What Topics Does The Shell Scripting Tutorial Cover?

Updated

The Shell Scripting Tutorial at shellscript.sh is a Bourne shell programming tutorial that walks through shell scripting by example, alongside the theory. Its topics run from writing a first script through variables, wildcards, escape characters, loops, tests, case statements, and functions, then on to external programs, hints and tips, a quick reference, an interactive shell section, exercises, and a tips and examples section. It is written as a basis for one-on-one or group tutorials and exercises, and as a reference for later use.

Core Scripting Topics

The tutorial's navigation lays out the main sequence of subjects:

  • A First Script
  • Variables (covered in three parts)
  • Wildcards
  • Escape Characters
  • Loops
  • Test
  • Case
  • External Programs
  • Functions

This ordering moves from a minimal working script to the building blocks most Bourne-compatible scripts rely on: storing values, matching filenames, handling special characters, repeating work, testing conditions, branching, calling outside programs, and organizing code into functions.

Reference, Practice, and Examples

Beyond the core lessons, the tutorial includes sections meant for lookup and practice:

  • Hints and Tips — practical guidance alongside the lessons.
  • Quick Reference — a condensed lookup for scripting syntax and constructs.
  • Interactive Shell — material on working with the shell interactively.
  • Exercises — practice problems tied to the tutorial content.
  • Tips and Examples — additional worked examples; the site notes this section shows how Bash provides useful functionality beyond the standard Bourne shell.

There is also a Philosophy page and a Home page in the navigation, which frame the tutorial's approach rather than teach syntax.

Which Shell It Teaches

The tutorial restricts itself to Bourne-compatible shell scripting, providing a baseline that works across many Unix and Linux environments. The site traces this lineage from Steve Bourne's original shell, which appeared in the Seventh Edition Bell Labs Research version of Unix, through successors such as csh, ksh, and zsh, to Bash — the "Bourne Again" Shell — which extends the original while keeping compatibility with the core concepts Bourne established. Bash is described as one of the most widely used shells today.

If you are learning specifically to write scripts that run under Bash, the core lessons still apply, and the examples section is where Bash-specific extras appear. If you need portability across many Unix and Linux systems, the Bourne-compatible focus is the relevant part.

Who It Is For

The tutorial assumes some prior experience — the audience section begins by stating that assumption before describing its readers. It is written for people who want to understand shell script programming and to see the possibilities of simple but powerful programming under the Bourne shell. Because it is structured as a basis for tutorials and exercises as well as a reference, it suits both guided learners and people who want to look things up later.

Format and Conventions

The tutorial explains its own typographical conventions in a dedicated section, so readers know how code, commands, and placeholders are presented before working through the lessons. It is authored by Steve Parker, a Senior DevOps Engineer with 30+ years of Unix, Linux, and automation experience and author of Shell Scripting: Expert Recipes for Linux, Bash and more. The tutorial was first published on 4 July 2000; the site lists v4.6 as the current version, last updated and reviewed 29 June 2026.

Getting the Latest Version and the PDF

The latest version is always available at https://www.shellscript.sh, and the site advises checking the version information at the top-right of the page to confirm you are reading the most up-to-date version from the authoritative source. The tutorial can also be bought as a PDF for $7; the site's payment platform listing includes Gumroad. The free web version and the paid PDF are separate options — the site presents the PDF as a purchase, not as a free download.

How to Use It

A practical path through the material:

  1. Read Purpose Of This Tutorial and Audience to confirm the Bourne-compatible scope fits your environment.
  2. Work through A First Script, then the three Variables parts, Wildcards, and Escape Characters in order.
  3. Continue with Loops, Test, and Case, doing the Exercises as you go to check understanding.
  4. Move to External Programs and Functions once the basics are comfortable.
  5. Keep Quick Reference and Hints and Tips open for lookup, and use Tips and Examples when you want to see Bash features beyond the standard Bourne shell.

If you only need a single fact — how a loop is written, what a test does — the Quick Reference is the fastest entry point. If you are starting from scratch, begin at A First Script and follow the navigation order.