Portable shell scripting is today the future of modern Linux, OS X, and Unix command–line access. Beginning Portable Shell Scripting: From Novice to Professional teaches shell scripting by using the common core of most shells and expands those principles to all of scripting.

You will learn about portable scripting and how to use the same syntax and design principles for all shells. You’ll discover about the interaction between shells and other scripting languages like Ruby and Python, and everything you learn will be shown in context for Linux, OS X, bash, and AppleScript.

What you’ll learn

This book will prime you on not just shell scripting, but also the modern context of portable shell scripting. You will learn

• The core Linux/OS X shell constructs from a portability point of view
• How to write scripts that write other scripts, and how to write macros and debug them
• How to write and design shell script portably from the ground up
• How to use programmable utilities and their inherent portability to your advantage, while pinpointing potential traps
• Pulling everything together, how to engineer scripts that play well with Python and Ruby, and even run on embedded systems

Who is this book for?

This book is for system administrators, programmers, and testers working across Linux, OS X, and the Unix command line.

About the Apress Beginning Series

The Beginning series from Apress is the right choice to get the information you need to land that crucial entry–level job. These books will teach you a standard and important technology from the ground up because they are explicitly designed to take you from “novice to professional.” You’ll start your journey by seeing what you need to know—but without needless theory and filler. You’ll build your skill set by learning how to put together real–world projects step by step. So whether your goal is your next career challenge or a new learning opportunity, the Beginning series from Apress will take you there—it is your trusted guide through unfamiliar territory!