How to Execute a Bash Script

Executing a Bash script is a straightforward process that involves creating the script, making it executable, and then running it. Below are the detailed steps to execute a Bash script.

Step 1: Create a Bash Script

First, you need to create a Bash script file. You can use any text editor, such as nano, vim, or gedit. Here’s how to create a simple script:

nano myscript.sh

In the text editor, add the following lines:

#!/bin/bash
echo "Hello, World!"

Save the file and exit the editor. In nano, you can save by pressing CTRL + O, then Enter, and exit with CTRL + X.

Step 2: Make the Script Executable

Before you can run the script, you need to make it executable. You can do this using the chmod command:

chmod +x myscript.sh

This command changes the file permissions, allowing the script to be executed.

Step 3: Execute the Bash Script

There are two common ways to execute a Bash script:

Method 1: Using the Relative Path

You can run the script by specifying its relative path:

./myscript.sh

This command tells the shell to execute the script located in the current directory.

Method 2: Using the Bash Command

Alternatively, you can execute the script by explicitly calling the Bash interpreter:

bash myscript.sh

This method does not require the script to be executable, as you are directly invoking the Bash interpreter to run the script.

Step 4: Check the Output

After executing the script using either method, you should see the following output:

Hello, World!

Conclusion

Executing a Bash script is a simple process that involves creating the script, making it executable, and running it using either the relative path or the Bash command. Mastering these steps will enable you to automate tasks and streamline your workflow in a Unix-like environment.