Book Image

Learning Linux Shell Scripting - Second Edition

By : Ganesh Sanjiv Naik
Book Image

Learning Linux Shell Scripting - Second Edition

By: Ganesh Sanjiv Naik

Overview of this book

Linux is the most powerful and universally adopted OS. Shell is a program that gives the user direct interaction with the operating system. Scripts are collections of commands that are stored in a file. The shell reads this file and acts on commands as if they were typed on the keyboard. Learning Linux Shell Scripting covers Bash, GNU Bourne Again Shell, preparing you to work in the exciting world of Linux shell scripting. CentOS is a popular rpm-based stable and secured Linux distribution. Therefore, we have used CentOS distribution instead of Ubuntu distribution. Linux Shell Scripting is independent of Linux distributions, but we have covered both types of distros. We start with an introduction to the Shell environment and basic commands used. Next, we explore process management in Linux OS, real-world essentials such as debugging and perform Shell arithmetic fluently. You'll then take a step ahead and learn new and advanced topics in Shell scripting, such as decision making, starting up a system, and customizing a Linux environment. You will also learn about grep, stream editor, and AWK, which are very powerful text filters and editors. Finally, you'll get to grips with taking backup, using other language scripts in Shell Scripts as well as automating database administration tasks for MySQL and Oracle. By the end of this book, you will be able to confidently use your own shell scripts in the real world.
Table of Contents (17 chapters)

Using a declare command for arithmetic

Whenever we declare any variable, by default, this variable stores the string type
of data. We cannot do arithmetic operations on them. We can declare a variable as
an integer by using the declare command. Such variables are declared as integers;
if we try to assign a string to them, then bash assigns 0 to these variables.

Bash will report an error if we try to assign fractional values (floating points) to integer variables.

We can create an integer variable called value, shown as follows:

    $ declare -i value
  

We tell the shell that the variable value is of type integer. Otherwise, the shell treats all variables as character strings:

  • If we try to assign the name string to the integer variable value, then the value variable will be assigned the 0 value by the Bash shell:
    $ value=name
    $ echo $value
    0
  
  • We need to enclose...