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#5 in LinuxUdemyLinuxPaid courseBeginner level

Intro to Linux Shell Scripting (Free course) (Udemy.com)

Get up to speed with Linux shell scripting quickly

4.4
9,123 reviews

Created by: Jason Cannon

Last updated September 2026

Our take

Based on the ratings of 9,123 students, a sample of their written reviews and the syllabus, as the course stood in September 2026. No course pays to be reviewed.

This is a mini-course, not a full class. It runs about 48 minutes over six lectures in one section, with no quizzes or coding exercises, and it costs nothing. Jason Cannon, a Linux engineer since 1999, promises the basics of writing a shell script, the mistakes beginners make, the usual conventions, and a simple technique for tackling complex scripts. The only requirement is command line access to a Linux system. About 152,500 students have signed up, and the listed audience is anyone getting started with bash.

Reviewers like how clear and gentle it is. One beginner says they could follow along and reproduce what was shown, and another credits the intermittent humor for making it enjoyable. Of 9,123 reviews, roughly 7,800 are four or five stars. The complaints are about depth. Some want more syntax, other kinds of conditions beyond the basic if, operators, and a few complex example scripts. One reviewer found the variables section near the end too fast, another thought the voice a bit sing-song, and one called the bonus lecture mostly promotional links.

The price is the draw, and 45 minutes is a small risk. It was updated in September 2026, so the material is current. Beside the longer Linux courses on the page, which teach administration and the command line over many hours, this is a narrow taster rather than a replacement. Our advice: watch it as a warm-up if scripting is new to you, then pick a bigger course or a book for syntax. If you already script, it will feel thin.

Best forLinux beginners who want a free, under-an-hour first look at bash scripting before committing to a bigger course.
Skip it ifYou already write bash and want syntax depth, operators, or complex example scripts.

Pros

  • Clear, gentle pacing that complete beginners say they could follow and reproduce
  • Free and short: six lectures, about 45 minutes of video in total
  • One reviewer says the intermittent humor made learning enjoyable
  • Refreshed in September 2026, so it is not a stale upload from 2018

Cons

  • Thin on syntax: other conditions, operators and complex example scripts are missing
  • One reviewer says the variables section near the end moves too fast
  • One reviewer calls the bonus lecture mostly promotional links, not content
Well thought out and clearly presented. A gentle, but enjoyable introduction to the often confusing world of Linux shell scripting.
Sean Boylan, a student

Beginner level fits. It only asks for command line access to a Linux system and assumes no scripting background.

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What you will learn

  • After you complete this course you will understand the basics of writing a shell script.

Course content

1 section · 6 lectures · 45 min of video 1 article

  1. 1Linux Shell Scripting 1 free preview6 lectures · 45 min

Who it is for

The instructor says it suits

  • Anyone who is interested in getting started with Linux shell scripting and bash programming.

What you need before you start

  • Command line access to a Linux system.

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Course Description

In this mini-course, you'll learn the essentials of writing your own Linux shell scripts, including:

  • How to avoid the most common mistakes made by inexperienced shell scripters.
  • Understanding and using best practices and standard conventions. (If you don't follow these guidelines you'll look like a rank amateur.)
  • A simple technique that can make amazingly complex scripts easy to write.

I've used shell scripts to save myself countless hours of tedious work.  More importantly, having the ability to write shell scripts has helped me enormously in my career.

Not only did I get to take on some very interesting projects because I had the ability to shell script, I was also able to jump right to the front of the line when it came time for promotions.

I want that same thing for you, too!

Even if you're not interested in furthering your career, you can write shell scripts that organize your vacation photos, track your stock portfolio, and more...

I can't wait to see what shell scripts you create!

Jason
Read More Beginner Beginner Level product length iconTime: 48 mins

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Instructor Details

Jason Cannon

Jason started his career as a Unix and Linux System Engineer in 1999. Since then, he has utilized his Linux skills at companies such as Xerox, UPS, Hewlett-Packard, and Amazon. Additionally, he has acted as a technical consultant and independent contractor for small businesses and Fortune 500 companies.

Jason has professional experience with RedHat Enterprise Linux, CentOS, Ubuntu, and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. He has used several Linux distributions on personal projects, including Debian, Slackware, Arch Linux, CrunchBang, Raspberry Pi OS, and others. In addition to Linux, Jason has experience supporting proprietary Unix operating systems, including AIX, HP-UX, and Solaris.

He enjoys teaching others how to use and exploit the power of the Linux operating system. He is also the author of the books "Linux for Beginners," "Command Line Kung Fu," and "Docker: A Project-Based Approach to Learning."

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Reviews

4.4

9,123 ratings on Udemy

Select a bar to show only those reviews.Select the bar again to show every rating.

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By Nick Harrison on 10/16/2021

Very thorough. I have messed around with scripting and have seen certain commands, but not properly understood them. In the first two lessons I have learnt more about chmod, where the term she-bang comes from, what a she-bang actually does, built-in bash commands and variables.

By Louis Edwards on 1/29/2021

A good introduction. He does not try to teach you a bunch of commands that you have to remember. He introduces you to the key concepts. From there you can either take his paid follow-up course, or just try to build out the skill on your own. I appreciate the model he is using. He is a good teacher.

By Samuele Cistaro on 12/25/2020

I found the course extremely helpful in approaching the command line and achieving some basic knowledge of shell script development. The tutor is very precise and through numerous examples allows you to understand clearly and effectively all the topics covered.

By Raman Chawla on 8/29/2020

To be honest, watched this in a break when i was actually learning python. It was good and I definitely learnt some new stuff. Just one thing which troubled me was that the typing speed of instructor was much faster than mine so i had to constantly pause or rewind the videos as i was typing along with the instructor

By Francesco Carpine on 5/16/2020

I thought this course could be more useful to me that already have shell scripting knowledge and I preferred some deeper details. The 'Bonus Lecture' is really a fake: the section is completely unuseful and full of promotional links.

By Gaurav Sharma on 6/20/2019

As, it was an introductory course, there is a point to make it short. But in my opinion it was very short. Yet! It is best suited for beginners with some basic knowledge of Linux.

By Sergei Tekut'ev on 2/26/2019

Thank you for posting this great video. I'd like to notice that most of commands & scripts can be executed even by using git bash on windows, except for the sudo command and route. It was a pleasure to follow the instructions in this intro tutorial. Sincerely Sergei.

By Chakshu Jain on 1/29/2019

I actually need a free course like this. It is worth for beginners. The instructor has really good knowledge of the topic. everything is perfect like video quality, captions, course content etc. although the course is very short, still I really enjoyed it. :)

By Benjamin Nkenni on 1/24/2019

Just love Jason's pedagogy! I've discovered him in "Learn Linux in 5 Days and level up your career" and was impressed by his methodology to which I am very sensitive. My next course with Jason will be Linux Shell Scripting and I am excited to know how much I can learn from it.

By Brian Emery on 12/15/2018

I have become a sys admin for Linux, new to this, only 2 months in, minimum server knowledge prior to that, have to learn Linux and other things surrounding this, and scripting is one of them. FANTASTIC course by Jason, as always, and considering this is FREE, it's GREAT!!!

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Overall Score : 88 / 100

Intro to Linux Shell Scripting (Free course)
Visit course on Udemy Write a review
  • Video Duration: icon 48 mins
  • Price: Free
  • Provider: icon Udemy
  • Updated: icon September 2026
  • Level: Beginner Beginner
  • Language: icon English
  • Certificate: icon No
  • Lectures:6 in 1 section
  • Students:152,500
  • Subtitles:1 language

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