The Linux Shell Scripting Handbook - From Journeyman to Master

Your shell script works, but does it also feel professional? Master the next step! You've mastered the basics of shell scripting. Your scripts do their job. But you sense there's still a gap. Your scripts are often confusing, break when unexpected errors occur, store passwords in plain text, or become painfully slow as the amount of data grows. They work, but they're not robust, secure, or performant. If you recognize yourself here, then this book is your personal mentor on the path from skilled craftsman to sophisticated architect of automation solutions. It's not another reference book of the basics, but an intensive training manual that teaches you the mindset and techniques of the pros. Transform your scripts from fragile little helpers into bulletproof tools! This book goes far beyond simple command chains. You'll learn how to design your scripts to function reliably even under real, chaotic conditions. What you'll learn and master in this book: ? Bulletproof error handling: Design scripts that elegantly catch errors with trap, automatically clean up, and write meaningful logs instead of simply crashing. ? Modern web APIs & JSON: Tap into modern REST APIs with curl and effortlessly process complex JSON responses with the power of jq—an essential skill in the cloud era. ? Build professional tools: Create command-line tools that feel like native Linux commands—including flexible argument parsing with getopts, --help flags, and custom man pages. ? Security First: Protect your systems by learning how to prevent command injection, securely manage secrets and API keys, and use temporary files without race conditions. ? Performance Tuning: Use professional tools like strace to identify bottlenecks in your scripts and learn how to accelerate them dramatically through the clever use of shell built-ins and awk. ? Integration into the DevOps World: Write scripts that serve as engines for modern automation – from Git hooks and CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, GitLab) to robust ENTRYPOINT scripts for Docker. Who is this book for? This book is aimed at system administrators, DevOps engineers, developers, and power users who already have a solid foundation in shell scripting (e.g., through the first volume) and now want to take the decisive step toward mastery. It's for anyone who wants to create not just functional, but excellent, maintainable, and secure automation solutions. It's not intended for absolute beginners who have never written a for loop or an if statement in the shell. Are you ready to take your shell skills to master level and build tools you can be proud of? Add this book to your cart now and become the architect of your automation!