PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLIC OF ALGERIA

MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

1ST YEAR BASIC TRAINING IN CYBER SECURITY

INTRODUCTION TO OPERATING SYSTEMS 1

(SYST1)

Dr. Sassi BENTRAD

 : [email protected]
LISCO Laboratory (Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes COmplexes)
University of Badji Mokhtar-Annaba (UBMA)

I 1st Year Basic Training in Cyber Security ( 1BT ) 2024 / 2025 © Dr. Sassi BENTRAD - 2024
 Basic Training in Cyber Security (1BT)
Formation de Base en Cyber-Sécurité (1FB)

CHAPTER

8
BASH PROGRAMMING AND SHELL SCRIPTING

SYST1’2024/2025
 MODULE DESCRIPTION SHEET : INTRODUCTION TO OPERATING SYSTEMS 1 (SYST1)

BASH PROGRAMMING AND SHELL SCRIPTING ( 10 % )

❑ Introduction

CHAPTER 8 ❑ Bash Programming vs. Shell Scripting

COURSE ❑ Shell Scripting Basics
CONTENT
❑ Shell Programming
❑ Summary
❑ Reference Books
8. BASH PROGRAMMING AND SHELL SCRIPTING 01
❖ KERNEL & SHELL

❑ Linux Architecture
Some Linux distributions install several shells.
These might include :
gnome-terminal, konsole, xterm, rxvt, kvt, nxterm, and eterm.

User Command

Interpret

System Execute

Architecture of Linux System Command Execution Process

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❖ KERNEL & SHELL

❑ What is a “Shell”?
The “Shell” is simply another program on top of the kernel which provides a basic human-OS
interface.
▪ It is a command interpreter
✓ Built on top of the kernel
✓ Enables users to run services provided by the UNIX/Linux OS

▪ In its simplest form, a series of commands in a file is a shell program that saves having to retype
commands to perform common tasks.
user
Shell

How to know what shell you use ? echo $SHELL

user OS

user

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❖ KERNEL & SHELL

❑ Most famous and popular shells

Shells …

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❖ KERNEL & SHELL

❑ Which Shell to Use ?

▪ sh (Bourne shell) was considered better for programming
▪ csh (C-Shell ) was considered better for interactive work.
▪ tcsh and korn were improvements on c-shell and bourne shell respectively.
▪ bash (Bourne Again Shell) is largely compatible with sh and also has many of the nice features
of the other shells
▪ On many systems such as our LINUX clusters sh is symbolically linked to bash, /bin/sh ->
/bin/bash
▪ We recommend that you use sh/bash for writing new shell scripts but learn csh/tcsh to
understand existing scripts.
▪ Many, if not all, scientific applications require csh/tcsh environment (GUI, Graphics Utility
Interface)
▪ All Linux versions use the Bash shell as the default shell
✓ Bash / Bourn / ksh / sh prompt: $
• All UNIX system include C shell and its predecessor Bourne shell.
✓ Csh / tcsh prompt: %
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❖ KERNEL & SHELL

❑ Linux Shell

To check shell:

$ echo $SHELL (shell is a pre-defined variable)

To switch shell:
$ exec shellname (e.g., $ exec bash or simply type $ bash)

✓ You can switch from one shell to another by just typing the name of the shell.
✓ exit return you back to previous shell.

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8. BASH PROGRAMMING AND SHELL SCRIPTING 01
❖ INTRODUCTION

In today's computing world, automation is key, and mastering shell scripting is an essential skill for
system administrators, developers, and cybersecurity professionals. The Bash shell (Bourne Again
Shell) is one of the most widely used command-line interfaces in Linux and Unix-based systems, making
it a powerful tool for system management and process automation.

Throughout this course, we will explore how to:

Write and execute Bash scripts to automate repetitive tasks.
Understand shell syntax, variables, loops, and conditional statements.
Work with system commands, pipelines, and redirections.
Manage files, processes, and system resources efficiently.
Develop robust scripts with error handling and debugging techniques.

 The first step to hands-on experience and real-world applications

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❖ INTRODUCTION

❑ Bash Programming vs. Shell Scripting

▪ Bash programming refers specifically to writing
programs or scripts using Bash, the Bourne Again Shell,
which is a type of shell (command-line interpreter).
Bash programming focuses on creating logic and
control flows (like loops, conditionals, functions) within
the context of the Bash shell environment.
▪ Shell scripting is a broader concept that involves writing
scripts for any shell (not just Bash).
Shells include Bash, Zsh, Fish, Ksh, and others. A shell
script is essentially a sequence of commands written for
a shell to automate tasks or solve problems.

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8. BASH PROGRAMMING AND SHELL SCRIPTING 03
❖ INTRODUCTION

❑ Bash Programming vs. Shell Scripting : Key Differences

Aspect Shell Script (POSIX sh) Bash Script

Shell Used Could be for any shell (Bash, Zsh, sh, etc.) Specifically for Bash
Shell Works with any POSIX-compliant shell
Requires the Bash shell (bash).
Compatibility (e.g., sh, dash, ksh).
Limited to POSIX-standard syntax and Supports advanced features like arrays, associative
Features
features. arrays, [[ ]] tests, =~ regex, process substitution, etc.
Less portable (Bash-specific features may not work in
Portability More portable across Unix/Linux systems.
other shells)
Shebang Line #!/bin/sh #!/bin/bash or #!/usr/bin/env bash
Simpler, stricter syntax. Uses Bash-specific syntax and features.
Syntax
Depends on the shell being used. More flexible syntax with shortcuts
Advanced Supports arrays, [[ ... ]] for conditionals, string
Basic control structures, functions, etc.
Features manipulation, etc.

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8. BASH PROGRAMMING AND SHELL SCRIPTING 04
❖ INTRODUCTION

❑ Bash Programming vs. Shell Scripting : Key Differences

When to use Which ?

▪ Use POSIX Shell Script (sh):
• For scripts that need to run on any Unix/Linux
system (e.g., embedded systems, older servers).
• Example: Scripts in /bin or system initialization
scripts (e.g., those in /etc/init.d).

▪ Use Bash Script:

• For Linux-centric scripts where advanced features
are needed (e.g., arrays, string manipulation).
• Example: Complex automation tasks, scripts
leveraging Bash-specific syntax.
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❖ INTRODUCTION

❑ Bash Programming vs. Shell Scripting : Summary

• Shell script = Broad term for scripts compatible with any shell.

• Bash script = A subset of shell scripts using Bash-specific features (A specific type of
shell script written for the Bash shell, often using its unique features).

• Portability: Use POSIX sh for maximum compatibility; use Bash for richer functionality on
Linux.

• Always check the shebang line (#!/bin/sh vs. #!/bin/bash) and test your script in the
target environment!

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8. BASH PROGRAMMING AND SHELL SCRIPTING 06
❖ INTRODUCTION

❑ Objectives
• Understand the basics of Shell programming and scripting
• Learn how to create and execute Shell scripts
• Explore common use cases for automation and task management
• Understand key Shell commands and syntax for effective scripting
• Gain hands-on experience through practical examples and exercises.

❑ Prerequisites
• Basic knowledge of Linux command-line usage
• Familiarity with file system navigation and permissions
• A working knowledge of text editors (e.g., Vim, Nano)
• Basic programming concepts (optional but helpful)

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8. BASH PROGRAMMING AND SHELL SCRIPTING 07
❖ INTRODUCTION

❑ Tools and Environment Setup

▪ Installing and configuring Bash Shell (or other relevant Shells)

▪ Installing Bash (Linux, Windows WSL, Cygwin, Git Bash)

▪ Recommended text editors and IDEs for writing scripts (vim, nano, VS Code)

▪ Basic configuration of environment variables

▪ Understanding Shell Configuration Files (.bashrc, .bash_profile)

▪ Debugging tools (set -x, shellcheck)

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8. BASH PROGRAMMING AND SHELL SCRIPTING 08
❖ INTRODUCTION

❑ How to get the most out of this chapter

▪ Hands-on practice approach: practicing by writing scripts

▪ Experimenting with small scripts before building complex ones

▪ Following best practices and coding standards

▪ Understanding the importance of experimentation and debugging

▪ Leveraging online resources and communities for further learning

▪ Tips for breaking down and solving problems efficiently

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8. BASH PROGRAMMING AND SHELL SCRIPTING 09
❖ INTRODUCTION

❑ Real-World Applications

▪ Automating repetitive tasks (file management, backups, etc.)

▪ Automating system administration tasks (user management, process monitoring)

▪ Data processing and parsing text files

▪ Scheduling tasks with cron jobs, Log file analysis and monitoring

▪ Server management and DevOps automation

▪ Security scripting and penetration testing

▪ Use in cloud computing, virtual machines, and containerization

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8. BASH PROGRAMMING AND SHELL SCRIPTING 10
❖ INTRODUCTION

❑ Importance of Bash Programming and Shell Scripting

▪ Efficiency and productivity benefits in system administration and development

▪ Essential for DevOps, system administration, and cybersecurity

▪ Enhancing productivity by reducing manual tasks

▪ Writing portable, lightweight scripts for cross-platform tasks

▪ Shell scripting as an indispensable tool for power users and IT professionals

▪ Integration with other programming languages (Python, Perl)

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❖ BASH PROGRAMMING

❑ Bash Programming Basics

▪ Bash programming refers specifically to writing programs or scripts using Bash, the Bourne
Again Shell, which is a type of shell (command-line interpreter).

▪ Bash programming focuses on creating logic and control flows (like loops, conditionals,
functions) within the context of the Bash shell environment.

▪ Scope: It includes understanding the core features of Bash, such as:

✓ Variables and data types
✓ Functions and control structures (if/else, loops)
✓ Handling input/output
✓ Regular expressions and string manipulation
✓ Process management (background jobs, pipelines, job control)
✓ Advanced scripting techniques, including debugging, error handling, and optimizing code

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8. BASH PROGRAMMING AND SHELL SCRIPTING 12
❖ BASH PROGRAMMING

❑ Bash Programming Basics

▪ Use Case:
Bash programming is used when you want to write more complex, reusable scripts or tools
within the Bash environment. It can involve building small utilities, automating repetitive tasks, or
interacting with the operating system.

▪ Nature:
More focused on programming logic, structure, and writing code that interacts directly with the
operating system via the Bash shell. It often involves writing small, standalone programs or
scripts.

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8. BASH PROGRAMMING AND SHELL SCRIPTING 13
❖ SHELL SCRIPTING

❑ Shell Scripting Basics

▪ Shell scripting is a broader concept that involves writing scripts for any shell (not just Bash).
Shells include Bash, Zsh, Fish, Ksh, and others.

▪ A shell script is essentially a sequence of commands written for a shell to automate tasks or
solve problems.

▪ Scope: While Bash is a specific shell, shell scripting can be done in any shell, meaning:
✓ Writing commands to automate tasks in the terminal (e.g., file manipulation, process
management)
✓ Making use of shell-specific features and commands for a variety of systems (Linux, macOS,
etc.)
✓ Shell scripting can include tools and utilities from the broader Unix/Linux ecosystem, such as
grep, awk, sed, and cut.

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING

❑ Shell Scripting Basics

▪ Use Case:
Shell scripting is often used for simpler tasks like automating system maintenance (e.g.,
backups), running batch jobs, or performing regular administrative actions. It can be used across
multiple shell environments, allowing for portability if written in a standard POSIX-compliant way.

▪ Nature:
Shell scripting is more about command-line instructions that execute in sequence to automate
tasks, with less emphasis on complex programming logic (although it can still involve some).

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8. BASH PROGRAMMING AND SHELL SCRIPTING 01
❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Shell Script
A shell script is a text file that contains a sequence
of commands for a Unix/Linux operating system.

In the command line, you can usually run only a

single command.

Using the shell script, you can run multiple

commands as one operation without another
human intervention during the process.

Each line of a file is treated as a command line.

Two key ingredients :

▪ UNIX/LINUX commands
▪ Shell programming syntax
#! Shebang. Indicates which interpreter a script should be run with.

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Shell Script
How to develop a shell script?
There are some rules to develop shell scripts.

File name :
Add .sh at the end of the file name as a file
extension.

Document structure:
▪ Declaration: You need to specify which shell will
be used for the shell script.
▪ Comment: You can add comments with # at the To successfully write a shell script, we have to do 3 things:
beginning of comments. 1. Write a script
2. Give the shell permission to execute it
Here is an example of creating a shell script using
3. Put it somewhere the shell can find it
some commands. Use vim to create a shell script
file named test.sh.
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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Shell Script
Add an execution permission :
Usually, execution permission is not added when you create a file. To make a script executable :
In order to make the script executable, you need to add an Syntax: chmod +x script_name
execution permission to the file. To grant permission to the owner
of the file, run the chmod u+x command followed by the file path. To run it :
Syntax: ./script_name
For the test.sh file, grant the execution permission to the owner
user. To avoid ./
Syntax: PATH+=:.
or :
Run a shell script : PATH=$PATH:.
To run a shell script, you just need to specify the file path of the
shell script like the one below.

You'll see the original list of purchased products followed by

unique product items with numbers of duplicated items.
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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Shell Script
Call another shell script from a shell script
You can call another shell script from a shell script.
This is like creating a child process from a parent
process.

To call another shell script, you just need to add a

shell script execution command to the shell script.

For example, create a new shell script file named

test_child.sh and edit the file as shown below.

Also, copy the test.sh file and create a new

file test_parent.sh. Then, edit the file to add a
command to execute test_child.sh.

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Shell Script
Call another shell script from a shell script
Add ./test_child.sh between the cat command and
the sort command.

To execute the shell scripts, add permissions and

run the test_parent.sh like shown below.

You can see that test_parent.sh successfully

called test_child.sh.

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ UNIX/Linux Commands

● File Management and Viewing o To understand the working of the command and
● File System Mangement possible options use (man command)

● Help, Job/Process Management o Using the GNU Info System (info, info command)
● Network Management o Listing a Description of a Program (whatis
● System Management command)
● User Management o Many tools have a long−style option, `−−help',
● Printing and Programming that outputs usage information about the tool,
including the options and arguments the tool
● Document Preparation takes.
● Miscellaneous

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Useful Commands in Scripting

▪ grep
• Pattern searching
• Example: grep ‘boo’ filename
▪ sed
• Text editing
• Example: sed 's/XYZ/xyz/g' filename
▪ awk
• Pattern scanning and processing
• Example: awk ‘{print $4, $7}’ filename

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8. BASH PROGRAMMING AND SHELL SCRIPTING 08
❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ My First Shell Script

$ vi myfirstscript.sh
• Start vi scriptfilename.sh with the
line #! /bin/sh
#!/bin/sh # The first example of a shell script
directory=`pwd`
• All other lines starting with # are comments
echo Hello World!
(make code readable by including comments).
echo The date today is `date`
echo The current directory is $directory
• Tell the OS that the script file is executable
$ chmod u+x scriptfilename.sh $ chmod +x myfirstscript.sh
$ chmod +x scriptfilename.sh $ ./myfirstscript.sh
Hello World!
• Execute the shell-script The date today is Mon Mar 8 15:20:09 EST 2010
$ ./scriptfilename.sh The current directory is /netscr/shubin/test

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Shell Scripts ❑ Commenting

▪ No compiler required to run a shell script, ▪ Lines starting with # are comments except the very
because the shell acts as an interpreter when first line where #! indicates the location of the shell
reading script files. that will be run to execute the script.

▪ After you create a shell script, you simply tell the ▪ On any line characters following an unquoted # are
OS that the file is a program that can be executed, considered to be comments and ignored.
by using the chmod command to change the files’
mode to be executable. ▪ Comments are used to :
✓ Identify who wrote it and when
▪ Shell programs run less quickly than compiled ✓ Identify input variables
programs, because the shell must interpret each ✓ Make code easy to read
command inside the executable script file before it ✓ Explain complex code sections
is executed. ✓ Version control tracking
✓ Record modifications

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Quote Characters ❑ Echo

There are three different quote characters with Echo command is well appreciated when trying to
different behaviour. These are: debug scripts.
“ : double quote, weak quote. If a string is enclosed Syntax : echo {options} string
in “ ” the references to variables (i.e $variable ) are Options:
replaced by their values. Also back-quote and -e : expand \ (back-slash ) special characters
-n : do not output a new-line at the end.
escape \ characters are treated specially.
String can be a “weakly quoted” or a ‘strongly quoted’
‘ : single quote, strong quote. Everything inside string.
single quotes are taken literally, nothing is treated
In the weakly quoted strings the references to
as special.
variables are replaced by the value of those variables
` : back quote. A string enclosed as such is treated before the output.
as a command and the shell attempts to execute it.
If the execution is successful the primary output As well as the variables some special
from the command replaces the string. backslash_escaped symbols are expanded during the
output. If such expansions are required the –e option
Example: echo “Today is:” `date` must be used.
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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ User Input During Shell Script Execution

▪ As shown on the hello script input from the standard input location is done via the read command.
▪ Example:
echo "Please enter three filenames:”
read filea fileb filec
echo “These files are used:$filea $fileb $filec”

▪ Each read statement reads an entire line. In the above example if there are less than 3 items in the response
the trailing variables will be set to blank ‘ ‘.
▪ Three items are separated by one space.
▪ Hello script exercise continued…
▪ The following script asks the user to enter his name and displays a personalised hello.
#!/bin/sh
echo “Who am I talking to?”
read user_name
echo “Hello $user_name”
▪ Try replacing “ with ‘ in the last line to see what happens.

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Debugging your shell scripts

Debugging shell scripts is essential to identify and fix errors, ensuring smooth execution. Here are some
common techniques and tools for debugging (we can efficiently troubleshoot shell scripts and improve their
reliability):
1. Using the -x Option (Trace Mode)
Run the script with bash -x script.sh or add set -x at the beginning of the script to display each command
before execution.

▪ Generous use of the echo command will help.

▪ Run script with the –x parameter.
e.g. sh –x ./myscript
or set –o xtrace before running the script.
▪ These options can be added to the first line of the
script where the shell is defined.
e.g. #!/bin/sh -xv

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Debugging your shell scripts

Debugging shell scripts is essential to identify and fix errors, ensuring smooth execution. Here are some
common techniques and tools for debugging (we can efficiently troubleshoot shell scripts and improve their
reliability):
2. Using the -e Option (Exit on Error)
Adding set -e forces the script to exit immediately if a command fails.

3. Using -v (Verbose Mode)

The -v option prints each command before execution,
useful for tracking script execution flow.

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Debugging your shell scripts

Debugging shell scripts is essential to identify and fix errors, ensuring smooth execution. Here are some
common techniques and tools for debugging (we can efficiently troubleshoot shell scripts and improve their
reliability):
4. Using echo or printf for Debugging
Adding echo statements helps trace variable values and script flow.

5. Using the trap Command

trap helps catch errors and display debugging information before the script exits.

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Debugging your shell scripts

Debugging shell scripts is essential to identify and fix errors, ensuring smooth execution. Here are some
common techniques and tools for debugging (we can efficiently troubleshoot shell scripts and improve their
reliability):
6. Redirecting Error Messages
Redirect error output to a file for analysis.

7. Using shellcheck (Static Analysis Tool)

Install and use shellcheck to detect syntax errors and bad practices.

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Programming features of the UNIX/Linux shell

❶ Shell variables:
Your scripts often need to keep values in memory for later use. Shell variables are symbolic
names that can access values stored in memory.
❷ Operators:
Shell scripts support many operators, including those for performing mathematical operations.
❸ Logic structures:
Shell scripts support sequential logic (for performing a series of commands), decision logic (for
branching from one point in a script to another), looping logic (for repeating a command several
times), and case logic (for choosing an action from several possible alternatives).

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Shell Variables
▪ Variables are symbolic names that represent values stored in memory
▪ Three different types of variables :
❶ Global Variables: Environment and configuration variables, capitalized, such as HOME, PATH,
SHELL, USERNAME, and PWD.
When you login, there will be a large number of global System variables that are already defined.
These can be freely referenced and used in your shell scripts.

❷ Local Variables
Within a shell script, you can create as many new variables as needed. Any variable created in
this manner remains in existence only within that shell.

❸ Special Variables
Reversed for OS, shell programming, etc. such as positional parameters $0, $1 …

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Shell Variables / Global Variables

(Environment and configuration variables)

▪ Environment variables are dynamic values

which affect the processes or programs on a
computer. They exist in every operating system,
but types may vary.

▪ Environment variables can be created, edited,

saved, and deleted and give information about the
system behavior.

▪ Environment variables can change the way a

software/programs behave.

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Shell Variables / some common global variables

Variable Description
SHELL Current Shell being used by the user
USER The username (Your login name)
HOME Default path to the user’s home directory
EDITOR Path to the program which edits the content of files
UID User’s unique ID
TERM Default terminal emulator
PWD Current working directory
DISPLAY Used by X-Windows system to identify the display
This variable contains a colon (:) -separated list of directories in which your system looks for executable files.
When you enter a command on terminal, the shell looks for the command in different directories mentioned in
the $PATH variable. If the command is found, it executes. Otherwise, it returns with an error ‘command not
PATH
found’.

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Shell Variables / Set new environment variables

You can create your own user defined variable, with syntax :

VARIABLE_NAME=variable_value

Again, bear in mind that variables are case-sensitive and

usually they are created in upper case.

❑ Shell Variables / Deleting Variables

The following syntax can be used to remove a Variable from
the system.
unset VARIABLE_NAME

This would remove the Variable and its value permanently.

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Shell Variables / Accessing variable values

In order to determine value of a variable, use the

command
echo $VARIABLE

Variables are Case Sensitive. Make sure that you

type the variable name in the right letter case
otherwise you may not get the desired results.

The ‘env’ command displays all the environment

variables.

To see a list of your environment variables:

$ printenv or: $ printenv | more

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Shell Variables / Defining local variables

▪ As in any other programming language, variables can be defined and used in shell scripts.
▪ Unlike other programming languages, variables in Shell Scripts are not typed.
▪ Examples :
a=1234 # a is NOT an integer, a string instead
b=$a+1 # will not perform arithmetic but be the string ‘1234+1’
b=`expr $a + 1` # will perform arithmetic so b is 1235 now.
Note : +,-,/,*,**, % operators are available.
b=abcde # b is string
b=‘abcde’ # same as above but much safer.
b=abc def # will not work unless ‘quoted’
b=‘abc def’ # i.e. this will work.
Important note: do not leave spaces around the =
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❑ Shell Variables / Referencing variables --curly bracket

▪ Having defined a variable, its contents can be referenced by the $ symbol.
o E.g. ${variable}or simply $variable. When ambiguity exists $variable will not work.
o Use ${ } the rigorous form to be on the safe side.

▪ Example:
a=‘abc’
b=${a}def # this would not have worked without the { } as
#it would try to access a variable named adef

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Shell Variables / Variable List/Arrary

▪ To create lists (array) – round bracket
$ set Y = (INFO 123 CS251)
▪ To set a list element – square bracket
$ set Y[2] = NSCS
▪ To view a list element:
$ echo $Y[2]

▪ Example :
#!/bin/sh
a=(1 2 3)
echo ${a[*]}
echo ${a[0]}
Results : 1 2 3
1
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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Shell Variables / Positional Parameters

▪ When a shell script is invoked with a set of command line parameters each of these parameters are copied
into special variables that can be accessed.
▪ $0 This variable that contains the name of the script
▪ $1, $2, ….. $n 1st, 2nd 3rd command line parameter
▪ $# Number of command line parameters
▪ $$ process ID of the shell
▪ $@ same as $* but as a list one at a time (see for loops later )
▪ $? Return code ‘exit code’ of the last command
▪ Shift command: This shell command shifts the positional parameters by one towards the beginning and
drops $1 from the list. After a shift $2 becomes $1 , and so on … It is a useful command for processing the
input parameters one at a time.

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Shell Variables / Example

▪ vi myinputs.sh
#! /bin/sh
echo Total number of inputs: $#
echo First input: $1
echo Second input: $2

▪ chmod u+x myinputs.sh

▪ myinputs.sh NSCS INFO CSE

Total number of inputs: 3
First input: NSCS
Second input: INFO

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❖ SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

❑ Shell Variable / Summary

Environment variables govern the behavior of programs in your Operating System.

Command Description
VARIABLE_NAME= variable_value Create a new variable
echo $VARIABLE To display value of a variable
env Displays all environment variables
unset Remove a variable
export Variable=value To set value of an environment variable

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❖ SHELL PROGRAMMING

❑ Programming features of the UNIX/Linux shell

 Shell variables
 Operators
 Logic structures

The Bash/Bourne/ksh shell operators are divided into three groups:

1. Defining and evaluating operators,

2. Arithmetic operators, and

3. Redirecting and piping operators

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❖ SHELL PROGRAMMING

❑ Programming features of the UNIX/Linux shell

 Defining and Evaluating operators

A shell variable take on the generalized form variable=value (except in the C shell).
$ set x=37; echo $x
37
$ unset x; echo $x
x: Undefined variable.

You can set a pathname or a command to a variable or substitute to set the variable.
$ set mydir=`pwd`; echo $mydir

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❑ Programming features of the UNIX/Linux shell

 Arithmetic Operators
expr supports the following operators:
• Arithmetic operators: +,-,*,/,%
• Comparison operators: <, <=, ==, !=, >=, >
• Boolean/logical operators: &, |
• Parentheses: (, )
• Precedence is the same as C, java
▪ vi real.sh
▪ vi math.sh #!/bin/sh
#!/bin/sh a=5.48
count=5 b=10.32
count=`expr $count + 1 ` c=`echo “scale=2; $a + $b” |bc`
echo $count echo $c
▪ chmod u+x math.sh ▪ chmod u+x real.sh
▪ math.sh ▪ ./real.sh
6 15.80

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❖ SHELL PROGRAMMING

❑ Programming features of the UNIX/Linux shell

 Arithmetic Operators

var++ ,var-- , ++var , --var post/pre-increment/decrement

+ ,- add subtract
*,/,% multiply/divide, remainder
** power of
!,~ logical/bitwise negation
&,| bitwise AND, OR
&& || logical AND, OR

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❖ SHELL PROGRAMMING

❑ Programming features of the UNIX/Linux shell

 Shell variables
 Operators
 Logic structures

The four basic logic structures needed for program development are:
o Sequential logic: to execute commands in the order in which they appear in the program.
o Decision logic: to execute commands only if a certain condition is satisfied.
o Looping logic: to repeat a series of commands for a given number of times.
o Case logic: to replace “if then/else if/else” statements when making numerous comparisons.

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❖ SHELL PROGRAMMING

❑ Programming features of the UNIX/Linux shell

 Strings in Shell Scripting
Similar to all the programming languages Bash also has the String data type which indicates a set of
characters. To denote inputs as String you must enclose it within the double quotation(“”). Values passed as
strings are considered as text rather than a number or variable. Therefore, Bash provides an additional set of
operators for the String data type.

The syntax for Strings in Shell Scripting is given below :

The String operators in Shell Scripting are as follows:

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❖ SHELL PROGRAMMING

❑ Programming features of the UNIX/Linux shell

 Loops in Shell Scripting
Loops are introduced in programming languages to run tasks in a repetitive manner. It iterates a set of
statements within a limit depending on conditions. Bash Scripting provides three types of loops for statement
iterations. These are the for loop, the while loop, and the until loop. Syntaxes for each of the loops are listed
below.
Syntaxes for Loops in Bash Scripting:

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❖ SHELL PROGRAMMING

❑ Programming features of the UNIX/Linux shell

 Functions in Shell Scripting
Functions are one of the popular concepts of programming languages. It is a piece of code that can be called
and executed as many times as you want. Thus, functions offer efficiency, code optimization, and minimization.

Functions in Bash work in a similar way as functions in other programming languages. However, there are some
rules and syntaxes that you must follow while using them in your script.

The syntax for Function in Shell Scripting : FUNCTION_NAME () {

#codes to execute
}

OR : FUNCTION_NAME () { #code to execute; }

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❖ SHELL PROGRAMMING

❑ Programming features of the UNIX/Linux shell

 Functions in Shell Scripting

The rules for Function in Shell Scripting are as follows :

• Functions must be defined before using/calling them.

• You may pass arguments to functions while calling them.
• To access arguments inside the function, use $1, $2, $3 … and so on according to the number
and sequence of arguments passed.
• The scope of the variables declared inside a function remains within the function.

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❖ SHELL PROGRAMMING

❑ Programming features of the UNIX/Linux shell

 Functions in Shell Scripting
Example : Check if a String is a Palindrome
Write the code to check a palindrome inside the function “Palindrome()” and call it by passing the desired string:
Code:

Output:

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❖ SHELL PROGRAMMING

❑ Programming features of the UNIX/Linux shell

 Task-Specific Bash Scripts
In addition to the conceptual bash scripts, in this section, you will find some task-specific script examples.
These scripts are mostly related to the regular process that you run on your system.
Hence, explore the examples below to get more hands-on experience with Shell Scripting …
- Regular Expression Based Scripts
- File Operations with Shell Scripts
- File Permission Based Shell Scripts
- Network Connection Based Shell Scripts
- Process Management Based Shell Scripts
- System Information Based Shell Scripts
- Advanced Tasks with Shell Scripts
✓ Automated Backup
✓ Generate Alert if Disk Space Usage Goes Over a Threshold
✓ Create a New User and Add to Sudo Group
✓ Monitor Network Traffic
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❖ SHELL PROGRAMMING

❑ To Script or Not to Script

▪ Pros
o File processing
o Glue together compelling, customized testing utilities
o Create powerful, tailor-made manufacturing tools
o Cross-platform support
o Custom testing and debugging

▪ Cons
o Performance slowdown
o Accurate scientific computing

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❖ SHELL PROGRAMMING

❑ Summary
 The best way to improve your shell scripting skills is to practice regularly and work on
projects that interest you.

Further practice with scripting will improve automation skills.

 Keep in mind that there are often multiple ways to solve a shell scripting problem.
 Remember to always test your scripts thoroughly before using them in a production
environment.

From complex task automation to efficient data manipulation, you now possess the ability to
tackle real-world challenges with confidence.
Embrace the power of advanced shell scripting and unlock a world of automation and efficiency.

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❖ SHELL PROGRAMMING

❑ Reference Books
▪ Class Shell Scripting
http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596005955/
▪ LINUX Shell Scripting With Bash
http://ebooks.ebookmall.com/title/linux-shell-scripting-with-bash-burtch-ebooks.htm
▪ Shell Script in C Shell
http://www.grymoire.com/Unix/CshTop10.txt
▪ Linux Shell Scripting Tutorial
http://www.freeos.com/guides/lsst/
▪ Bash Shell Programming in Linux
http://www.arachnoid.com/linux/shell_programming.html
▪ Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide
http://tldp.org/LDP/abs/html/
▪ Unix Shell Programming
http://ebooks.ebookmall.com/title/unix-shell-programming-kochan-wood-ebooks.htm

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© 2024/2025

For more information about my research works, Contact Information:

THANK YOU for your attention!

Dr. Sassi BENTRAD
LISCO Laboratory : http://lisco.univ-annaba.dz/
 : +213 …
Questions ?
 : [email protected] // [email protected]
 : www.linkedin.com/in/sassi-bentrad/
: http://www.bentrad-sassi.sitew.com/

‫مــخبر هــندسـة‬ : orcid.org/0000-0002-7458-8121

‫األنـظمـة الـمعقـدة‬
LABORATOIRE D’INGÉNIERIE
DES SYSTÈMES COMPLEXES : A-9442-2013

Author ID : 44461052600