Bash Coding Style

Bash coding style refers to a set of conventions and best practices for writing clean, readable, and maintainable Bash scripts. Adhering to a consistent style improves collaboration and reduces errors in your code.

Key Principles

• Consistency: Maintain a uniform style throughout your scripts
• Readability: Write code that's easy for humans to understand
• Modularity: Break complex tasks into smaller, reusable functions
• Documentation: Comment your code to explain complex logic or non-obvious choices

Naming Conventions

Use descriptive names for variables, functions, and files. This enhances code readability and self-documentation.

Variables

Use lowercase for variable names. Separate words with underscores.

user_name="John"
temp_file="/tmp/myapp_temp.txt"

Functions

Use lowercase for function names. Separate words with underscores. Choose verb-noun combinations when appropriate.

process_user_input() {
    # Function body
}

validate_config_file() {
    # Function body
}

Indentation and Formatting

Proper indentation is crucial for readability. Use spaces instead of tabs for consistent formatting across different editors.

Indentation

Use 2 or 4 spaces for each indentation level. Be consistent throughout your script.

if [ "$condition" ]; then
    echo "Condition is true"
    for item in "${array[@]}"; do
        process_item "$item"
    done
fi

Line Length

Keep lines under 80 characters when possible. Break long commands using backslashes for readability.

long_command \
    --option1 value1 \
    --option2 value2 \
    --option3 value3

Comments and Documentation

Well-commented code is easier to understand and maintain. Include comments to explain complex logic, assumptions, or non-obvious choices.

Script Header

Start your script with a header that includes a brief description, usage information, and any dependencies.

#!/bin/bash
#
# Script: process_logs.sh
# Description: Processes log files and generates a summary report
# Usage: ./process_logs.sh [input_directory] [output_file]
# Dependencies: awk, sed
#
# Author: Your Name
# Date: YYYY-MM-DD

Inline Comments

Use inline comments sparingly to explain complex or non-obvious code sections.

# Calculate the average of an array of numbers
sum=0
for num in "${numbers[@]}"; do
    sum=$((sum + num))  # Accumulate the sum
done
average=$((sum / ${#numbers[@]}))  # Divide sum by array length

Error Handling and Debugging

Implement proper error handling and debugging techniques to make your scripts more robust and easier to troubleshoot.

Error Handling

Use Bash Error Handling techniques to catch and handle errors gracefully.

set -e  # Exit immediately if a command exits with a non-zero status
set -u  # Treat unset variables as an error

# Function to handle errors
error_handler() {
    echo "Error occurred on line $1" >&2
    exit 1
}

trap 'error_handler $LINENO' ERR

Debugging

Use Bash Debugging Techniques to help identify and fix issues in your scripts.

set -x  # Enable debug mode (print each command before execution)

# ... your script code ...

set +x  # Disable debug mode

Best Practices

• Use Bash Variables Declaration to improve code readability and maintainability
• Leverage Bash Function Declaration to create modular and reusable code
• Implement proper Bash Input/Output Redirection for efficient data handling
• Utilize Bash Command Substitution for dynamic command execution
• Follow Bash Security Considerations to write secure scripts

By following these Bash coding style guidelines, you'll create scripts that are easier to read, maintain, and debug. Consistent styling also facilitates collaboration and helps prevent common coding errors.