Practice & Assessment
Test your understanding of Shell Fundamentals
Multiple Choice Questions
5What does `set -o pipefail` do in a Bash script?
Which quoting style prevents ALL variable expansion in Bash?
What is the exit code convention for a successful command in Bash?
What does `2>&1` mean in a Bash redirect?
Which syntax is preferred for command substitution in modern Bash?
Coding Challenges
1System Info Reporter
Write a Bash script `sysinfo.sh` that collects and prints: hostname, current user, OS name, total RAM in MB, number of CPUs, and disk usage percentage of `/`. Each item should print on its own labeled line (e.g., `Hostname: myserver`). Use command substitution for every value. The script must include `set -euo pipefail` and work on both Linux and macOS. Input: none. Output: 6 labeled lines to stdout. Time estimate: 15-20 minutes.
Mini Project
Bootstrap Script Generator
Build a script `bootstrap.sh` that sets up a fresh developer environment. It must: accept a `--lang` argument (node, python, or go) and a `--dir` argument for the project directory; create the directory structure using variables and command substitution; write a language-appropriate starter file (e.g., `index.js`, `main.py`, `main.go`) using a heredoc; log all actions with timestamps to `bootstrap.log` using tee; exit with a clear error message and code 1 if required args are missing or the language is unsupported. Use `set -euo pipefail` and `trap` for cleanup on failure.