Skill Module
CLI & Scripting with Bash
2 branches·34 chapters·4 projects
Learn how to gain advanced control over the OS and automate complex routine tasks prone to manual errors with the CLI and Bash scripting.
About this module
This module turns the terminal from a mysterious black box into a reliable working environment you control.
You'll learn how Unix systems are organized, how files, processes, users, and permissions actually work, and how to operate your machine faster and more safely than any GUI allows. Instead of memorizing isolated commands, you'll understand how commands are composed, how data flows between them, and how to read manuals, history, and output so you can solve real problems without guesswork.
Once you're comfortable at the prompt, you'll move from one-off commands to repeatable automation. You'll write Bash scripts that accept input, validate it, branch on conditions, loop over data, reuse functions, and fail gracefully. The projects are intentionally practical so you internalize patterns like parsing, text processing, scheduling with cron, and defensive scripting.
By the end, you'll navigate any Unix/macOS box with confidence and replace error-prone, manual routines with scripts you trust. It's the baseline every developer needs before touching servers, deployments, or production workflows.
What you'll learn
Here's a shortlist of the key points you'll master by the end of this module.
- Perform common tasks much faster than through the graphical interface
- Use developer tools and utilities that only exist in the command line
- Control processes, users, groups, permissions, and system resources
- Understand core programming logic using Bash
- Automate complex and repetitive tasks so you stop doing them manually
- Write scripts that adapt to inputs, configuration, and changing conditions
The curriculum
Here's an overview of the chapters composing this module, organized by sections.
The Command-Line Interface
25 chapters·7 weeks
- The Command-Line Interface
- The Anatomy of Commands
- The Execution Flow of Commands
- The Command Manual
- The Command History
- Navigating the Unix Filesystem
- Listing Files & Directories
- Generating Dynamic Pathnames
- Quoting & Escaping Parameters
- Creating Files & Directories
- Moving Files & Directories
- Copying Files & Directories
- Removing Files & Directories
- Redirecting Input & Output Streams
- Formatting the Output of Commands
- The Vim CLI Text-Editor
- The Shell Environment
- Managing Software Packages on Linux
- Managing Software Packages on macOS
- Managing Foreground & Background Processes
- Managing User Accounts
- Managing User Groups
- Managing File Permissions
- Managing File Ownership
- Scheduling Tasks With Cron
Bash Scripting
9 chapters·6 weeks·4 projects
- The Bash Scripting Language
- Storing Data With Variables in Bash
- Working With Strings in Bash
- Working With Arrays in Bash
- Controlling the Execution Flow With Conditions in Bash
- Repeating Instructions With Loops in Bash
- Reusing Code With Functions in Bash
- Reading & Processing Input in Bash
- Handling Errors & Debugging in Bash
The projects you'll build
Employers don't just want impressive resumes anymore, they also want impressive proof. With Learn Backend, you'll build a GitHub repository that actually proves you know backend development.
Here's an overview of the practical, hands-on projects you'll build.
lb_calculator
The objective of this project is to write a Bash script that prints the result of an arithmetic operation.
lb_hangman
The objective of this project is to write a Bash script that recreates the hangman game.
lb_pwdgen
The objective of this project is to write a Bash script that generates a random password.
lb_base_converter
The objective of this project is to write a script that converts a number from the decimal base to the binary base or the hexadecimal base.
Who is this for?
- Beginners who are not familiar with Linux or the Unix CLI
- Developers who want to deepen their command-line and scripting skills
Do I need prior knowledge?
No. This module doesn't require any prior knowledge.
Why learn from me?
Hi, I'm Razvan 👋 — A senior Node.js backend engineer, technical writer, online teacher, and founder of Learn Backend.
It's no secret: learning backend development on your own is extremely hard.
Before becoming a senior Node.js engineer with now over a decade of experience, I also failed at it for years... and probably for the same reasons you're struggling with it right now.
The internet is full of content, but very little direction. No one tells you what to learn first, what to ignore, or how it all fits together.
This is why I created Learn Backend: a roadmap that teaches the core principles first, gradually introduces hands-on skills, and shows how all the pieces logically fit together.
I wanted to give people like me, and maybe you, the best fighting chance to make it in the software industry as job-ready backend developers — without wasting the years or facing the same unnecessary hurdles I did.
So if you're tired of guessing what to learn next or overwhelmed by all the noise, Learn Backend was built for you.
What developers say about it
Our content isn't guesswork. It's continuously reviewed by professional web developers, and here's what some of them have to say...
This module does something most resources never do: it treats the shell like a real working environment, not a list of fun tricks. It covers filesystem navigation, permissions, users, groups, background processes, environment variables, cron, and package management on Linux and macOS. That's the actual day-to-day skillset you need to be productive on any Unix machine.
Isaac C
Senior Backend Developer
The part that stands out is the focus on safety and control. File ownership, permissions, foreground/background process control, scheduling jobs with cron... this is the kind of knowledge that prevents bad deployments. I don't usually see this taught to beginners, and it should be.
Damian R
Senior Backend Developer
The progression is sensible: understand the CLI as an interface, learn how to control files and processes, then start writing scripts that remove manual repetition. It prepares people for real work on a server without pretending they're "DevOps" on day one.
Amine B
DevOps Developer
Peek inside the module
Explore these full-length lessons to see exactly what you'll get and how you'll learn once inside.
Navigating the Unix Filesystem
Shell·21 min read
In Unix-like operating systems all data is organized into files and all files are organized into folders called directories...
Read
Controlling the Execution Flow With Conditions in Bash
Scripting·57 min read
In programming, a control statement is a code structure used to manage the flow and logic of a script by conditionally executing a set of instructions...
Read
CLI & Scripting with Bash
Learn how to gain advanced control over the OS and automate complex routine tasks prone to manual errors with the CLI and Bash scripting.
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What's included:
- 2 sections
- 34 premium lessons with full code
- 4 complete projects with commented solutions
- Progress tracking
- Future module and project updates
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What's included:
- All courses and standalone branches
- 130 premium lessons with full code
- 26 complete projects with commented solutions
- Progress tracking accross the full roadmap
- Private student community access
- All future module and project updates
- Lifetime access
Our 100% satisfaction guarantee and money-back promise
We want the investment in our program to be an absolute no-brainer for you.
If for whatever reason you aren't 100% satisfied with your experience, send us an email within the first 30 days of purchase at support@learnbackend.dev and we'll refund your entire payment.
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Everything else you need to know
You've got questions? We've got answers.
Is this video-based or text-based?
The module is delivered as full-length written lessons with code.
Each lesson explains concepts in depth and walks through real implementations. You are expected to code along locally.
Can I follow this if I've never used Linux before?
Yes.
The module assumes you've never worked in a Unix-style environment.
Do I need to install anything complicated before I start?
No special stack.
You'll be working with the system tools that come with Linux and macOS by default, plus standard utilities like Bash, cron, and Vim.
Is this only about memorizing commands?
No.
The goal is not to give you a cheat sheet. The goal is to teach you how the shell works, how commands are structured, how data flows through them, how to redirect output, how to edit files safely, how to manage running processes, and how to automate tasks with scripts.
You're learning control, not trivia.
Are the Bash scripts throwaway demos or things I can actually reuse?
They're built to reflect repeatable patterns: reading input, validating it, branching on conditions, looping over data, generating output. You'll be able to adapt them to automate your own tasks and routines.
Will this help me if I eventually want to work on servers or deploy backend services?
Yes.
Being comfortable in the terminal is the baseline for frontend, backend, and ops work. This module is meant to give you that baseline.
Is there any kind of assessment, quiz, or grading built in?
No.
You work through the lessons and build the scripts yourself. The value comes from doing the work directly on your machine and keeping those scripts.
Does the module work for all operating systems?
The module is primarily designed to work on Linux-based and macOS operating systems.
These environments are essential for learning backend development effectively, as they align with industry standards and provide the necessary tools and features.
However, if you're using Windows, we recommend setting up the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) on your machine to follow along.
I've got more questions, how can I reach you?
You can send us an email at support@learnbackend.dev or send us a direct message on Discord.