===Creating & Executing Shell Scripts===
[[Image:ipso.png|thumb|right|500px|An '''IPSO Diagram''' (INPUT, PROCESSING, STORAGE, OUTPUT) can be used to map-out and then list the sequence of steps to assist when coding your shell script.]]It is recommended to '''plan''' out on a piece of paper the purpose of the shell script.<br>You can do this by creating a simple '''IPSO''' diagram (stands for '''INPUT''', '''PROCESSING''', '''STORAGE''', '''OUTPUT''').<br>
First, list the INPUTS into the script (eg. prompting user for data, reading data from file, etc), then listing the expected OUTPUTS from the script. You can then list the steps to process the INPUT to provide the OUTPUT (including file storage). Once you have planned your shell script by listing the sequence of steps (i.e. PROCESSING) in your script, you need to create a file (using a '''text editor''') that will contain your Linux commands.<br><br>'''NOTE:''' Avoid using filenames of already existing Linux Commands to avoid confusion.<br>Using shell script filenames that include the file extension of the shell that the script will run within is recommended.
'''Using a Shebang Line'''