A shell script is a script or computer program written for the shell (command interpreter) of an operating system. Usually, the term refers to scripts written for a Unix shell. The Bourne shell is by far the most popular shell used for this purpose.

Shell scripts allow users to execute several programs with complex command line arguments with a single command. They are excellent for automating simple tasks.

For tasks deemed too large or complex to be comfortably handled with shell scripts, programs are often written in scripting languages, such as Perl. However, core system maintenance scripts, which might otherwise be written in such a language, continue to be written as shell scripts, as they cannot rely on the presence of Perl.

In DOS and Windows, such scripts are known as batch files.

External links

• Wicked Cool Shell Scripts: The Library by Dave Taylor
• What to watch out for when writing portable shell scripts by Peter Seebach
• Zazzybob.com Shell Script Repository by Kevin Waldron