Scripting: Automation with Bash, PowerShell, and Python—Automate Everyday IT Tasks from Backups to Web Scraping in Just a Few Lines of Code (Rheinwerk Computing)

This is a great. book. All of the Rheinwerk books are extremely well written. They don't dumb everything down to a point that they are useless, unless you are a newbie.

As a college professor, I've chosen to use this text for our Linux Programming for Admins course because it provides students with a comprehensive reference and practical administrative tasks. These tasks are designed to deepen their understanding of system administration in Linux, Windows, and multi-platform environments. The text effectively bridges the knowledge from three previous courses, where students are now advancing in Bash scripting and learning to utilize Linux as a management platform for their Windows servers.Students have already been introduced to Python in the prior semester and have completed Windows Server Admin I. This book continues the scaffolding process, integrating Linux shell scripting while demonstrating its applications in Windows environments. Additionally, with Python being available on multiple platforms, students can apply their skills across different operating systems using a single programming language.The book offers a wealth of exercises, covers current shells like zsh, and reinforces previous course knowledge by gradually increasing the complexity of tasks. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to learn automation across multiple platforms (Windows, Linux, Mac/Unix). It's an excellent resource for both teaching and learning in a cross-platform environment.

Great Book to have. It covers scripting principals with great details. It explains them in simple language and it is easy to follow.

The product can only be viewed in kindle apps and the description stated the it can also be viewed on kindle web. This should be corrected because i would not have purchased if it wasn’t compatible

Scripting: Automation with Bash, PowerShell, and Python is a powerful guide that introduces readers to three of the most popular scripting languages used for automation in modern IT environments. The book targets both beginner and intermediate users who want to learn how to streamline tasks, automate repetitive workflows, and improve efficiency using Bash, PowerShell, and Python. By focusing on these three languages, the book provides a well-rounded toolkit for automating a wide variety of tasks, whether you're working with Linux, Windows, or cross-platform systems.Content and Structure:The book is structured to give readers a deep dive into each scripting language, breaking down the unique strengths and use cases of Bash, PowerShell, and Python. Each section begins with an introduction to the language, followed by practical examples and scripts that demonstrate its automation potential. The author takes a hands-on approach, emphasizing real-world applications over theoretical concepts.Bash: The book starts with Bash, the go-to scripting language for Linux and macOS environments. It covers essential topics such as command-line operations, file manipulation, text processing, loops, functions, and conditionals. The author also explains how Bash can be used to automate system administration tasks like managing files, running system updates, and processing logs. These are fundamental skills for anyone working in a Unix-based environment.PowerShell: Next, the book shifts to PowerShell, the default scripting environment for Windows users. It covers PowerShell’s unique features, such as cmdlets, pipelines, and object-oriented scripting. PowerShell's ability to interact with the Windows operating system, Active Directory, and other Microsoft technologies makes it a valuable tool for automating administrative tasks in enterprise environments. The author goes through examples of how to use PowerShell for user management, system diagnostics, and file automation.Python: Finally, the book explores Python, one of the most popular and versatile scripting languages in the world. While Bash and PowerShell are tightly coupled with specific operating systems, Python's cross-platform nature makes it an excellent choice for automating tasks on any platform. The author covers Python fundamentals such as data types, libraries, and exception handling, before diving into specific automation use cases like web scraping, API interactions, and file management.The book also includes a series of cross-comparative examples, showing how the same task can be automated with each of the three languages, which provides valuable insight into the pros and cons of each language in different environments.Writing Style and Accessibility:The writing is clear, concise, and beginner-friendly. The author avoids heavy jargon and explains concepts in plain language, making it easy for readers without much prior scripting experience to follow along. Additionally, the book uses a hands-on approach to teaching, with numerous examples, exercises, and code snippets that readers can run and modify on their own systems. This active learning approach ensures that readers not only understand the syntax but also gain practical experience in writing automation scripts.The code examples are well-commented, so even novice users can understand the logic behind them. The book’s pacing is generally smooth, though some sections on advanced topics (especially in PowerShell and Python) may require a bit more focus from readers with limited experience in those areas.Target Audience:Scripting: Automation with Bash, PowerShell, and Python is aimed at system administrators, IT professionals, DevOps engineers, and developers who want to automate tasks across different platforms. It's also a great resource for anyone who wants to learn how to use these three powerful scripting languages for daily productivity improvements.The book is well-suited for those who already have some basic understanding of scripting or programming. Beginners who are entirely new to programming might find the book slightly challenging at first, particularly the more advanced PowerShell and Python topics. However, the step-by-step approach and real-world examples make it an excellent learning resource for those who are willing to invest some time and effort.Practical Insights and Examples:One of the strongest features of this book is the way it focuses on practical automation scenarios. Each language is introduced with simple examples, followed by progressively more complex use cases that show the reader how to apply the language in real-world environments. The author provides scripts that automate tasks such as:Automating backups and file system management with BashManaging users and system diagnostics with PowerShellWeb scraping and data processing with PythonAdditionally, the book covers best practices for error handling, debugging, and logging, which are essential skills for creating reliable and maintainable automation scripts.The cross-platform nature of Python is a major highlight of the book. The author demonstrates how Python can be used for tasks that involve web scraping, interacting with APIs, sending emails, and processing data, which makes it an incredibly versatile tool for automation. While Bash and PowerShell are great for OS-specific tasks, Python's ecosystem of libraries makes it indispensable for more complex automation needs.Final Thoughts:Scripting: Automation with Bash, PowerShell, and Python is a comprehensive and practical guide to automating everyday tasks across multiple platforms. The book's hands-on approach, clear explanations, and real-world examples make it a valuable resource for both beginners and more experienced users looking to improve their scripting skills.Whether you're a system administrator looking to automate server maintenance, a developer wanting to streamline workflows, or a DevOps engineer building automated deployment pipelines, this book provides you with the tools and knowledge to automate effectively using three of the most powerful scripting languages available.Pros:- Comprehensive coverage of Bash, PowerShell, and Python- Focus on real-world automation examples and practical tasks- Clear, beginner-friendly writing style- Hands-on, code-driven approach to learning- Cross-comparative examples that highlight the strengths of each languageCons:- May be challenging for absolute beginners without any prior knowledge of scripting- Some advanced PowerShell and Python topics might require additional focus or prior experienceIn conclusion, this book is an excellent resource for anyone looking to improve their automation skills using these three scripting languages. The combination of practical examples, clear explanations, and cross-platform insights makes it an invaluable guide for IT professionals, system administrators, and developers who want to optimize their workflows and become more productive through automation.

This is not a great book. Unhappy with purchase.