Fedora™ Unleashed, 2008 Edition, Eighth Edition

Chapter 33. Writing and Executing a Shell Script

<feature><title>In This Chapter</title>

• Running a Shell Program

• Interpreting Shell Scripts Through Specific Shells

• Using Variables in Shell Scripts

• Using a Simple Script to Automate Tasks

• Built-In Variables

• Special Characters

• Comparison of Expressions in bash

• Special Statements: for, while, and Others

• Using Functions in Shell Scripts

• Reference

</feature>

Why should you write and use shell scripts? Shell scripts can save you time and typing, especially if you routinely use the same command lines multiple times every day. Although you could also use the history function (press the Up or Down keys while using bash or use the history command), a shell script can add flexibility with command-line argument substitution ...