Bash Scripting Workflow

Overview

Specialized workflow for creating robust, production-ready bash scripts with defensive programming patterns, comprehensive error handling, and automated testing.

When to Use This Workflow

Use this workflow when:

• Creating automation scripts
• Writing system administration tools
• Building deployment scripts
• Developing backup solutions
• Creating CI/CD scripts

Scope and execution

Choose the phases that match the user’s task; this document is an index, not an instruction to run every listed skill. Read a selected skill before using it. Respect repository and user constraints. Cloud calls, host configuration, publishing, destructive operations and spending require the applicable authorization; a workflow checklist does not grant it.

The template is a starting point, not a completed script: it does not implement argument parsing or rollback. Validate paths, quote expansions, test in a disposable directory, and make retries bounded and safe for the specific command. Never log credentials or imply strict mode catches every failure.

Workflow Phases

Phase 1: Script Design

Skills to Invoke

• bash-pro - Professional scripting
• bash-defensive-patterns - Defensive patterns

Actions

1. Define script purpose
2. Identify inputs/outputs
3. Plan error handling
4. Design logging strategy
5. Document requirements

Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @bash-pro to design production-ready bash script

Phase 2: Script Structure

Skills to Invoke

• bash-pro - Script structure
• bash-defensive-patterns - Safety patterns

Actions

1. Add shebang and strict mode
2. Create usage function
3. Implement argument parsing
4. Set up logging
5. Add cleanup handlers

Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @bash-defensive-patterns to implement strict mode and error handling

Phase 3: Core Implementation

Skills to Invoke

• bash-linux - Linux commands
• linux-shell-scripting - Shell scripting

Actions

1. Implement main functions
2. Add input validation
3. Create helper functions
4. Handle edge cases
5. Add progress indicators

Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @bash-linux to implement system commands

Phase 4: Error Handling

Skills to Invoke

• bash-defensive-patterns - Error handling
• error-handling-patterns - Error patterns

Actions

1. Add trap handlers
2. Implement retry logic
3. Create error messages
4. Set up exit codes
5. Add rollback capability

Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @bash-defensive-patterns to add comprehensive error handling

Phase 5: Logging

Skills to Invoke

• bash-pro - Logging patterns

Actions

1. Create logging function
2. Add log levels
3. Implement timestamps
4. Configure log rotation
5. Add debug mode

Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @bash-pro to implement structured logging

Phase 6: Testing

Skills to Invoke

• bats-testing-patterns - Bats testing
• shellcheck-configuration - ShellCheck

Actions

1. Write Bats tests
2. Run ShellCheck
3. Test edge cases
4. Verify error handling
5. Test with different inputs

Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @bats-testing-patterns to write script tests

Use @shellcheck-configuration to lint bash script

Phase 7: Documentation

Skills to Invoke

• documentation-templates - Documentation

Actions

1. Add script header
2. Document functions
3. Create usage examples
4. List dependencies
5. Add troubleshooting section

Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @documentation-templates to document bash script

Script Template

#!/usr/bin/env bash
set -euo pipefail

SCRIPT_NAME=$(basename -- "$0")
readonly SCRIPT_NAME
SCRIPT_DIR=$(cd -- "$(dirname -- "$0")" && pwd)
readonly SCRIPT_DIR

log() { echo "[$(date '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')] $*"; }
error() { log "ERROR: $*" >&2; exit 1; }

usage() { cat <<EOF
Usage: $SCRIPT_NAME [OPTIONS]
Options:
    -h, --help      Show help
    -v, --verbose   Verbose output
EOF
}

main() {
    log "Script started"
    # Implementation
    log "Script completed"
}

main "$@"

Quality Gates

• [ ] ShellCheck passes
• [ ] Bats tests pass
• [ ] Error handling works
• [ ] Logging functional
• [ ] Documentation complete

Related Workflow Bundles

• os-scripting - OS scripting
• linux-troubleshooting - Linux troubleshooting
• cloud-devops - DevOps automation

Limitations

• Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
• Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
• Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.