bash-script-helper

jackspace's avatarfrom jackspace

Expert helper for bash scripting, debugging, and best practices

⭐0stars🔀0forks📁View on GitHub🕐Updated Nov 20, 2025
[Debugging]

When & Why to Use This Skill

The Bash Script Helper is a specialized Claude skill designed to streamline the creation, troubleshooting, and optimization of shell scripts. It focuses on implementing industry-standard best practices—such as robust error handling with 'set -e', secure variable quoting, and modern syntax—to ensure your Linux and Unix automation is reliable, secure, and maintainable.

Use Cases

  • Script Troubleshooting: Identifying and fixing common bash pitfalls like silent command failures, unquoted variables, and improper conditional logic.
  • Legacy Code Refactoring: Modernizing older shell scripts by replacing backticks with $() and implementing [[ ]] for more robust string and file testing.
  • DevOps Automation: Developing production-ready CI/CD glue scripts and system maintenance tasks with built-in error trapping and cleanup mechanisms.
  • Security Hardening: Auditing scripts for vulnerabilities like eval usage or unvalidated user input to ensure safe execution in sensitive environments.
namebash-script-helper
descriptionExpert helper for bash scripting, debugging, and best practices

Bash-script-helper

Instructions

When writing or debugging bash scripts:

  • Always use #!/bin/bash shebang
  • Set -e (exit on error), -u (error on undefined var)
  • Use [[ ]] instead of [ ] for tests
  • Quote variables: "$variable" not $variable
  • Use $() instead of backticks
  • Check command exit codes: $?
  • Use trap for cleanup
  • Provide meaningful error messages
  • Validate input parameters
  • Argument parsing with getopts
  • Reading files line by line
  • Function definitions and calls
  • Arrays and associative arrays
  • Use set -x for trace mode
  • shellcheck for static analysis
  • Use echo/printf for debugging output
  • Avoid eval
  • Sanitize user input
  • Use mktemp for temporary files
  • Set proper file permissions

Examples

Add examples of how to use this skill here.

Notes

  • This skill was auto-generated
  • Edit this file to customize behavior