Boost your capability in UNIX shell scripting with this expert-led course. In just five days, you’ll tackle real-world scripting challenges using AWK, sed, and other core tools - ideal for developers and admins aiming to deliver reliable, efficient automation in their daily work.
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UNIX Shell Programming for Developers
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Course overview
Develop complex scripting skills with real-world impact
Delivered over five days, this UNIX programming course equips you with advanced UNIX shell scripting techniques to optimise system processes and automate key tasks. You’ll deepen your scripting knowledge and apply tools that support lasting performance improvements.
Learning objectives
- Develop modular, efficient shell scripts
- Use loops, variables and logic structures effectively
- Automate tasks using cron and at
- Manipulate data using sed, grep and AWK
- Build interactive, menu-driven scripts
- Handle errors and user signals
- Create custom functions and control flow
- Use arrays and advanced AWK techniques
What you’ll learn
Strengthen your UNIX shell scripting proficiency through our immersive live training. Learn to automate operations, write powerful scripts, and manage files and data efficiently using proven scripting tools and techniques.
Core scripting essentials
Begin by mastering the foundations of UNIX shell scripting. You’ll learn how to create and execute scripts using variables, command substitution, and conditional logic. Explore quoting mechanisms, file extensions, and input handling with read. This section also introduces loop constructs to automate routine logic. Together, these fundamentals help you develop responsive scripts that can support more complex tasks later in the course. With a structured approach and practical scripting exercises, you’ll gain the confidence and control needed to build efficient solutions from the ground up.
Text handling with AWK, sed and grep
Refine your scripting capability with powerful UNIX text processing tools. Discover how to use AWK for extracting, transforming and reporting on data - including working with arrays, control flow and output formatting. You'll also learn to use sed for scripted editing tasks and grep with regular expressions for flexible pattern matching. These techniques are essential for parsing logs, processing inputs and creating scripts that adapt to varied data structures. By the end of this section, you’ll be able to build robust scripts that handle complex text scenarios with ease.
Automation and task scheduling
Learn how to make your scripts work smarter and more independently by automating key system tasks. This section covers using tar for backups, compression tools like gzip and bzip2, and job scheduling through cron and at. These techniques allow you to automate routine maintenance and ensure that critical tasks are completed consistently and on time. You’ll develop scripts that can run unattended, saving time and reducing manual errors - an essential skill for systems administrators and anyone working in fast-paced IT environments.
Advanced scripting and logic control
Take your shell scripting skills further by incorporating advanced control features and programming techniques. Learn to build modular scripts using user-defined functions, trap system signals, and create interactive menu-driven scripts. You’ll also explore script arguments using getopts, variable re-evaluation with eval, and structured logging with logger. With practical use of arrays and robust error handling, this section enables you to write maintainable, production-ready scripts that can be adapted to real business challenges across UNIX and Linux systems.
What’s included
- Five days of live virtual training
- Interactive live labs with expert support
- Real-world scripting challenges
- Digital training guides and references
- Remote access to scripting environments
- Certification confirming attendance and skills
- Follow-up resources
Key facts
Ideal for
System administrators, programmers and developers responsible for automation, file processing, or UNIX/Linux systems scripting.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with UNIX or Linux at the level of the ILX UNIX Introduction course is required. Prior coding experience is also beneficial.
Learning experience
Our experienced trainers and interactive labs create a focused, practical environment – so you can put theory into practice from day one.
FAQs
This ILX course delivers advanced UNIX shell scripting expertise through structured, hands-on training. You'll learn to automate system tasks, process and transform data, and write efficient, reliable scripts - equipping you with the skills that directly support technical development and career growth.
Will I learn how to use sed and grep?
Yes. The course covers both sed and grep, which are essential for text processing in UNIX scripting. You’ll use sed to automate stream editing tasks such as inserting, deleting, and transforming text in files, while grep enables powerful pattern matching using regular expressions. You’ll explore standard and extended regex patterns, POSIX classes, and apply these tools in practical scripting exercises to search, extract, and manipulate data efficiently.
While this course already covers advanced shell scripting techniques, learners looking to deepen their UNIX skills further can explore ILX’s Linux Networking or Oracle SQL courses. These build on your command-line and scripting knowledge, supporting specialisation in system administration, database interaction, and infrastructure management. If you’re looking to expand into adjacent technologies, our wider portfolio includes programming, DevOps and database-focused learning options.
What career opportunities can UNIX shell scripting support?
Strong UNIX shell scripting skills are highly valued across many technical roles. They support progression into careers such as Linux/UNIX system administration, DevOps engineering, infrastructure support, and automation specialist roles. Scripting is also essential in data engineering and site reliability positions. Mastering shell scripting improves your ability to manage systems efficiently, automate routine tasks, and solve operational challenges - making you a more capable and sought-after IT professional.
How can UNIX shell scripting benefit my company?
UNIX shell scripting boosts productivity by automating repetitive tasks, reducing human error, and improving consistency in system operations. It enables teams to streamline processes like data handling, file management, backups, and system monitoring - freeing up time for more strategic work. By investing in this training, your company gains a more efficient, self-reliant team member who can help optimise workflows, enhance system reliability, and contribute to better operational performance.
Why should I learn advanced UNIX shell scripting?
Learning advanced UNIX shell scripting equips you to automate complex workflows, manage large data sets, and streamline system tasks across UNIX and Linux environments. These advanced skills help reduce manual effort, improve consistency, and increase efficiency - making you a more valuable asset in roles involving infrastructure, DevOps, or system administration.
What our customers say
“The course was informative and well-paced. The instructor was knowledgeable and explained the concept in a clear and well thought out manner. He really helped clarify some issues I had and left me with a deeper understanding.”
Tony, ILX learner
“I have taken a number of virtual training courses over the years, and I have to say this one was the best delivery wise. The instructor was engaging and explanatory, extremely patient and no question seemed unimportant or ridiculous.”
Emma, ILX learner
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