How To Run .sh Scripts in Terminal

In this tutorial, we will delve into the process of running .sh scripts in a terminal on a Unix-like operating system. Shell scripts, which end with a .sh extension, are a handy tool for automating tasks on Unix-like systems. They can be run directly in the terminal or set to execute at specific times using a cron job.

What are .sh Scripts?

Shell scripts (.sh) are files that contain a sequence of commands for a Unix-based operating system. They’re essentially lists of commands that you would have otherwise executed one-by-one in your terminal. Shell scripts are a versatile and powerful tool that can automate repetitive tasks and create new utilities.

Running .sh Scripts in Terminal

There are several methods to run a shell script in the terminal. We will look at two primary ways:

Method 1: Using the Terminal Directly

1. Navigate to the Directory

First, open a terminal and navigate to the directory where the .sh file is located. You can do this using the cd (change directory) command followed by the path to your directory. For example:

cd /path/to/your/directory

2. Make the Script Executable

Next, you need to make the script executable. This can be done using the chmod command followed by +x and the filename. The +x parameter gives the file “execute” permissions. For example:

chmod +x filename.sh

3. Run the Script

Finally, you can run the script by typing ./ followed by the filename:

./filename.sh

Method 2: Using the sh or bash Command

You can also run the script using the sh or bash command followed by the path to your script.

sh /path/to/yourscript.sh

or

bash /path/to/yourscript.sh

The sh and bash commands tell the system to interpret the script using the Bourne shell or the Bourne Again shell, respectively.

Changing File Permissions

If you prefer a graphical interface, you can change the file permissions to make the script executable:

1. Right-click on the .sh file and select “Properties”.
2. Go to the “Permissions” tab.
3. Check the “Allow executing file as program” option.

After doing this, you can run the script by double-clicking the file and choosing to run it in the terminal.

Conclusion

Running .sh scripts in the terminal is a fundamental skill for any system administrator or developer working with Unix-like systems. It allows you to automate tasks and create new utilities. Always ensure that the script is properly written and that you trust the source before executing it.

For more information on shell scripting, check out the Bash Guide for Beginners and the Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide.