Unix / Linux Bourne / Bash Shell Scripting Tutorial [ steve-parker.org ]

A Bourne Shell Programming/Scripting Tutorial for learning about using the Unix shell. Learn Linux / Unix shell scripting by example along with the theory. We'll have you mastering Unix shell scripting in no time! Available right here on the World Wide Web.

Version: 1.2d
© 2000 - 2011 Steve Parker.
Mail To: steve at steve-parker.org
Canonical URL: http://steve-parker.org/sh/sh.shtml
You are free to take copies of these pages for personal use.
Last Updated: 1st February 2012

Comments Welcome.

2) Philosophy »

Select a Chapter:

My new 564-page book, Shell Scripting, published by Wiley, is on sale now. Please click "Like" on the left if you are on Facebook, or just click here to get the book.

Scope of Variables

Pre-set Variables

Variables - Part III

Default Values

Hints And Tips

Doug Kramer (Java, Google.com) says:

"When I started writing CGI script in Bourne shell on the Java team at Sun, I scoured the Internet for a good tutorial and used Steve Parker's guide, which I really like. Now that I've moved to Google and switched to Linux and bash, I've decided to use it as the basis for an in-house introductory course on bash scripting here at Google for our tech writers. I highly recommend it as accurate and written at the right level, plus it includes a useful reference"

Feedback

Links To Other Resources

Shell Scripting: Expert Recipes for Linux, Bash and more. My 564-page book is available from all the usual book stores (online and offline). Written by myself, it centres primarily on Bash and Linux, which this tutorial deliberately stays away from for the sake of brevity and compatibility.
Wikipedia Entry on Bourne Shell
Local mirror of Steve Bourne's Introduction to the Unix Shell - written by the great man himself.
ooblick - another good tutorial.
Shelldorado - and another one.
quoting-guide.html - a pretty definitive document on quoting and escape characters.
What to watch out for when writing portable shell scripts
ss64.com have a great list of commands, with links to man pages for most of them.
See also The Rosetta Stone for Unix.
Amazon have a good number of books on the Unix and Linux Shell. Of course, you can also buy the tutorial here as a PDF.
lintsh has a lot of useful information about script portability.

You can also get this tutorial in PDF form: Click Here for the 70-page PDF or you can order the 564-page book:
http://www.wiley.com/buy/1118024486

Steve's Bourne / Bash shell scripting tutorial

Want to take the tutorial with you?

My Shell Scripting Book: Shell Scripting, Expert Recipes for Linux, Bash and more
is available online and from all good booksellers.

Buy my 564-page Shell Scripting Book...

From Amazon USA:

From Amazon UK:

For Kindle:

Or From other retailers

You can also find the book, and join a shell scripting community, on Facebook:

Option Two: Buy the 70-page PDF (£4.99/$9.99/€6.99)
(Free Sample)

And you can always Download my Free Shell Scripting Cheatsheet PDF

Contents

Links To Other Resources

Want to take the tutorial with you?