Stop Writing Shell Scripts (opens in new tab)

(samgrayson.me)

5 pointscharmonium5y ago4 comments

4 comments

Shell scripts are obviously imperfect, but I don’t necessarily agree with this absolutism view. In the right circumstances, you can quickly prototype an idea or process information in a shell script with such low friction. Truly the hacker mentality, which I don’t think a “real” language can always provide in the spur of the moment.

charmoniumOP5y ago

I'm starting to come around to that view, especially since shell is an unusually productive REPL. What are the "right circumstances" for a shell script in your experience?

tutfbhuf5y ago

Wrapper functions. If you want to extend or modify the functionality of already existing tools, but without altering them too much, so it wouldn't be worth to be a new tool on its own.

jimsparkman5y ago

Admittedly, its not always apparent. I think a general rule of thumb for me is if I can effectively write the script in my mind ahead of time. Anything beyond that and I might regret choosing a shell script for the purpose.

Sometimes a shell script just proves a concept out and is then rewritten later in a production language.

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4 comments

jimsparkman5y ago

charmoniumOP5y ago

I'm starting to come around to that view, especially since shell is an unusually productive REPL. What are the "right circumstances" for a shell script in your experience?

tutfbhuf5y ago

Wrapper functions. If you want to extend or modify the functionality of already existing tools, but without altering them too much, so it wouldn't be worth to be a new tool on its own.

jimsparkman5y ago

Sometimes a shell script just proves a concept out and is then rewritten later in a production language.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse