Bash

Bash scripting, shell fundamentals, automation patterns, and common pitfalls.

Aug 23, 2026 • 8 min read • series

Bash Append to File: >>, tee, and Heredoc Examples

Append text to a file in Bash without erasing existing content. Covers >>, echo, printf, tee -a for protected files, and combining files.

Bash best practices for writing safer and cleaner shell scripts

Aug 20, 2026 • 9 min read • series

Bash Best Practices: Writing Safer, Cleaner Scripts

Practical Bash best practices for writing safer and more predictable scripts, covering strict mode, quoting, error handling, and everyday patterns.

Aug 19, 2026 • 11 min read • series

How to Redirect stderr to stdout in Bash

Redirecting stderr and stdout in Bash using 2>&1, &>, and other operators. Covers file descriptors, appending, piping errors, and discarding output with /dev/null.

Aug 18, 2026 • 6 min read • series

How to Run a Bash Script in Linux

Run a bash script in Linux with chmod +x, the bash interpreter, or source. Step-by-step examples with common errors and fixes.

Aug 17, 2026 • 7 min read • series

sleep Command in Linux: Pause a Bash Script

How to use the sleep command in bash to pause script execution. Examples cover seconds, minutes, sleep infinity, retry loops, countdowns, and background sleeps.

Aug 16, 2026 • 5 min read

Linux basename Command: Get File Name from Path in Bash

Get just the file name from a full path in Bash. This guide covers basename options, suffix stripping, and how it compares to parameter expansion.

Using the Linux basename command to strip directory paths from file names

Aug 16, 2026 • 9 min read • series

echo Command in Linux: Print Text and Variables

Print text, variables, script arguments, and exit codes with echo in Linux, plus escape sequences, colored output, and the quoting pitfalls to avoid.

Stylized terminal showing the echo command printing Hello, Linux

Aug 14, 2026 • 7 min read • series

Bash Shebang: What #!/bin/bash Means in Shell Scripts

A Bash shebang tells Linux which interpreter runs a script. See what #!/bin/bash means, how /usr/bin/env bash differs, and what happens without #!.

Aug 13, 2026 • 13 min read • series

history Command in Linux: View and Manage Bash History

Use the history command in Linux to view, search, and clean up Bash command history. Covers expansions, HISTSIZE, HISTIGNORE, and security tips.

Aug 9, 2026 • 8 min read • series

Bash until Loop

Repeat commands until a condition becomes true with the Bash until loop. Includes syntax, practical examples, and comparisons with the while loop.

Aug 6, 2026 • 7 min read • series

How to Check if a File or Directory Exists in Bash

This guide explains how to check if a file or directory exists in Bash using test and if statements, with clear examples for common file checks.

Bash test operators checking a file and directory

Aug 5, 2026 • 9 min read

cd Command in Linux: Change Directories

Change directories in Linux with cd, covering absolute and relative paths, home and parent shortcuts, symbolic links, CDPATH, and common errors.

Jul 28, 2026 • 6 min read • series

Bash Positional Arguments: How to Use $1, $2, $@, and shift

Learn how Bash positional arguments work, including $0, $1, $#, "$@", "$*", shift, default values, and function arguments in scripts.

Jul 28, 2026 • 13 min read • series

How to Parse Command-Line Options in Bash with getopts

Parse short options in Bash scripts with getopts: option strings, OPTARG and OPTIND, silent error handling, long-option workarounds, and complete script examples.

Jul 19, 2026 • 5 min read • series

export Command in Linux: Set Bash Environment Variables

Use export to turn Bash shell variables into environment variables that child processes inherit, list exported variables, and make them permanent across sessions.

Developer using the export command in a Linux terminal beside the Tux mascot

Jul 16, 2026 • 4 min read

What Is stdin, stdout, and stderr in Linux

stdin, stdout, and stderr are Linux's three standard streams. See how file descriptors 0, 1, and 2 connect commands to terminals, files, and pipes.

Diagram of stdin entering a Linux process and stdout and stderr leaving it

Jul 15, 2026 • 10 min read • series

How to Set Environment Variables in Linux

Set, list, and make environment variables permanent in Linux. Covers shell vs environment variables, export, printenv, and persistent config in ~/.bashrc and /etc/profile.

Jul 12, 2026 • 7 min read • series

How to Read a File Line By Line in Bash

Read a file line by line in Bash using a while loop and the read command. This guide covers IFS splitting, mapfile arrays, command output, and common pitfalls.

Jul 9, 2026 • 7 min read • series

Bash Parameter Expansion: Defaults, Substrings, and Replacement

Bash parameter expansion handles default values, substrings, string length, pattern trimming, search and replace, and case conversion, all inside the shell.

Bash parameter expansion syntax examples in a Linux terminal

Jul 8, 2026 • 4 min read • series

How to Concatenate Strings in Bash

Concatenate strings in Bash by placing variables side by side, appending with the += operator, or formatting with printf -v. Includes examples for variables, literals, and command output.