Shell Programming – Part 1

I. Schell Script Overview

The shell is the programming layer that understands and executes the commands entered by a
user. In some systems such as Windows, the shell is called a command interpreter.

The linux shell (/bin/sh) works in an interactive mode and non-interactive mode.

1. Interactive Mode:

Shell is the interface between the user and the Unix System.

The instructions executed by the shell come from the terminal.

Unix Instructions /bin/sh

2. Non-Interactive Mode:

In this mode, the user is able to group the instructions in files called Shell scripts. In such way,
the user can define his own instructions

Unix Instructions /bin/sh

Shell Script

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 2.1.Shell script components

A shell scripts includes:

 The different instructions used in interactive mode.

 Variables
 Control structures (conditions, loops,..)
2.2.Shell script execution

To execute a script file, there is two possible ways:

 If the file containing the script does not have the “execute” right:

sh <filename> [<argument> …]

The sh instruction will execute the set of instructions included in the file.

<argument>: the list of inputs which are necessary to the execution of the script

 If the file containing the script has the execution right

./<filename> [<argument> …]

In this case, we don‟t need to call the sh instruction. The file is already executable and it is
considered as a new UNIX instruction.

Example :

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 II. Variables in Shell

A shell variable is identified by its name. Shell manages only alphanumeric variables.

There are two kinds of variables:

 User variables
 Predefined Variables
1. User Variables

To call a user variable, we have to preced its name by the „$‟ character.

1.1.User variable definition

To define and to attribute a value to a variable, the following syntax is used:

<variable_name>=<variable_value>

Example:

Note: echo instruction is used to display a text or a value of a variable.

1.2.User variables concatenation

To concatenate two user variables in UNIX, we have to call them one after the other

Example:

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 1.3.Associate a UNIX instruction to a user variable

<variable_name>=`<instruction>`

According to this syntax, the instruction is first executed and then its result will be stored in the
variable value.

Example:

2. Predefined variables
The predefined variables are the variables defined by the Linux OS, such as:

 HOME: the home directory

 TERM: the terminal type
 LOGNAME: the user name
 PATH: the list of directories
 PS1: prompt (the charchter $ or #)
 PS2: the second prompt (the charchter >)

To know the other predefined variables, type the env instruction.

Try the env instruction in your computer. What is your logname? .................................................

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 3. Variables affected by the shell during the script execution
$0 Name of the running procedure
$1…$9 Value of the 1st argument….Value of the 9th argument
$* List of arguments
$# Number of arguments

Example:

Create a new file called “tryvar” and put the following instructions on it:

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