Time will come in your day to day use of your favorite Linux server when you will finally have enough of doing those repetitive tasks that you know you should automate/script to make your life and work easier and even more enjoyable. When that time beckons, bash scripting should be your first choice naturally because it talks the language that you can easily relate to and understand.
To save you the frustration of looking for the books to get this invaluable skill, this article is here to help you catch a whiff of the best Bash Scripting Books you can grab as quickly as possible. The list is presented below just for you to get your geekiness to the next level.
1. Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible
Richard Blum and Christine Bresnhan are quite familiar names of authors when it comes to eveything Linux. The decided to team up and came up with this resource. You can imagine the kind of experience, expertise and geeky flare that this book has as a result of their collaboration.
With detailed instruction and abundant examples, this book teaches you how to bypass the graphical interface and communicate directly with your computer, saving time and expanding capability. This third edition incorporates thirty pages of new functional examples that are fully updated to align with the latest Linux features. Beginning with command line fundamentals, the book moves into shell scripting and shows you the practical application of commands in automating frequently performed functions. This guide includes useful tutorials, and a desk reference value of numerous examples.
The Linux command line allows you to type specific shell commands directly into the system to manipulate files and query system resources. Command line statements can be combined into short programs called shell scripts, a practice increasing in popularity due to its usefulness in automation. This book is a complete guide providing detailed instruction and expert advice working within this aspect of Linux.
- Write simple script utilities to automate tasks
- Understand the shell, and create shell scripts
- Produce database, e-mail, and web scripts
- Study scripting examples ranging from basic to advanced
Whether used as a tutorial or as a quick reference, this book contains information that every Linux user should know. Why not learn to use the system to its utmost capability? Linux is a robust system with tremendous potential, and Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible opens the door to new possibilities.
Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible
2. Shell Scripting: How to Automate Command Line Tasks Using Bash Scripting and Shell Programming
Jason Cannon, the author, started his IT career in the late 1990’s as a Unix and Linux System Engineer. He is known for Linux for Beginners and Python Programming for beginners books and he has instructed thousands of satisfied students throughout his career found it proper to share his real-world shell scripting and bash programming experience with you throughout the book.
By the end of this book you will be able to create shell scripts with ease. You’ll learn how to take tedious and repetitive tasks and turn them into programs that will save you time and simplify your life on Linux, Unix, or MAC systems.
What you will get and learn from the resource
- A step-by-step process of writing shell scripts that solve real-world problems.
- The #1 thing you must do every time you create a shell script.
- How to quickly find and fix the most shell scripting errors.
- How to accept input from a user and then make decisions on that input.
- How to accept and process command line arguments.
- What special variables are available, how to use them in your shell scripts, and when to do so.
- A shell script creation check list — You’ll never have to guess what to include in each of your shell scripts again. Just use this simple check list.
- A shell script template (boilerplate). Use this format for each of your shell scripts. It shows exactly what to include and where everything goes. Eliminate guesswork!
- Practice exercises with solutions so you can start using what you learn right away.
- Real-world examples of shell scripts from my personal collection.
- A download that contains the scripts used in the book and lessons. You’ll be able to look at and experiment with everything you’re learning.
Get your scripting fixed from this beginner-friendly book by clicking on the link below to have your copy from Amazon:
Shell Scripting: How to Automate Command Line Tasks Using Bash Scripting and Shell Programming
3. Bash Pocket Reference: Help for Power Users and Sys Admins
Arnold Robbins, the author of Bash Pocket Reference is a professional programmer, instructor, and author. Among other things Arnold has done, he is a long-time GNU Project volunteer and currently maintains gawk.
If you want to interact deeply with Mac OS X, Linux, and other Unix-like systems, you need to know how to work with the Bash shell. This concise little book, put together with rich experience puts all of the essential information about Bash right at your fingertips.
You’ll quickly find answers to the annoying questions that generally come up when you’re writing shell scripts: What characters do you need to quote? How do you get variable substitution to do exactly what you want? How do you use arrays? Updated for Bash version 4.4, this book has the answers to these and other problems in a format that makes browsing quick and easy.
Be the one to learn from a professional who has been through the road you would wish to explore. This way, you get the benefit of his skill plus wisdom. A copy of this resource can be found in Amazon by clicking on the link below:
Bash Pocket Reference: Help for Power Users and Sys Admins
4. Command Line Kung Fu: Bash Scripting Tricks, Linux Shell Programming Tips, and Bash One-liners
Jason Cannon, the author of Command Line Kung Fu, started his IT career in the late 1990’s as a Unix and Linux System Engineer. He is known for Shell Scripting, Linux for Beginners and Python Programming for beginners books and he has instructed thousands of satisfied students throughout his career found it proper to share his real-world command line tricks and experience with you throughout the book.
You never need to spend countless times reading the cryptic man-pages anymore because the author is well versed and adept with the Linux commandline and he is pouring all of the commands he has been using, as well as why he was using them and exactly how they work. Every beginner will find this resource remarkable and a friendly pocket reference.
You won’t find theoretical examples in this book. The examples demonstrate how to solve actual problems and accomplish worthwhile goals which earns it an extra bonus.
Be accomplished in the commandline and take a leap in your skillsets today. Be the Command Line Kung Fu badass you deserve by buying and reading this resource. Click on the link below to get yours from Amazon:
Command Line Kung Fu: Bash Scripting Tricks, Linux Shell Programming Tips, and Bash One-liners
5. Linux Basics for Hackers: Getting Started with Networking, Scripting, and Security in Kali
This resource tackles a very different yet exhilaring niche. Topics include Linux command line basics, filesystems, networking, BASH basics, package management, logging, and the Linux kernel and drivers. You get a comprehensive overview of the very important aspects of systems, security and networking.
If you’re getting started along the exciting path of hacking, cybersecurity, and pentesting, Linux Basics for Hackers is an excellent first step. Using Kali Linux, an advanced penetration testing distribution of Linux, you’ll learn the basics of using the Linux operating system and acquire the tools and techniques you’ll need to take control of a Linux environment.
First, you’ll learn how to install Kali on a virtual machine and get an introduction to basic Linux concepts. Next, you’ll tackle broader Linux topics like manipulating text, controlling file and directory permissions, and managing user environment variables. You’ll then focus in on foundational hacking concepts like security and anonymity and learn scripting skills with bash and Python. Practical tutorials and exercises throughout will reinforce and test your skills as you learn how to:
- Cover your tracks by changing your network information and manipulating the rsyslog logging utility
- Write a tool to scan for network connections, and connect and listen to wireless networks
- Keep your internet activity stealthy using Tor, proxy servers, VPNs, and encrypted email
- Write a bash script to scan open ports for potential targets
- Use and abuse services like MySQL, Apache web server, and OpenSSH
- Build your own hacking tools, such as a remote video spy camera and a password cracker
This book is worth reading if you would wish to get your legs into the deep of exciting Linux adventure. As you can see from the stuff you will learn, there are plenty of skills you are going to harvest out of it. The link to get your copy is right below if you are interested:
Linux Basics for Hackers: Getting Started with Networking, Scripting, and Security in Kali
6. Wicked Cool Shell Scripts, 2nd Edition: 101 Scripts for Linux, OS X, and UNIX Systems
Dave Taylor has been published over a thousand times, launched four Internet-related startup companies, has written twenty business and technical books and holds both an MBA and MS Ed. He has been around for a considerable amount of time as well. Brandon on the other end started writing C# applications with the advent of the open source .NET implementation called Mono. They both present a very strong front of experience and skills that it all transferred to their readers in Wicked Cool Shell Scripts, 2nd Edition.
This second edition of Wicked Cool Shell Scripts offers a collection of useful, customizable, and fun shell scripts for solving common problems and personalizing your computing environment. Each chapter contains ready-to-use scripts and explanations of how they work, why you’d want to use them, and suggestions for changing and expanding them. You’ll find a mix of classic favorites, like a disk backup utility that keeps your files safe when your system crashes, a password manager, a weather tracker, and several games, as well as 23 brand-new scripts, including:
- ZIP code lookup tool that reports the city and state
- Bitcoin address information retriever
- suite of tools for working with cloud services like Dropbox and iCloud
- for renaming and applying commands to files in bulk
- processing and editing tools
Whether you want to save time managing your system or just find new ways to goof off, these scripts are wicked cool!
Join the wicked cool party by clicking on the link below:
Wicked Cool Shell Scripts, 2nd Edition: 101 Scripts for Linux, OS X, and UNIX Systems
It is time to delegate the boring repetitive tasks to the computer by harnessing the power of scripting. Get more time in your hands to accomplish other great things without compromising stuff being done. Through scripting, you will realize a different world of managing systems at scale without increasing the pain of handling them. Better yourself by grabbing one or two of the guides listed above.
More articles exposing books related to the ones listed above include:
Best Linux Books for Beginners & Experts
Best LPIC-1 and LPIC-2 certification study books
Bash Script Renew Let’s Encrypt SSL Certificate on Tomcat
