Introduction
Bash scripting is one of the most powerful tools in any developer’s or system administrator’s toolbox. But it doesn’t have to be intimidating! In this guide, you'll learn how to write your first interactive Bash script—one that asks for user input, responds to it, and performs simple actions.
By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a solid foundation to build more complex and useful scripts.
What is a Bash Script?
A Bash script is simply a text file containing a series of commands that the Linux shell can execute. It automates repetitive tasks, reduces errors, and saves you time.
What You'll Learn in This Guide:
- How to create a basic Bash script
- How to take user input using
read
- How to use simple
if conditions
- How to make the script interactive
️ Prerequisites
- ✅ A Linux machine or a Linux VPS
- ✅ Terminal access
- ✅ Basic knowledge of using the command line (no coding experience required)
Step 1: Create a New Bash Script
Open your terminal and create a new file called interactive.sh:
nano interactive.sh
At the top of the file, add the shebang line:
#!/bin/bash
This tells the system to use the Bash interpreter to run the script.
️ Step 2: Add User Input with read
Let’s make the script ask for your name and greet you.
#!/bin/bash
echo "Hello! What's your name?"
read user_name
echo "Nice to meet you, $user_name!"
- ✅
echo prints text to the screen.
- ✅
read waits for the user to type something and stores it in a variable (user_name in this case).
Step 3: Add Some Interaction
Let’s make it a bit more fun by asking another question.
#!/bin/bash
echo "Hello! What's your name?"
read user_name
echo "Nice to meet you, $user_name!"
echo "How are you feeling today? (good/bad)"
read feeling
if [ "$feeling" == "good" ]; then
echo "That's awesome to hear, $user_name!"
elif [ "$feeling" == "bad" ]; then
echo "Sorry to hear that, $user_name. Hope your day gets better!"
else
echo "Hmm, I didn't understand that, but I hope you're doing okay!"
fi
- ✅ The
if statement checks what the user typed.
- ✅ You can respond differently based on different inputs.
Step 4: Make It Executable
Before running the script, you need to give it permission to execute:
chmod +x interactive.sh
Now you can run it:
./interactive.sh
Step 5: Expanding the Script (Bonus)
Here’s an improved version that adds a simple calculator:
#!/bin/bash
echo "Welcome to the Simple Bash Calculator!"
echo "What is your name?"
read user_name
echo "Hello, $user_name! Let's do a quick calculation."
echo "Enter first number:"
read num1
echo "Enter second number:"
read num2
result=$((num1 + num2))
echo "The sum of $num1 and $num2 is: $result"
- ✅ This script adds two numbers that the user provides.
- ✅
$((...)) is used for arithmetic operations.
Key Takeaways
read allows you to accept user input in Bash.- Variables store data you can use later.
- Simple conditions with
if make your scripts interactive.
- Bash is a powerful starting point for automating tasks.
Why Should You Care?
- ✅ Automate repetitive tasks
- ✅ Learn the basics of programming logic without complex syntax
- ✅ Control your servers or homelab devices efficiently
Even small scripts like this can save you time and reduce mistakes.
Next Steps:
If you enjoyed this tutorial, here’s what you can do next:
- Try adding more options or calculations.
- Learn about loops in Bash to repeat actions.
- Use your script to manage files or services on your VPS.
Conclusion
Writing interactive Bash scripts doesn’t have to be scary. With just a few simple commands, you can create tools that make your work easier and more fun. Practice these basics, and you’ll soon be automating your way through everyday Linux tasks like a pro!
