Intermediate5 lessons124 minutes
Bash scripting for administrators
Automate administrative tasks without writing a script that fails silently or destroys data through an empty variable.
An administrative script runs unattended, often as root, against real data. This course teaches less of Bash the language than the rules that stop a script doing damage.
What you will be able to do
- Write a script that stops at the first error rather than carrying on
- Understand why an unquoted variable is a bug waiting to happen
- Check a condition before a destructive action, every time
- Schedule a task and know where to read its output when it fails
Outline
- 01
Writing a script that does no harm
The few rules that separate a useful script from a dangerous one.
- 02
Scheduling and observing
Running a script unattended, and knowing when it has failed.
Technical content last reviewed on 3 August 2026