
$ echo $vech Print the contains of variable vech
Create new local variable 'vech' with Car as value
$ vech=Car
in second shell
$ echo $vech Print the contains of variable vech
$ exit Exit from second shell return to first shell
Print the contains of variable vech (Now you can
$ echo $vech
see first shells variable and its value)

We ca n co p y o ld s h e ll's va ria b le t o n e w s h e ll ( i. e . firs t s h e lls va ria b le t o s e co n d s s h e ll) , s u ch va ria b le is

kn o w a s Glo b a l S h e ll va ria b le . To d o t h is u s e e xp o rt co m m a n d
S yn t a x: e x p o rt v a ria b le 1 , v a ria b le 2 , . . . . . v a ria b le N
Fo r e . g .
$ v e c h = Bu s
$ e cho $ ve ch
Bu s
$ e x p o rt v e c h
$ / b in / b a s h
$ e cho $ ve ch
Bu s
$ e x it
$ e cho $ ve ch

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Bu s
Command Meaning
Create new local variable 'vech' with Bus as value
$ vech=Bus
in first shell
$ echo $vech Print the contains of variable vech
$ export vech Export first shells variable to second shell
Now load second shell in memory (Old shell's
$ /bin/bash variable is accessed from second shell, if they are
exported )
$ echo $vech Print the contains of variable vech
$ exit Exit from second shell return to first shell
$ echo $vech Print the contains of variable vech

Co n d it io n a l e x e c u t io n i. e . && a n d | |
Th e co n t ro l o p e ra t o rs a re && ( re a d a s AND) a n d | | ( re a d a s OR) . An AND lis t h a s t h e
S yn t a x: co m m a n d 1 && co m m a n d 2
He re co m m a n d 2 is e xe cu t e d if, a n d o n ly if, co m m a n d 1 re t u rn s a n e xit s t a t u s o f ze ro . An OR lis t h a s t h e
S yn t a x: co m m a n d 1 | | co m m a n d 2
He re co m m a n d 2 is e xe cu t e d if a n d o n ly if co m m a n d 1 re t u rn s a n o n - ze ro e xit s t a t u s . Yo u ca n u s e b o t h a s
fo llo ws
co m m a n d 1 && co m a m n d 2 if e xis t s t a t u s is ze ro | | co m m a n d 3 if e xit s t a t u s is n o n - ze ro
He re if co m m a n d 1 is e xe cu t e d s u cce s s fu lly t h e n s h e ll will ru n co m m a n d 2 a n d if co m m a n d 1 is n o t
s u cce s s fu l t h e n co m m a n d 3 is e xe cu t e d . Fo r e . g .
$ rm m y f && e c h o File is re m o v e d s u c c e s s fu lly | | e c h o File is n o t re m o v e d
If file ( m yf) is re m o ve d s u cce s s fu l ( e xis t s t a t u s is ze ro ) t h e n "e ch o File is re m o ve d s u cce s s fu lly" s t a t e m e n t
is e xe cu t e d , o t h e rwis e "e ch o File is n o t re m o ve d " s t a t e m e n t is e xe cu t e d ( s in ce e xis t s t a t u s is n o n - ze ro )

I / O Re d ire c t io n a n d file d e s c rip t o rs

As yo u kn o w I/ O re d ire ct o rs a re u s e d t o s e n d o u t p u t o f co m m a n d t o file o r t o re a d in p u t fro m file . ( S e e
In p u t / Ou t p u t re d ire ct io n ) . No w co n s id e r fo llo win g e xa m p le s
$ cat > m yf
Th is is m y file
^D
Ab o ve co m m a n d s e n d o u t p u t o f ca t co m m a n d t o m yf file
$ cal
Ab o ve co m m a n d p rin t s ca le n d a r o n s cre e n , b u t if yo u wis h t o s t o re t h is ca le n d a r t o file t h e n g ive
co m m a n d
$ cal > m ycal
Th e ca l co m m a n d s e n d o u t p u t t o m yca l file . Th is is ca lle d o u t p u t re d ire ct io n
$ s o rt
10
-2 0
11
2
^D
-2 0
2
10
11
He re s o rt co m m a n d t a ke s in p u t fro m ke yb o a rd a n d t h e n s o rt s t h e n u m b e r, If we wis h t o t a ke in p u t fro m
file g ive co m m a n d a s fo llo ws
$ cat > nos
10

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 Linux Shell Script Tutorial

-2 0
11
2
^D
$ s o rt < n o s
-2 0
2
10
11
Firs t we h a ve cre a t e d t h e file n o s , t h e n we h a ve t a ke n in p u t fro m t h is file a n d s o rt co m m a n d p rin t s s o rt e d
n u m b e rs . Th is is ca lle d in p u t re d ire ct io n . In Lin u x ( An d in C p ro g ra m m in g La n g u a g e ) yo u r ke yb o a rd ,
s cre e n e t c a re t re a t e d a s file s . Fo llo win g a re n a m e o f s u ch file s
File Descriptors
Standard File Use Example
number
stdin 0 as Standard input Keyboard
stdout 1 as Standard output Screen
stderr 2 as Standard error Screen

By d e fa u lt in Lin u x e ve ry p ro g ra m h a s t h re e file s a s s o cia t e d wit h it , ( wh e n we s t a rt o u r p ro g ra m t h e s e

t h re e file s a re a u t o m a t ica lly o p e n e d b y yo u r s h e ll) Th e u s e o f firs t t wo file s ( i. e . s t d in a n d s t d o u t ) , a re
a lre a d y s e e n b y u s . Th e la s t file s t d e rr ( n u m b e re d a s 2 ) is u s e d b y o u r p ro g ra m t o p rin t e rro r o n s cre e n .
Yo u ca n re d ire ct t h e o u t p u t fro m a file d e s crip t o r d ire ct ly t o file wit h fo llo win g
S yn t a x: file - d e s crip t o r- n u m b e r> file n a m e
Fo r e . g .
$ rm b a d _ file _ n a m e 1 1 1
rm : ca n n o t re m o ve ` b a d _ file _ n a m e 1 1 1 ': No s u ch file o r d ire ct o ry , is t h e o u t p u t ( e rro r) o f t h e a b o ve
p ro g ra m . No w if we t ry t o re d ire ct t h is e rro r- o u t p u t t o file , it ca n n o t b e s e n d t o file
$ rm b a d _ file _ n a m e 1 1 1 > e r
S t ill it p rin t s o u t p u t o n s t d e rr a s rm : ca n n o t re m o ve ` b a d _ file _ n a m e 1 1 1 ': No s u ch file o r d ire ct o ry, An d if
yo u s e e e r file a s $ ca t e r , Th is file is e m p t y, s in ce o u t p u t is s e n d t o e rro r d e vice a n d yo u ca n n o t re d ire ct
it t o co p y t h is e rro r- o u t p u t t o yo u r file 'e r'. To o ve rco m e t h is we h a ve t o u s e fo llo win g co m m a n d
$ rm b a d _ file _ n a m e 1 1 1 2 > e r
No t e t h a t n o s p a ce a re a llo we d b e t we e n 2 a n d > , Th e 2 > e r d ire ct s t h e s t a n d a rd e rro r o u t p u t t o file . 2
n u m b e r is d e fa u lt n u m b e r o f s t d e rr file . No w co n s id e r a n o t h e r e xa m p le , h e re we a re writ in g s h e ll s crip t a s
fo llo ws
$ cat > de m o s cr
if [ $ # - n e 2 ]
the n
e c h o "Erro r : N u m b e r a re n o t s u p p lie d "
e c h o "Us a g e : $ 0 n u m b e r1 n u m b e r2 "
e x it 1
fi
ans = ` e xpr $ 1 + $ 2 `
e c h o "S u m is $ a n s "

Try it a s fo llo w s
$ chm o d + x de m o s cr
$ ./ de m o s cr
Erro r : Nu m b e r a re n o t s u p p lie d
Us a g e : . / d e m o s cr n u m b e r1 n u m b e r2
$ . / d e m o s c r > e r1
$ ./ de m o s cr 5 7
S u m is 1 2

He re fo r firs t s a m p le ru n , o u r s crip t p rin t s e rro r m e s s a g e in d ica t in g t h a t we h a ve n o t g ive n t wo n u m b e r.

Fo r s e co n d s a m p le ru n , we h a ve re d ire ct o u t p u t o f o u r s crip t t o file , s in ce it 's e rro r we h a ve t o s h o w it t o

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u s e r, It m e a n s we h a ve t o p rin t o u r e rro r m e s s a g e o n s t d e rr n o t o n s t d o u t . To o ve rco m e t h is p ro b le m

re p la ce a b o ve e ch o s t a t e m e n t s a s fo llo ws
e c h o "Erro r : N u m b e r a re n o t s u p p lie d " 1 > &2
e c h o "Us a g e : $ 0 n u m b e r1 n u m b e r2 " 1 > &2
No w if yo u ru n a s
$ . / d e m o s cr > e r1
Erro r : Nu m b e r a re n o t s u p p lie d
Us a g e : . / d e m o s cr n u m b e r1 n u m b e r2
It will p rin t e rro r m e s s a g e o n s t d e rr a n d n o t o n s t d o u t . Th e 1 > &2 a t t h e e n d o f e ch o s t a t e m e n t , d ire ct s
t h e s t a n d a rd o u t p u t ( s t d o u t ) t o s t a n d a rd e rro r ( s t d e rr) d e vice .
S yn t a x: fro m > &d e s t in a t io n

Fu n c t io n s
Fu n ct io n is s e rie s o f in s t ru ct io n / co m m a n d s . Fu n ct io n p e rfo rm s p a rt icu la r a ct ivit y in s h e ll. To d e fin e
fu n ct io n u s e fo llo win g
S yn t a x:

function-name ( )
{
command1
command2
.....
...
commandN
return
}

Wh e re fu n ct io n - n a m e is n a m e o f yo u fu n ct io n , t h a t e xe cu t e s t h e s e co m m a n d s . A re t u rn s t a t e m e n t will
t e rm in a t e t h e fu n ct io n . Fo r e . g . Typ e S a yHe llo ( ) a t $ p ro m p t a s fo llo ws
$ S a y He llo ( )
{
e c h o "He llo $ LOGN AME, Ha v e n ic e c o m p u t in g "
re t u rn
}
No w t o e xe cu t e t h is S a yHe llo ( ) fu n ct io n ju s t t yp e it n a m e a s fo llo ws
$ S a y He llo
He llo xxxxx, Ha ve n ice co m p u t in g
Th is wa y yo u ca n ca ll yo u r fu n ct io n . No t e t h a t a ft e r re s t a rt in g yo u r co m p u t e r yo u will lo s s t h is S a yHe llo ( )
fu n ct io n , s in ce it s cre a t e d fo r t h a t s e s s io n o n ly. To o ve rco m e t h is p ro b le m a n d t o a d d yo u o wn fu n ct io n t o
a u t o m a t s o m e o f t h e d a y t o d a y life t a s k, yo u r fu n ct io n t o / e t c/ b a s h rc file . No t e t h a t t o a d d fu n ct io n t o t h is
file yo u m u s t lo g o n a s ro o t . Fo llo win g is t h e s a m p le / e t c/ b a s h rc file wit h t o d a y( ) fu n ct io n , wh ich is u s e d
t o p rin t fo rm a t t e d d a t e . Firs t lo g o n a s ro o t o r if yo u a lre a d y lo g o n wit h yo u r n a m e ( yo u r lo g in is n o t ro o t ) ,
a n d wa n t t o m o ve t o ro o t a cco u n t , t h e n yo u ca n t yp e fo llo win g co m m a n d , wh e n a s ke d fo r p a s s wo rd t yp e
ro o t ( a d m in is t ra t o rs ) p a s s wo rd
$ su
p a s s w o rd :
No w o p e n file a s ( No t e yo u r p ro m p t is ch a n g e d t o # fro m $ t o in d ica t e yo u a re ro o t )
# v i / e t c / b a s h rc
OR
# m c e d it / e t c / b a s h rc
At t h e e n d o f file a d d fo llo win g in / e t c/ b a s h rc file
#
# t o d a y ( ) t o p rin t fo rm a t t e d d a t e
#
# To ru n t h is fu n c t io n t y p e t o d a y a t t h e $ p ro m p t
# Ad d e d b y Viv e k t o s h o w fu n c t io n in Lin u x
#

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to da y( )
{
e c h o Th is is a ` d a t e + "% A % d in % B o f % Y ( % r) "`
re t u rn
}

S a ve t h e file a n d e xit it , a ft e r a ll t h is m o d ifica t io n yo u r file m a y lo o k like a s fo llo ws

# / e t c / b a s h rc

# S y s t e m w id e fu n c t io n s a n d a lia s e s
# En v iro n m e n t s t u ff g o e s in / e t c / p ro file

# Fo r s o m e u n k n o w n re a s o n b a s h re fu s e s t o in h e rit
# P S 1 in s o m e c irc u m s t a n c e s t h a t I c a n 't fig u re o u t .
# P u t t in g P S 1 h e re e n s u re s t h a t it g e t s lo a d e d e v e ry t im e .

P S 1 = "[ \ u @\ h \ W ] \ \ $ "

#
# t o d a y ( ) t o p rin t fo rm a t t e d d a t e
#
# To ru n t h is fu n c t io n t y p e t o d a y a t t h e $ p ro m p t
# Ad d e d b y Viv e k t o s h o w fu n c t io n in Lin u x
to da y( )
{
e c h o Th is is a ` d a t e + "% A % d in % B o f % Y ( % r) "`
re t u rn
}

To ru n fu n ct io n firs t co m p le t e ly lo g o u t b y t yp in g e xit a t t h e $ p ro m p t ( Or p re s s CTRL + D, No t e yo u m a y

h a ve t o t yp e e xit ( CTRL + D) t wice if yo u lo g in t o ro o t a cco u n t b y u s in g s u co m m a n d ) , t h e n lo g in a n d t yp e
$ t o d a y , t h is wa y t o d a y( ) is a va ila b le t o a ll u s e r in yo u r s ys t e m , If yo u wa n t t o a d d p a rt icu la r fu n ct io n t o
p a rt icu la r u s e r t h e n o p e n . b a s h rc file in yo u r h o m e d ire ct o ry a s fo llo ws
# v i . b a s h rc
OR
# m c e d it . b a s h rc
At t h e e n d o f file a d d fo llo win g in . b a s h rc file
S a y Bu y ( )
{
e c h o "Bu y $ LOGN AME ! Life n e v e r b e t h e s a m e , u n t il y o u lo g a g a in !"
e c h o "P re s s a k e y t o lo g o u t . . . "
re a d
re t u rn
}

S a ve t h e file a n d e xit it , a ft e r a ll t h is m o d ifica t io n yo u r file m a y lo o k like a s fo llo ws

# . b a s h rc
#
# Us e r s p e c ific a lia s e s a n d fu n c t io n s
# S o u rc e g lo b a l d e fin it io n s

if [ - f / e t c / b a s h rc ] ; t h e n
. / e t c / b a s h rc
fi

S a y Bu y ( )

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{
e c h o "Bu y $ LOGN AME ! Life n e v e r b e t h e s a m e , u n t il y o u lo g a g a in !"
e c h o "P re s s a k e y t o lo g o u t . . . "
re a d
re t u rn
}

To ru n fu n ct io n firs t lo g o u t b y t yp in g e xit a t t h e $ p ro m p t ( Or p re s s CTRL + D ) , t h e n lo g o n a n d t yp e $

S a y Bu y , t h is wa y S a yBu y( ) is a va ila b le t o o n ly in yo u r lo g in a n d n o t t o a ll u s e r in s ys t e m , Us e . b a s h rc
file in yo u r h o m e d ire ct o ry t o a d d Us e r s p e cific a lia s e s a n d fu n ct io n s o n ly. ( Tip : If yo u wa n t t o s h o w s o m e
m e s s a g e o r wa n t t o p e rfo rm s o m e a ct io n wh e n yo u lo g o u t , Op e n file . b a s h _ lo g o u t in yo u r h o m e d ire ct o ry
a n d a d d yo u r s t u ff h e re Fo r e . g . Wh e n e ve r I lo g o u t , I wa n t t o s h o w m e s s a g e Bu y! Th e n o p e n yo u r
. b a s h _ lo g o u t file u s in g t e xt e d it o r s u ch a s vi a n d a d d s t a t e m e n t
e c h o "Bu y $ LOGN AME, P re s s a k e y . . . "
re a d
S a ve a n d e xit fro m t h e file . Th e n t o t e s t t h is lo g o u t fro m yo u r s ys t e m b y p re s s in g CTRL + D ( o r t yp e e x it )
im m e d ia t e ly yo u will s e e m e s s a g e "Bu y xxxxx, Pre s s a ke y. . . ", a ft e r p re s s in g ke y yo u will b e e xit e d . )

Us e r I n t e rfa c e a n d d ia lo g u t ilit y
Go o d p ro g ra m / s h e ll s crip t m u s t in t e ra ct wit h u s e rs . Th e re a re t wo wa ys t o t h is o n e is u s e co m m a n d lin e
t o s crip t wh e n yo u wa n t in p u t , s e co n d u s e s t a t e m e n t like e ch o a n d re a d t o re a d in p u t in t o va ria b le fro m
t h e p ro m p t . Fo r e . g . Writ e s crip t a s
$ c a t > u s e rin t e
#
# S c rip t t o d e m o e c h o a n d re a d c o m m a n d fo r u s e r in t e ra c t io n
#
e c h o "Yo u r g o o d n a m e p le a s e :"
re a d n a
e c h o "Yo u r a g e p le a s e :"
re a d a g e
n e y r= ` e x p r $ a g e + 1 `
e c h o "He llo $ n a , n e x t y e a r y o u w ill b e $ n e y r y rs o ld . "

S a ve it a n d ru n a s
$ c h m o d + x u s e rin t e
$ . / u s e rin t e

Yo u r g o o d n a m e p le a s e :
Vive k
Yo u r a g e p le a s e :
25
He llo Vive k, n e xt ye a r yo u will b e 2 6 yrs o ld .
Eve n yo u ca n cre a t e m e n u s t o in t e ra ct wit h u s e r, firs t s h o w m e n u o p t io n , t h e n a s k u s e r t o ch o o s e m e n u
it e m , a n d t a ke a p p ro p ria t e a ct io n a cco rd in g t o s e le ct e d m e n u it e m , t h is t e ch n iq u e is s h o w in fo llo win g
s crip t
$ cat > m e nuui
#
# S c rip t t o c re a t e s im p le m e n u s a n d t a k e a c t io n a c c o rd in g t o t h a t s e le c t e d
# m e n u it e m
#
w h ile :
do
c le a r
e c h o "- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "
e c h o " Ma in Me n u "
e c h o "- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "
e c h o "[ 1 ] S h o w To d a y s d a t e / t im e "
e c h o "[ 2 ] S h o w file s in c u rre n t d ire c t o ry "

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e c h o "[ 3 ] S h o w c a le n d a r"
e c h o "[ 4 ] S t a rt e d it o r t o w rit e le t t e rs "
e c h o "[ 5 ] Ex it / S t o p "
e c h o "= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "
e c h o - n "En t e r y o u r m e n u c h o ic e [ 1 - 5 ] : "
re a d y o u rc h
c a s e $ y o u rc h in
1 ) e c h o "To d a y is ` d a t e ` , p re s s a k e y . . . " ; re a d ;;
2 ) e c h o "File s in ` p w d ` " ; ls - l ; e c h o "P re s s a k e y . . . " ; re a d ;;
3 ) c a l ; e c h o "P re s s a k e y . . . " ; re a d ;;
4 ) v i ;;
5 ) e x it 0 ;;
* ) e c h o "Op p s !!! P le a s e s e le c t c h o ic e 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , o r 5 ";
e c h o "P re s s a k e y . . . " ; re a d ;;
e s ca

do ne
Ab o ve a ll s t a t e m e n t e xp la in e d in fo llo win g t a b le
Statement Explanation
Start infinite loop, this loop will
only break if you select 5 ( i.e.
while :
Exit/Stop menu item) as your menu
choice
do Start loop
Clear the screen, each and every
clear
time
echo "-------------------------------------"
echo " Main Menu "
echo "-------------------------------------"
echo "[1] Show Todays date/time"
Show menu on screen with menu
echo "[2] Show files in current directory"
items
echo "[3] Show calendar"
echo "[4] Start editor to write letters"
echo "[5] Exit/Stop"
echo "======================="
Ask user to enter menu item
echo -n "Enter your menu choice [1-5]: "
number
read yourch Read menu item number from user
case $yourch in
1) echo "Today is `date` , press a key. . ." ; read ;;
2) echo "Files in `pwd`" ; ls -l ;
Take appropriate action according
echo "Press a key. . ." ; read ;;
to selected menu item, If menu item
3) cal ; echo "Press a key. . ." ; read ;;
is not between 1 - 5, then show
4) vi ;;
error and ask user to input number
5) exit 0 ;;
between 1-5 again
*) echo "Opps!!! Please select choice 1,2,3,4, or 5";
echo "Press a key. . ." ; read ;;
esca
Stop loop , if menu item number is
done
5 ( i.e. Exit/Stop)
Us e r in t e rfa ce u s u a lly in clu d e s , m e n u s , d iffe re n t t yp e o f b o xe s like in fo b o x, m e s s a g e b o x, In p u t b o x e t c.
In Lin u x s h e ll t h e re is n o b u ilt - in fa cilit y a va ila b le t o cre a t e s u ch u s e r in t e rfa ce , Bu t t h e re is o n e u t ilit y
s u p p lie d wit h Re d Ha t Lin u x ve rs io n 6 . 0 ca lle d d ia lo g , wh ich is u s e d t o cre a t e d iffe re n t t yp e o f b o xe s like
in fo b o x, m e s s a g e b o x, m e n u b o x, In p u t b o x e t c. No w t ry d ia lo g u t ilit y a s fo llo ws :

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$ c a t > d ia 1
d ia lo g - - t it le "Lin u x D ia lo g Ut ilit y I n fo b o x " - - b a c k t it le "Lin u x S h e ll S c rip t \
Tu t o ria l" - - in fo b o x "Th is is d ia lo g b o x c a lle d in fo b o x , w h ic h is u s e d \
t o s h o w s o m e in fo rm a t io n o n s c re e n , Th a n k s t o S a v io La m a n d \
S t u a rt He rb e rt t o g iv e u s t h is u t ilit y . P re s s a n y k e y . . . " 7 5 0 ; re a d

S a ve t h e s h e ll s crip t a n d ru n a s
$ c h m o d + x d ia 1
$ . / d ia 1
Aft e r e xe cu t in g t h is d ia lo g s t a t e m e n t yo u will s e e b o x o n s cre e n wit h t it le d a s "We lco m e t o Lin u x Dia lo g
Ut ilit y" a n d m e s s a g e "Th is is d ia lo g . . . . Pre s s a n y ke y. . . " in s id e t h is b o x. Th e t it le o f b o x is s p e cifie d b y
- - t it le o p t io n a n d in fo b o x wit h - - in fo b o x "Me s s a g e " wit h t h is o p t io n . He re 7 a n d 5 0 a re h e ig h t - o f- b o x a n d
wid t h - o f- b o x re s p e ct ive ly. "Lin u x S h e ll S crip t Tu t o ria l" is t h e b a ckt it le o f d ia lo g s h o w o n u p p e r le ft s id e o f
s cre e n a n d b e lo w t h a t lin e is d ra wn . Us e d ia lo g u t ilit y t o Dis p la y d ia lo g b o xe s fro m s h e ll s crip t s .
S yn t a x:

dialog --title {title} --backtitle {backtitle} {Box options}

where Box options can be any one of following
--yesno {text} {height} {width}
--msgbox {text} {height} {width}
--infobox {text} {height} {width}
--inputbox {text} {height} {width} [{init}]
--textbox {file} {height} {width}
--menu {text} {height} {width} {menu} {height} {tag1} item1}...

m s g b o x u s in g d ia lo g u t ilit y
$ c a t > d ia 2
d ia lo g - - t it le "Lin u x D ia lo g Ut ilit y Ms g b o x " - - b a c k t it le "Lin u x S h e ll S c rip t \
Tu t o ria l" - - m s g b o x "Th is is d ia lo g b o x c a lle d m s g b o x , w h ic h is u s e d \
t o s h o w s o m e in fo rm a t io n o n s c re e n w h ic h h a s a ls o Ok b u t t o n , Th a n k s t o S a v io La m \
a n d S t u a rt He rb e rt t o g iv e u s t h is u t ilit y . P re s s a n y k e y . . . " 9 5 0

S a ve it a n d ru n a s
$ c h m o d + x d ia 2
$ . / d ia 2

ye s n o b o x u s in g d ia lo g u t ilit y
$ c a t > d ia 3
d ia lo g - - t it le "Ale rt : D e le t e File " - - b a c k t it le "Lin u x S h e ll S c rip t \
Tu t o ria l" - - y e s n o "\ n D o y o u w a n t t o d e le t e '/ u s r/ le t t e rs / jo b a p p lic a t io n '\
file " 7 6 0
s e l= $ ?
c a s e $ s e l in
0 ) e c h o "Yo u s e le c t t o d e le t e file ";;
1 ) e c h o "Yo u s e le c t n o t t o d e le t e file ";;
2 5 5 ) e c h o "Ca n c e le d b y y o u b y p re s s in g [ ES C] k e y ";;
e sac

S a ve it a n d ru n a s
$ c h m o d + x d ia 3
$ . / d ia 3

Ab o ve s crip t cre a t e s ye s n o t yp e d ia lo g b o x, wh ich is u s e d t o a s k s o m e q u e s t io n s t o t h e u s e r , a n d a n s we r

t o t h o s e q u e s t io n e it h e r ye s o r n o . Aft e r a s kin g q u e s t io n h o w d o we kn o w, wh e t h e r u s e r h a s p re s s ye s o r
n o b u t t o n ? Th e a n s we r is e xit s t a t u s , if u s e r p re s s ye s b u t t o n e xit s t a t u s will b e ze ro , if u s e r p re s s n o
b u t t o n e xit s t a t u s will b e o n e a n d if u s e r p re s s Es ca p e ke y t o ca n ce l d ia lo g b o x e xit s t a t u s will b e o n e 2 5 5 .
Th a t is wh a t we h a ve t e s t e d in o u r a b o ve s h e ll a s

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Statement Meaning
Get exit status of dialog
sel=$?
utility
Now take action according
case $sel in to exit status of dialog
0) echo "You select to delete file";; utility, if exit status is 0 ,
1) echo "You select not to delete file";; delete file, if exit status is
255) echo "Canceled by you by pressing [Escape] key";; 1 do not delete file and if
esac exit status is 255, means
Escape key is pressed.

in p u t b o x u s in g d ia lo g u t ilit y
$ c a t > d ia 4
d ia lo g - - t it le "I n p u t b o x - To t a k e in p u t fro m y o u " - - b a c k t it le "Lin u x S h e ll\
S c rip t Tu t o ria l" - - in p u t b o x "En t e r y o u r n a m e p le a s e " 8 6 0 2 > / t m p / in p u t . $ $

s e l= $ ?
n a = ` c a t / t m p / in p u t . $ $ `
c a s e $ s e l in
0 ) e c h o "He llo $ n a " ;;
1 ) e c h o "Ca n c e l is P re s s " ;;
2 5 5 ) e c h o "[ ES CAP E] k e y p re s s e d " ;;
e sac
rm - f / t m p / in p u t . $ $

In p u t b o x is u s e d t o t a ke in p u t fro m u s e r, He re we a re t a kin g Na m e o f u s e r a s in p u t . Bu t wh e re we a re
g o in g t o s t o re in p u t t e d n a m e , t h e a n s we r is t o re d ire ct in p u t t e d n a m e t o file via s t a t e m e n t
2 > / t m p / in p u t . $ $ a t t h e e n d o f d ia lo g co m m a n d , wh ich m e a n s s e n d s cre e n o u t p u t t o file ca lle d
/ t m p / in p u t . $ $ , le t t e r we ca n re t rie ve t h is in p u t t e d n a m e a n d s t o re t o va ria b le a s fo llo ws
n a = ` c a t / t m p / in p u t . $ $ ` . Fo r in p u t b o x e xit s t a t u s is a s fo llo ws
Exit Status for Inputbox Meaning
0 Command is successful
1 Cancel button is pressed by user
255 Escape key is pressed by user
No w we will writ e s crip t t o cre a t e m e n u s u s in g d ia lo g u t ilit y, fo llo win g a re m e n u it e m s
Da t e / t im e
Ca le n d a r
Ed it o r
a n d a ct io n fo r e a ch m e n u - it e m is fo llo ws

-----------------------------------------------
MENU- ITEM ACTION
-----------------------------------------------
Da t e / t im e S h o w cu rre n t d a t e / t im e
Ca le n d a r S h o w ca le n d a r
Ed it o r S t a rt vi Ed it o r
-----------------------------------------------
Cre a t e s crip t a s fo llo ws
$ cat > s m e nu
#
# Ho w t o c re a t e s m a ll m e n u u s in g d ia lo g
#
d ia lo g - - b a c k t it le "Lin u x S h e ll S c rip t Tu t o ria l " - - t it le "Ma in \
Me n u " - - m e n u "Mo v e u s in g [ UP ] [ D OW N ] , [ En t e r] t o \

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S e le c t " 1 5 5 0 3\
D a t e / t im e "S h o w s D a t e a n d Tim e "\
Ca le n d a r "To s e e c a le n d a r "\
Ed it o r "To s t a rt v i e d it o r " 2 > / t m p / m e n u it e m . $ $

m e n u it e m = ` c a t / t m p / m e n u it e m . $ $ `

o pt= $ ?

c a s e $ m e n u it e m in
D a t e / t im e ) d a t e ;;
Ca le n d a r) c a l;;
Ed it o r) v i;;
e sac

rm - f / t m p / m e n u it e m . $ $

S a ve it a n d ru n a s
$ chm od + x s m e nu
$ ./ s m e n u
He re - - m e n u o p t io n is u s e d o f d ia lo g u t ilit y t o cre a t e m e n u s , m e n u o p t io n t a ke
--menu options Meaning
"Move using [UP] [DOWN],[Enter] to Select" This is text show before menu
15 Height of box
50 Width of box
3 Height of menu
First menu item called as tag1 (i.e. Date/time)
Date/time "Shows Date and Time" and description for menu item called as item1
(i.e. "Shows Date and Time")
First menu item called as tag2 (i.e. Calendar)
and description for menu item called as item2
Calendar "To see calendar "
(i.e. "To see calendar")
First menu item called as tag3 (i.e. Editor) and
Editor "To start vi editor " description for menu item called as item3
(i.e."To start vi editor")
Send sleeted menu item (tag) to this temporary
2>/tmp/menuitem.$$
file

Aft e r cre a t in g m e n u s , u s e r s e le ct s m e n u - it e m b y p re s s in g e n t e r ke y t h e s e le ct e d ch o ice is re d ire ct e d t o

t e m p o ra ry file , Ne xt t h is m e n u - it e m is re t rie ve d fro m t e m p o ra ry file a n d fo llo win g ca s e s t a t e m e n t
co m p a re t h e m e n u - it e m a n d t a ke s a p p ro p ria t e s t e p a cco rd in g t o s e le ct e d m e n u it e m . As yo u s e e , d ia lo g
u t ilit y a llo ws m o re p o we rfu l u s e r in t e ra ct io n t h e n t h e o ld e r re a d a n d e ch o s t a t e m e n t . Th e o n ly p ro b le m
wit h d ia lo g u t ilit y is it wo rk s lo wly.

t ra p c o m m a n d
No w co n s id e r fo llo win g s crip t
$ c a t > t e s t s ig n
ls - R /
S a ve a n d ru n it a s
$ c h m o d + x t e s t s ig n
$ . / t e s t s ig n
No w if yo u p re s s ct rl + c , wh ile ru n n in g t h is s crip t , s crip t g e t t e rm in a t e d . Th e ct rl + c h e re wo rk a s
s ig n a l, Wh e n s u ch s ig n a l o ccu rs it s s e n d t o a ll p ro ce s s cu rre n t ly ru n n in g in yo u r s ys t e m . No w co n s id e r
fo llo win g s h e ll s crip t

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$ c a t > t e s t s ig n 1
#
# W h y t o t ra p s ig n a l, v e rs io n 1
#
Ta k e _ in p u t 1 ( )
{
re c n o = 0
c le a r
e c h o "Ap p o in t m e n t N o t e k e e p e r Ap p lic a t io n fo r Lin u x "
e c h o - n "En t e r y o u r d a t a b a s e file n a m e : "
re a d file n a m e

if [ ! - f $ file n a m e ] ; t h e n
e c h o "S o rry , $ file n a m e d o e s n o t e x it , Cre a t in g $ file n a m e d a t a b a s e "
e c h o "Ap p o in t m e n t N o t e k e e p e r Ap p lic a t io n d a t a b a s e file " > $ file n a m e
fi

e c h o "D a t a e n t ry s t a rt d a t a : ` d a t e ` " > / t m p / in p u t 0 . $ $

#
# S e t a in fin it e lo o p
#
w h ile :
do
e c h o - n "Ap p o in t m e n t Tit le :"
re a d n a
e c h o - n "Ap p o in t t im e :"
re a d t i
e c h o - n "An y Re m a rk :"
re a d re m a rk
e c h o - n "I s d a t a o k a y ( y / n ) ? "
re a d a n s

if [ $ a n s = y - o $ a n s = Y ] ; t h e n
re c n o = ` e x p r $ re c n o + 1 `
e c h o "$ re c n o . $ n a $ t i $ re m a rk " > > / t m p / in p u t 0 . $ $
fi

e c h o - n "Ad d n e x t a p p o in t m e n t ( y / n ) ? "
re a d is n e x t

if [ $ is n e x t = n - o $ is n e x t = N ] ; t h e n
c a t / t m p / in p u t 0 . $ $ > > $ file n a m e
rm - f / t m p / in p u t 0 . $ $
re t u rn # t e rm in a t e lo o p
fi
do ne
}
#
#
# Ca ll o u r u s e r d e fin e fu n c t io n : Ta k e _ in p u t 1
#
Ta k e _ in p u t 1
S a ve it a n d ru n a s
$ c h m o d + x t e s t s ig n 1
$ . / t e s t s ig n 1
It firs t a s k yo u m a in d a t a b a s e file wh e re a ll a p p o in t m e n t o f t h a t d a y is s t o re d , if n o s u ch d a t a b a s e file
fo u n d , file is cre a t e d , a ft e r t h a t it o p e n o n e t e m p o ra ry file in / t m p d ire ct o ry, a n d p u t s t o d a y's d a t e in t h a t

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file . Th e n o n e in fin it e lo o p b e g in s , wh ich a s k a p p o in t m e n t t it le , t im e a n d re m a rk, if t h is in fo rm a t io n is

co rre ct it s writ t e n t o t e m p o ra ry file , Aft e r t h a t s crip t a s k u s e r , wh e t h e r h e / s h e wa n t s a d d n e xt
a p p o in t m e n t re co rd , if ye s t h e n n e xt re co rd is a d d e d , o t h e rwis e a ll re co rd s a re co p ie d fro m t e m p o ra ry file
t o d a t a b a s e file a n d t h e n lo o p will b e t e rm in a t e d . Yo u ca n vie w yo u r d a t a b a s e file b y u s in g ca t co m m a n d .
No w p ro b le m is t h a t wh ile ru n n in g t h is s crip t , if yo u p re s s CTRL + C, yo u r s h e ll s crip t g e t s t e rm in a t e d a n d
t e m p o ra ry file a re le ft in / t m p d ire ct o ry. Fo r e . g . t ry a s fo llo ws
$ . / t e s t s ig n 1
Aft e r g ive n d a t a b a s e file n a m e a n d a ft e r a d d in g a t le a s t o n e a p p o in t m e n t re co rd t o t e m p o ra ry file p re s s
CTRL+ C, Ou r s crip t g e t t e rm in a t e d , a n d it le ft t e m p o ra ry file in / t m p d ire ct o ry, yo u ca n ch e ck t h is b y
g ivin g co m m a n d a s fo llo ws
$ ls / t m p / in p u t *
Ou r s crip t n e e d s t o d e t e ct wh e n s u ch s ig n a l ( e ve n t ) o ccu rs , To a ch ie ve t h is we h a ve t o firs t d e t e ct S ig n a l
u s in g t ra p co m m a n d
S yn t a x: t ra p { co m m a n d s } { s ig n a l n u m b e r lis t }
S ig n a l Nu m b e r Wh e n o ccu rs
0 s h e ll e xit
1 hangup
2 in t e rru p t ( CTRL+ C)
3 q u it
9 kill ( ca n n o t b e ca u g h t )

To ca t ch t h is s ig n a l in a b o ve s crip t , p u t t ra p s t a t e m e n t b e fo re ca llin g Ta ke _ in p u t 1 fu n ct io n a s t ra p
d e l_ file 2 . , He re t ra p co m m a n d ca lle d d e l_ file ( ) wh e n 2 n u m b e r in t e rru p t ( i. e . CTRL+ C ) o ccu rs . Op e n
a b o ve s crip t in e d it o r a n d m o d ify it s o t h a t a t t h e e n d it will lo o k like a s fo llo ws
$ v i t e s t s ig n 1
or
$ m c e d it t e s t s ig n 1
#
# s ig n a l is t ra p p e d t o d e le t e t e m p o ra ry file , v e rs io n 2
#
d e l_ file ( )
{
e c h o "* * * CTRL + C Tra p Oc c u rs ( re m o v in g t e m p o ra ry file ) * * * "
rm - f / t m p / in p u t 0 . $ $
e x it 1
}
Ta k e _ in p u t 1 ( )
{
re c n o = 0
c le a r
e c h o "Ap p o in t m e n t N o t e k e e p e r Ap p lic a t io n fo r Lin u x "
e c h o - n "En t e r y o u r d a t a b a s e file n a m e : "
re a d file n a m e

if [ ! - f $ file n a m e ] ; t h e n
e c h o "S o rry , $ file n a m e d o e s n o t e x it , Cre a t in g $ file n a m e d a t a b a s e "
e c h o "Ap p o in t m e n t N o t e k e e p e r Ap p lic a t io n d a t a b a s e file " > $ file n a m e
fi

e c h o "D a t a e n t ry s t a rt d a t a : ` d a t e ` " > / t m p / in p u t 0 . $ $

#
# S e t a in fin it e lo o p
#
w h ile :
do

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e cho - n "Ap p o in t m e n t Tit le :"

re a d na
e cho - n "Ap p o in t t im e :"
re a d ti
e cho - n "An y Re m a rk :"
re a d re m a rk
e cho - n "I s d a t a o k a y ( y / n ) ? "
re a d ans

if [ $ a n s = y - o $ a n s = Y ] ; t h e n
re c n o = ` e x p r $ re c n o + 1 `
e c h o "$ re c n o . $ n a $ t i $ re m a rk " > > / t m p / in p u t 0 . $ $
fi

e c h o - n "Ad d n e x t a p p o in t m e n t ( y / n ) ? "
re a d is n e x t

if [ $ is n e x t = n - o $ is n e x t = N ] ; t h e n
c a t / t m p / in p u t 0 . $ $ > > $ file n a m e
rm - f / t m p / in p u t 0 . $ $
re t u rn # t e rm in a t e lo o p
fi
do ne
}
#
# S e t t ra p t o fo r CTRL+ C in t e rru p t ,
# W h e n o c c u rs it firs t it c a lls d e l_ file ( ) a n d t h e n e x it
#
t ra p d e l_ file 2
#
# Ca ll o u r u s e r d e fin e fu n c t io n : Ta k e _ in p u t 1
#
Ta k e _ in p u t 1
No w s a ve it ru n t h e p ro g ra m a s
$ . / t e s t s ig n 1
Aft e r g ive n d a t a b a s e file n a m e a n d a ft e r g ivin g a p p o in t m e n t t it le p re s s CTRL+ C, He re we h a ve a lre a d y
ca p t u re d t h is CTRL + C s ig n a l ( in t e rru p t ) , s o firs t o u r fu n ct io n d e l_ file ( ) is ca lle d , in wh ich it g ive s
m e s s a g e a s "* * * CTRL + C Tra p Occu rs ( re m o v in g t e m p o ra ry file ) * * * " a n d t h e n it re m o ve o u r
t e m p o ra ry file a n d t h e n e xit wit h e xit s t a t u s 1 . No w ch e ck / t m p d ire ct o ry a s fo llo ws
$ ls / t m p / in p u t *
No w S h e ll will re p o rt n o s u ch t e m p o ra ry file e xit .

g e to pts co m m a nd
Th is co m m a n d is u s e d t o ch e ck va lid co m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t p a s s e d t o s crip t . Us u a lly u s e d in wh ile lo o p .
S yn t a x: g e t o p t s { o p t s rin g } { v a ria b le 1 }

g e t o p t s is u s e d b y s h e ll t o p a rs e co m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t . o p t s t rin g co n t a in s t h e o p t io n le t t e rs t o b e
re co g n ize d ; if a le t t e r is fo llo we d b y a co lo n , t h e o p t io n is e xp e ct e d t o h a ve a n a rg u m e n t , wh ich s h o u ld
b e s e p a ra t e d fro m it b y wh it e s p a ce . Ea ch t im e it is in vo ke d , g e t o p t s p la ce s t h e n e xt o p t io n in t h e s h e ll
va ria b le va ria b le 1 , Wh e n a n o p t io n re q u ire s a n a rg u m e n t , g e t o p t s p la ce s t h a t a rg u m e n t in t o t h e va ria b le
OPTARG. On e rro rs g e t o p t s d ia g n o s t ic m e s s a g e s a re p rin t e d wh e n ille g a l o p t io n s o r m is s in g o p t io n
a rg u m e n t s a re e n co u n t e re d . If a n ille g a l o p t io n is s e e n , g e t o p t s p la ce s ? in t o va ria b le 1 . Fo r e . g . We h a ve
s crip t ca lle d a n i wh ich h a s s yn t a x a s
an i -n -a -s -w -d
Op t io n s : Th e s e a re o p t io n a l a rg u m e n t
- n n a m e o f a n im a l

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- a a g e o f a n im a l
- s s e x o f a n im a l
- w w e ig h t o f a n im a l
- d d e m o v a lu e s ( if a n y o f t h e a b o v e o p t io n s a re u s e d
t h e ir v a lu e s a re n o t t a k e n )
$ cat > ani
#
# Us a g e : a n i - n - a - s - w - d
#

#
# h e lp _ a n i( ) To p rin t h e lp
#
h e lp _ a n i( )
{
e c h o "Us a g e : $ 0 - n - a - s - w - d "
e c h o "Op t io n s : Th e s e a re o p t io n a l a rg u m e n t "
e cho " - n n a m e o f a n im a l"
e cho " - a a g e o f a n im a l"
e cho " - s s e x o f a n im a l "
e cho " - w w e ig h t o f a n im a l"
e cho " - d d e m o v a lu e s ( if a n y o f t h e a b o v e o p t io n s a re u s e d "
e cho " t h e ir v a lu e s a re n o t t a k e n ) "
e x it 1
}
#
# S t a rt m a in p ro c e d u re
#

#
# S e t d e fa u lt v a lu e fo r v a ria b le
#
is d e f= 0
n a = Mo t i
a g e = "2 Mo n t h s "
s e x = Ma le
w e ig h t = 3 Kg

#
# if n o a rg u m e n t
#
if [ $ # - lt 1 ] ; t h e n
h e lp _ a n i
fi

w h ile g e t o p t s n :a :s :w :d o p t
do
c a s e "$ o p t " in
n ) n a = "$ OP TARG";;
a ) a g e = "$ OP TARG";;
s ) s e x = "$ OP TARG";;
w ) w e ig h t = "$ OP TARG";;
d ) is d e f= 1 ;;
\ ? ) h e lp _ a n i;;
e sac
do ne

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if [ $ is d e f - e q 0 ]
the n
e c h o "An im a l N a m e : $ n a , Ag e : $ a g e , S e x : $ s e x , W e ig h t : $ w e ig h t ( u s e r d e fin e m o d e ) "
e ls e
n a = "P lu t o D o g "
age = 3
s e x = Ma le
w e ig h t = 2 0 k g
e c h o "An im a l N a m e : $ n a , Ag e : $ a g e , S e x : $ s e x , W e ig h t : $ w e ig h t ( d e m o m o d e ) "
fi

S a ve it a n d ru n a s fo llo ws
$ chm od + x ani
$ a n i - n La s s ie - a 4 - s Fe m a le - w 2 0 Kg
$ a n i - a 4 - s Fe m a le - n La s s ie - w 2 0 Kg
$ a n i - n La s s ie - s Fe m a le - w 2 0 Kg - a 4
$ a n i - w 2 0 Kg - s Fe m a le - n La s s ie - a 4
$ a n i - w 2 0 Kg - s Fe m a le
$ a n i - n La s s ie - a 4
$ a n i - n La s s ie
$ ani -a 2

S e e b e ca u s e o f g e t o p t s , we ca n p a s s co m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t in d iffe re n t s t yle . Fo llo win g a re in va lid

o p t io n s fo r a n i s crip t
$ a n i - n La s s ie - a 4 - s Fe m a l - w 2 0 Kg
He re n o s p a ce b e t we e n o p t io n a n d t h e ir va lu e .
$ a n i - n La s s ie - a 4 - s Fe m a l- w 2 0 Kg
$ a n i - n La s s ie - a 4 - s Fe m a le - w 2 0 Kg - c Ma m m a l
He re - c is n o t o n e o f t h e o p t io n s .

Mo re e x a m p le s o f S h e ll S c rip t ( Ex e rc is e fo r Yo u :- )
Firs t t ry t o writ e t h is s h e ll s crip t , a s e xe rcis e , if a n y p ro b le m o r fo r s a m p le a n s we r t o t h is S h e ll s crip t o p e n
t h e s h e ll s crip t file s u p p lie d wit h t h is t u t o ria l.
Q. 1 . Ho w t o writ e s h e ll s crip t t h a t will a d d t wo n o s , wh ich a re s u p p lie d a s co m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t , a n d if
t h is t wo n o s a re n o t g ive n s h o w e rro r a n d it s u s a g e
An s we r: S e e Q1 s h e ll S crip t .
Q. 2 . Writ e S crip t t o fin d o u t b ig g e s t n u m b e r fro m g ive n t h re e n o s . No s a re s u p p lie s a s co m m a n d lin e
a rg u m e n t . Prin t e rro r if s u fficie n t a rg u m e n t s a re n o t s u p p lie d .
An s we r: S e e Q2 s h e ll S crip t .
Q. 3 . Writ e s crip t t o p rin t n o s a s 5 , 4 , 3 , 2 , 1 u s in g wh ile lo o p .
An s we r: S e e Q3 s h e ll S crip t .
Q. 4 . Writ e S crip t , u s in g ca s e s t a t e m e n t t o p e rfo rm b a s ic m a t h o p e ra t io n a s
fo llo ws
+ a d d it io n
- s u b t ra ct io n
x m u lt ip lica t io n
/ d ivis io n
Th e n a m e o f s crip t m u s t b e 'q 4 ' wh ich wo rks a s fo llo ws
$ . / q 4 2 0 / 3 , Als o ch e ck fo r s u fficie n t co m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t s
An s we r: S e e Q4 s h e ll S crip t .
Q. 5 . Writ e S crip t t o s e e cu rre n t d a t e , t im e , u s e rn a m e , a n d cu rre n t d ire ct o ry
An s we r: S e e Q5 s h e ll S crip t .
Q. 6 . Writ e s crip t t o p rin t g ive n n u m b e r in re ve rs e o rd e r, fo r e g . If n o is 1 2 3 it m u s t p rin t a s 3 2 1 .

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An s we r: S e e Q6 s h e ll S crip t .
Q. 7 . Writ e s crip t t o p rin t g ive n n u m b e rs s u m o f a ll d ig it , Fo r e g . If n o is 1 2 3 it 's s u m o f a ll d ig it will b e
1+ 2+ 3 = 6.
An s we r: S e e Q7 s h e ll S crip t .
Q. 8 . Ho w t o p e rfo rm re a l n u m b e r ( n u m b e r wit h d e cim a l p o in t ) ca lcu la t io n in Lin u x
An s we r: Us e Lin u x's b c co m m a n d

Q. 9 . Ho w t o ca lcu la t e 5 . 1 2 + 2 . 5 re a l n u m b e r ca lcu la t io n a t $ p ro m p t in S h e ll ?
An s we r: Us e co m m a n d a s , $ e c h o 5 . 1 2 + 2 . 5 | b c , h e re we a re g ivin g e ch o co m m a n d s o u t p u t t o b c t o
ca lcu la t e t h e 5 . 1 2 + 2 . 5
Q. 1 0 . Ho w t o p e rfo rm re a l n u m b e r ca lcu la t io n in s h e ll s crip t a n d s t o re re s u lt t o
t h ird va ria b le , le t s s a y a = 5 . 6 6 , b = 8 . 6 7 , c= a + b ?
An s we r: S e e Q1 0 s h e ll S crip t .

Q. 1 1 . Writ e s crip t t o d e t e rm in e wh e t h e r g ive n file e xis t o r n o t , file n a m e is s u p p lie d a s co m m a n d lin e

a rg u m e n t , a ls o ch e ck fo r s u fficie n t n u m b e r o f co m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t
An s we r: S e e Q1 1 s h e ll S crip t .
Q. 1 2 . Writ e s crip t t o d e t e rm in e wh e t h e r g ive n co m m a n d lin e a rg u m e n t ( $ 1 ) co n t a in s "* " s ym b o l o r n o t , if
$ 1 d o e s n o t co n t a in s "* " s ym b o l a d d it t o $ 1 , o t h e rwis e s h o w m e s s a g e "S ym b o l is n o t re q u ire d ". Fo r e . g .
If we ca lle d t h is s crip t Q1 2 t h e n a ft e r g ivin g ,
$ Q1 2 / b in
He re $ 1 is / b in , it s h o u ld ch e ck wh e t h e r "* " s ym b o l is p re s e n t o r n o t if n o t it s h o u ld p rin t Re q u ire d i. e .
/ b in / * , a n d if s ym b o l p re s e n t t h e n S ym b o l is n o t re q u ire d m u s t b e p rin t e d . Te s t yo u r s crip t a s
$ Q1 2 / b in
$ Q1 2 / b in / *
An s we r: S e e Q1 2 s h e ll S crip t
Q. 1 3 . Writ e s crip t t o p rin t co n t a in s o f file fro m g ive n lin e n u m b e r t o n e xt g ive n n u m b e r o f lin e s . Fo r e . g . If
we ca lle d t h is s crip t a s Q1 3 a n d ru n a s
$ Q1 3 5 5 m y f , He re p rin t co n t a in s o f 'm yf' file fro m lin e n u m b e r 5 t o n e xt 5 lin e o f t h a t file .
An s we r: S e e Q1 3 s h e ll S crip t

Q. 1 4 . Writ e s crip t t o im p le m e n t g e t o p t s s t a t e m e n t , yo u r s crip t s h o u ld u n d e rs t a n d fo llo win g co m m a n d lin e

a rg u m e n t ca lle d t h is s crip t Q1 4 ,
Q1 4 - c - d - m - e
Wh e re o p t io n s wo rk a s
- c cle a r t h e s cre e n
- d s h o w lis t o f file s in cu rre n t wo rkin g d ire ct o ry
- m s t a rt m c ( m id n ig h t co m m a n d e r s h e ll) , if in s t a lle d
- e { e d it o r } s t a rt t h is { e d it o r } if in s t a lle d
An s we r: S e e Q1 4 s h e ll S crip t

Q. 1 5 . Writ e s crip t ca lle d s a yHe llo , p u t t h is s crip t in t o yo u r s t a rt u p file ca lle d . b a s h _ p ro file , t h e s crip t
s h o u ld ru n a s s o o n a s yo u lo g o n t o s ys t e m , a n d it p rin t a n y o n e o f t h e fo llo win g m e s s a g e in in fo b o x u s in g
d ia lo g u t ilit y, if in s t a lle d in yo u r s ys t e m , If d ia lo g u t ilit y is n o t in s t a lle d t h e n u s e e ch o s t a t e m e n t t o p rin t
m essage : -
Go o d Mo rn in g
Go o d Aft e rn o o n
Go o d Eve n in g , a cco rd in g t o s ys t e m t im e .
An s we r: S e e Q1 5 s h e ll S crip t
Q. 1 6 . Ho w t o writ e s crip t , t h a t will p rin t , Me s s a g e "He llo Wo rld " , in Bo ld a n d Blin k e ffe ct , a n d in d iffe re n t
co lo rs like re d , b ro wn e t c u s in g e ch o co m m a n d .
An s we r: S e e Q1 6 s h e ll S crip t
Q. 1 7 . Writ e s crip t t o im p le m e n t b a ckg ro u n d p ro ce s s t h a t will co n t in u a lly p rin t cu rre n t t im e in u p p e r rig h t

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co rn e r o f t h e s cre e n , wh ile u s e r ca n d o h is / h e r n o rm a l jo b a t $ p ro m p t .
An s we r: S e e Q1 7 s h e ll S crip t .
Q. 1 8 . Writ e s h e ll s crip t t o im p le m e n t m e n u s u s in g d ia lo g u t ilit y. Me n u - it e m s a n d a ct io n a cco rd in g t o s e le ct
m e n u - it e m is a s fo llo ws
Me n u - I t e m P u rp o s e Ac t io n fo r Me n u - I t e m
Da t e a n d t im e m u s t b e s h o wn u s in g in fo b o x o f d ia lo g
Da t e / t im e To s e e cu rre n t d a t e t im e
u t ilit y
Ca le n d a r To s e e cu rre n t ca le n d a r Ca le n d a r m u s t b e s h o wn u s in g in fo b o x o f d ia lo g u t ilit y
Firs t a s k u s e r n a m e o f d ire ct o ry wh e re a ll file s a re
p re s e n t , if n o n a m e o f d ire ct o ry g ive n a s s u m e s cu rre n t
d ire ct o ry, t h e n s h o w a ll file s o n ly o f t h a t d ire ct o ry, File s
m u s t b e s h o wn o n s cre e n u s in g m e n u s o f d ia lo g u t ilit y,
De le t e To d e le t e s e le ct e d file
le t t h e u s e r s e le ct t h e file , t h e n a s k t h e co n firm a t io n t o
u s e r wh e t h e r h e / s h e wa n t s t o d e le t e s e le ct e d file , if
a n s we r is ye s t h e n d e le t e t h e file , re p o rt e rro rs if a n y
wh ile d e le t in g file t o u s e r.
Exit To Exit t h is s h e ll s crip t Exit / S t o p s t h e m e n u d rive n p ro g ra m i. e . t h is s crip t

No t e : Cre a t e fu n ct io n fo r a ll a ct io n fo r e . g . To s h o w d a t e / t im e o n s cre e n cre a t e fu n ct io n

s h o w_ d a t e t im e ( ) .
An s we r: S e e Q1 8 s h e ll S crip t .
Q. 1 9 . Writ e s h e ll s crip t t o s h o w va rio u s s ys t e m co n fig u ra t io n like
1 ) Cu rre n t ly lo g g e d u s e r a n d h is lo g n a m e
2 ) Yo u r cu rre n t s h e ll
3 ) Yo u r h o m e d ire ct o ry
4 ) Yo u r o p e ra t in g s ys t e m t yp e
5 ) Yo u r cu rre n t p a t h s e t t in g
6 ) Yo u r cu rre n t wo rkin g d ire ct o ry
7 ) S h o w Cu rre n t ly lo g g e d n u m b e r o f u s e rs
8 ) Ab o u t yo u r o s a n d ve rs io n , re le a s e n u m b e r , ke rn e l ve rs io n
9 ) S h o w a ll a va ila b le s h e lls
1 0 ) S h o w m o u s e s e t t in g s
1 1 ) S h o w co m p u t e r cp u in fo rm a t io n like p ro ce s s o r t yp e , s p e e d e t c
1 2 ) S h o w m e m o ry in fo rm a t io n
1 3 ) S h o w h a rd d is k in fo rm a t io n like s ize o f h a rd - d is k, ca ch e m e m o ry, m o d e l e t c
1 4 ) File s ys t e m ( Mo u n t e d )
An s we r: S e e Q1 9 s h e ll S crip t .
Th a t 's a ll!, Th a n ks fo r re a d in g , Th is t u t o ria l e n d s h e re , b u t Lin u x p ro g ra m m in g e n viro n m e n t is b ig , rich
a n d p ro d u ct ive ( As yo u s e e fro m a b o ve s h e ll s crip t e xe rcis e ) , yo u s h o u ld co n t in u e t o re a d m o re a d va n ce
t o p ics a n d b o o ks . If yo u h a ve a n y s u g g e s t io n o r n e w id e a s o r p ro b le m wit h t h is t u t o ria l, p le a s e fe e l fre e t o
co n t a ct m e .
My e - m a il is g it e - vive k@u s a . n e t .
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