[Cialug] Tasks for learning shell scripting

[Kenneth Younger]

Or if perl scares the crap out of you, python is a great system scripting
language.

On Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 10:23 AM, Don Ellis <don.ellis at gmail.com> wrote:

> And, on the other hand, many times in shell scripting, I find that
> Perl is an easier tool to use. Often, when writing (or having written)
> a slightly more complicated script, I wish I had written it in Perl
> instead of bash/ksh.
>
> [Back to shell] When writing in shell, consider the differences
> between ksh and bash. I think I've heard that ksh has some constructs
> that work better for scripting (can't remember them offhand), but bash
> is easier for login. For the really basic scripting, bash or ksh can
> be good enough, especially if you teach the more advanced tools, such
> as functions and hashes. Once you get to this level, though, Perl
> starts getting simpler very quickly.
>
> Another thing, bash is often the default shell and ksh is an optional
> add-on.
>
> For a root login, sh is often used for the login shell because it is
> on a filesystem that is mounted first, and doesn't depend on later
> boot stages. However, for some systems, bash is used for root login,
> since it is also on an initial filesystem. If a script might be run
> before other filesystems are mounted, be sure the shell it runs in is
> present when it's needed.
>
> --Don Ellis
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 8:43 AM, Josh More
> <MoreJ at alliancetechnologies.net> wrote:
> > For one-on-one tutoring, toss them one of the books mentioned earlier in
> the thread and then work with them on ways to automate their personal
> workflow.  If they use Gnome, work with them to write nautilus scripts or
> custom session managers.  Work your way up to more complex things like
> custom startup scripts for specific "daemons" (like every time the machine
> turns on, launch an irc client as a screen session and connect it to the key
> channels).
> >
> > Let them drive the direction.
> >
> > Avoid the Posix focus.  Let them get the job done as quickly as possible
> and let them shoot themselves in the foot as quickly as possible.  The
> harder you make it to learn, the more resistant your mentee will be to
> learning.  This is why I maintain that Perl is the absolute best first
> language to learn.  In the shell world, this would be Bash.
> >
> >
> > -Josh More, CISSP, GIAC-GSLC, GIAC-GCIH, RHCE, NCLP
> > morej at alliancetechnologies.net
> > 515-245-7701
> >
> > ________________________________________
> > From: cialug-bounces at cialug.org [cialug-bounces at cialug.org] on behalf of
> Matthew Nuzum [newz at bearfruit.org]
> > Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 08:35
> > To: Central Iowa Linux Users Group
> > Subject: Re: [Cialug] Tasks for learning shell scripting
> >
> > On Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 7:55 AM, Josh More
> > <MoreJ at alliancetechnologies.net> wrote:
> >> Who is the curriculum for?
> >>
> >> Newbies in college, professionals transferring from Windows, employees
> at Canonical?
> >>
> >
> > I know someone who wants to learn about scripting. An experienced
> > computer user with Windows and Linux but just wants to go in a little
> > deeper.
> >
> > My original intention was to teach using a posix only shell because
> > I've gotten myself into trouble when not using a modern Linux
> > distribution (Solaris). Also, Debian based distros have stopped using
> > bash as /bin/sh because it significantly slows down boot speed,
> > instead they use dash, a posix shell that loads much quicker. (but
> > they use bash for the interactive shell still)
> >
> > Do you agree that my reasoning for using a posix shell is wise or is
> > it really negligible and I should take the easy road of bash? And on
> > the heals of that, if someone uses standard posix methods that skill
> > works perfectly in bash, right?
> >
> >
> > --
> > Matthew Nuzum
> > newz2000 on freenode, skype, linkedin, identi.ca and twitter
> >
> > "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." -Benjamin Franklin
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>



-- 
Kenneth Younger III
Founder, Sheer Focus Inc.
Organizer, WordCamp Iowa
e: kenny at sheerfocus.com
p: (515) 367-0001
t: @kenny <http://twitter.com/kenny>
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