Conclusion
This guide covered only the tip of the iceberg. There is far more syntax and tricks to be learned as you evolve as a bash user. Bash scripting, and its associated Linux constructs, unlock a huge world of opportunities and applications. Bash scripting is also widely used, especially on servers, making it a great skill for system administrators to have.
More comprehensive resources for furthering your knowledge of bash scripting include:
- The Bash Reference Manual (also via DevDocs) and The Linux Documentation Project, both of which were referenced many times in this guide as external resources.
- The bash cheatsheets from DevHints and Lehigh University serve as excellent quick reference materials for basic syntax.
- If you prefer physical books, the Bash Cookbook is an excellent resource for finding snippets of code that you can adapt to solve virtually any problem.
- StackOverflow, as with many computer science topics, serves as a great Q&A forum to ask questions about the various intricacies of bash scripting.
As with any programming language, practice makes perfect. Codecademy has a great list of projects to work on to build your skills. We recommend the Detect Mounted Disks, Listing and Sorting Directories, and Sales Tax Calculator projects for those who have completed this guide.
If you feel like you need some more practice with the basics before moving onto a full-sized project, Tecmint has a list of beginner-level mini-projects complete with sample solutions in case you get stuck. But of course, the best project is the one that you're most motivated to accomplish, regardless of the difficulty.