SHELL SCRIPTING

Shell Scripting is a way of writing small programs (called shell scripts) that run in a command-line shell such as Bash in Unix or Linux systems. A shell script is simply a text file that contains a sequence of commands which the operating system executes one by one. It allows users and administrators to automate routine tasks like file handling, running programs, managing processes, and interacting with the system. By using variables, conditions, loops, and functions, shell scripting can handle both simple and complex system operations efficiently.

Shell scripting is widely used in system administration and server management because it works directly with the operating system. Tasks such as system startup processes, backups, log file monitoring, user management, and software installation can be automated using shell scripts. Since it uses built-in system commands, it does not require heavy tools or additional software. This makes shell scripting fast, lightweight, and ideal for managing Linux-based servers and environments.

In modern IT infrastructure, shell scripting plays an important role in automation and DevOps practices. It is commonly used in CI/CD pipelines, cloud platforms, and deployment processes to automate builds, testing, and application releases. Learning shell scripting improves understanding of how operating systems work and helps reduce manual effort, errors, and time in daily operations, making it a valuable skill for developers and system administrators.