Create Your First Shell Script: Hello World

Summary: Write and run your very first .sh file in Bash.

Learning to write shell scripts is the first step towards mastering automation and efficient command-line workflows. In this guide, you’ll create your very first shell script using Bash: the classic “Hello World”.

What Is a Shell Script?

A shell script is a plain text file that contains commands you would normally enter in a terminal, executed in sequence by a shell interpreter. Bash is the most popular shell on Linux and macOS, though it’s also available for Windows.

Prerequisites

  • A Unix-like operating system (Linux, macOS, or Windows Subsystem for Linux).
  • A text editor (like nano, vim, or even VS Code).
  • Access to a terminal.

Step 1: Open Your Terminal

Launch a terminal window. On macOS and Linux, look for “Terminal” in your applications. On Windows, use Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) or Git Bash.

Step 2: Create a New Script File

Use your editor of choice to create a new file called hello.sh. For example, in your terminal:

nano hello.sh

Or with vim:

vim hello.sh

Step 3: Write Your Shell Script

Type the following lines:

#!/bin/bash

# This script prints "Hello, World!" to the terminal
echo "Hello, World!"

Explanation:

  • #!/bin/bash: Called a "shebang", tells the system to use the Bash shell to interpret this script.
  • Lines starting with # are comments for humans; they are ignored by Bash.
  • echo "Hello, World!" prints the text to the terminal.

Save and exit the editor (in nano, press CTRL+O to save, CTRL+X to exit).

Step 4: Make the Script Executable

Before you can run your new script, give it execute permission:

chmod +x hello.sh

Step 5: Run Your Script

Now, execute your script like this:

./hello.sh

You should see:

Hello, World!

Troubleshooting

  • If you get command not found or permission denied, double check you typed the commands correctly and gave execute permission.
  • If you see “bad interpreter: No such file or directory”, ensure your shebang line is exactly #!/bin/bash and Bash is installed at /bin/bash.

What Next?

Now you've created and run your first shell script! Here are some ideas for experiments:

  • Change the message in the echo statement.
  • Add more echo lines.
  • Try using variables: 
    #!/bin/bash
name="Student"
echo "Hello, $name!"

Conclusion

Shell scripts are powerful tools for automating everyday tasks. With just a few lines, you can translate any terminal command sequence into a reusable script. This “Hello World” is just the start of your shell scripting journey — happy automating!

Want to learn more? Check out resources on Bash scripting and command-line fundamentals to expand your skills!

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