Should I learn bash scripting or is it going obsolete? Post: 302467646

Sponsored Content

Top Forums Shell Programming and Scripting Should I learn bash scripting or is it going obsolete? Post 302467646 by Corona688 on Saturday 30th of October 2010 03:02:45 PM

10-30-2010

Registered User

This question is almost too good: "Hm... I could go to unix.com and ask whether a fundamental underpinning of UNIX systems is obsolete and should give forth before the windows brigade... Eh, a bit too obvious. I know -- ask that about an unusual shell, one that divides the community, in a manner that suggests I believe it's all shell scripting! The nerd rage will be hysterical!"

I'll be generous and assume you're not trolling. Is BASH obsolete? No. Is it for the things you use C# or Python for? Also no.

Scripting is somewhere between difficult and useless on a Windows machine because there are so many unscriptables(awkward, undocumented, or impossible). A program as simple as "cdrecord -dao cd_image.iso && /sbin/poweroff" (i.e. burn a cd, then turn off the computer) in UNIX might, in Windows, need an entire development environment, plus peering into undocumented OLE hell to figure out how (if at all!) your favorite CD burning program tells the computer whether burning completed successfully. Ever had to type in the same thing, or closely related things, 37 seperate times? Ever had to repetitively copy/paste data from one program into another because you can't just tell one to read from the other? Ever had to sit and wait for the computer to finish just so you can tell it to do something you wanted it to do all along? That's the kind of automatic tasks shell scripting and pipes are for. They join entire programs together at a very high level, if they're equipped to communicate that way; most UNIX programs are, most Windows ones aren't.

You should learn shell scripting, not just "bash scripting". BASH is just one shell. Learn how to program in a general Bourne shell and you can program in BASH, SH, and KSH the same way, and know what features BASH has and SH doesn't.

Last edited by Corona688; 10-30-2010 at 04:44 PM..

Corona688

View Public Profile for Corona688

Visit Corona688's homepage!

Find all posts by Corona688

10 More Discussions You Might Find Interesting

1. Shell Programming and Scripting

What is a good place to learn basic shell scripting? Thanks!

See the title. Originally wasn't going to type anything but I need a message of at least 10 characters! :cool:

2. UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Programming/Scripting Languages To Learn

Which languages would, in the long run, be best to learn on a UNIX environment for kernel work, every day programs, and overall UNIX programming? I've been learning C for over a year now (which I'm pretty confident with) and decided I want to look into some other languages. I'll mainly be...

3. Shell Programming and Scripting

Help- To learn shell scripting

Hello all, Could any one let me know where to find exercises(problems to solve) both simple and complex ones that would eventually help me learn Shell scripting.I'm just a beginner:o in shell scripting but would love to learn more.. Thanks, Triji

4. Gentoo

cpu%/mem% usage, scripting, dzen2: howto learn bash the hard way

I am trying to write a small (and rather simple) script to gather some info about the system and piping it to dzen2 first, i want to explain some things. I know i could have used conky, but my intention was to expand my knowledge of bash, pipes and redirections inside a script, and to have fun...

5. Shell Programming and Scripting

Any book to learn perl scripting

Hi, Please suggest me any good book to learn pearl scripting. Thanks in advance !!!!:)

6. Shell Programming and Scripting

My PM has told me to learn shell scripting in 2 weeks , how should I start?

My PM has told me to learn shell scrting in 2 weeks , how should I start?:confused::confused::confused::confused:

7. Shell Programming and Scripting

LEARN SHELL SCRIPTING BASICS

I am beginner to the SHELL SCRIPT and want to Learn SHELL SCRIPT Basics. This thread should help to all beginners who want to learn SHELL SCRIPT *** Thanks in advance to those who will contribute on this thread *** Please guide me and all beginners... 1. Is there any good e-book...

8. Shell Programming and Scripting

Books to learn UNIX Scripting from Scratch

Hi All, I am quite new to UNIX Scripting and want to learn it from scratch, a book which gives lot of examples, how to troubleshoot, how to run etc.. would be great. Need help from all the experts out there to suggest one book to start with. Regards, Vikas

9. UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Learn bash shell scripting

I do not know shell scripting. But at work place, I have got an in and out shell scripting task. I just need to understand a very big script. Is there any tool in which I can place the script and it can tell me the meaning of the whole script?

10. Shell Programming and Scripting

How to learn UNIX shell scripting?

Hi Guys, I know basic command of unix and basic programming of unix as like using for loop, while loop, if..else, case statement etc. then how to learn unix shell scripting as well as use also.

LEARN ABOUT OSF1

learn

learn(1)						      General Commands Manual							  learn(1)

NAME

       learn - Provides computer-aided instruction for the C shell

SYNOPSIS

       learn [-directory] [subject] [lesson]

       The learn command provides computer-aided instruction courses and practice in the use of Tru64 UNIX.

OPTIONS

       Allows you to exercise a script in a nonstandard place.

DESCRIPTION

       To  get	started,  enter learn; if this is the first time that you are invoking the learn command, you are guided through a series of ques-
       tions to determine what type of instruction you want to receive.

       If you have used learn before and left your last session without completing a subject, the program uses information  in	$HOME/.learnrc	to
       start you up in the same place you left off.

       To  bypass questions, enter a subject or lesson.  In order to enter a lesson, you must know the lesson number that you received in a previ-
       ous learn command session. If you do not know the lesson number, enter the lesson number as a subject.  The learn command searches for  the
       first  lesson  containing  the subject you specified. If the lesson is a - (dash), learn prompts for each lesson; this is useful for debug-
       ging.

       You can specify the following subjects:

       files editor vi morefiles macros eqn C

SUBCOMMANDS

       There are a few special commands.  The bye command terminates a learn session, and the where command tells you of your  progress  (where  m
       tells  you more.)  The again command redisplays the text of the lesson and again lesson lets you review lesson. The hint command prints the
       last part of the lesson script used to evaluate a response, while hint m prints the entire lesson script.  This	is  useful  for  debugging
       lessons and might possibly give you an idea about what is expected.

EXAMPLES

       To take the online lesson about files, enter: learn files

       You are then prompted for further input.

FILES

       Playpen directories.  Start-up information.

SEE ALSO

       Commands:  csh(1), ex(1)

																	  learn(1)

10 More Discussions You Might Find Interesting

1. Shell Programming and Scripting

What is a good place to learn basic shell scripting? Thanks!

Discussion started by: deutchap6verse5

2. UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Programming/Scripting Languages To Learn

Discussion started by: tjinr

3. Shell Programming and Scripting

Help- To learn shell scripting

Discussion started by: tj23

4. Gentoo

cpu%/mem% usage, scripting, dzen2: howto learn bash the hard way

Discussion started by: broli