bash-defensive-patterns
Master defensive Bash programming techniques for production-grade scripts. Use when writing robust shell scripts, CI/CD pipelines, or system utilities requiring fault tolerance and safety.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/wshobson/agents --skill bash-defensive-patterns- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads bash-defensive-patterns automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
Security audits
Independent scans of the skill's instructions and bundled files.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Bash Defensive Patterns
Comprehensive guidance for writing production-ready Bash scripts using defensive programming techniques, error handling, and safety best practices to prevent common pitfalls and ensure reliability.
When to Use This Skill
- Writing production automation scripts
- Building CI/CD pipeline scripts
- Creating system administration utilities
- Developing error-resilient deployment automation
- Writing scripts that must handle edge cases safely
- Building maintainable shell script libraries
- Implementing comprehensive logging and monitoring
- Creating scripts that must work across different platforms
Detailed patterns and worked examples
Detailed pattern documentation lives in references/details.md. Read that file when the navigation tier above is insufficient.
Best Practices Summary
- Always use strict mode -
set -Eeuo pipefail - Quote all variables -
"$variable"prevents word splitting - Use [[]] conditionals - More robust than [ ]
- Implement error trapping - Catch and handle errors gracefully
- Validate all inputs - Check file existence, permissions, formats
- Use functions for reusability - Prefix with meaningful names
- Implement structured logging - Include timestamps and levels
- Support dry-run mode - Allow users to preview changes
- Handle temporary files safely - Use mktemp, cleanup with trap
- Design for idempotency - Scripts should be safe to rerun
- Document requirements - List dependencies and minimum versions
- Test error paths - Ensure error handling works correctly
- Use
command -v- Safer thanwhichfor checking executables - Prefer printf over echo - More predictable across systems
FAQ
What does the bash-defensive-patterns skill do?
Master defensive Bash programming techniques for production-grade scripts. Use when writing robust shell scripts, CI/CD pipelines, or system utilities requiring fault tolerance and safety.
How do I install bash-defensive-patterns?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/wshobson/agents --skill bash-defensive-patterns in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/bash-defensive-patterns/ (personal) or .claude/skills/bash-defensive-patterns/ (project).
Which AI agents can use bash-defensive-patterns?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is bash-defensive-patterns safe to install?
Security partners have reviewed it: Gen Agent Trust Hub passed; Socket passed; Snyk passed; Runlayer flagged items to review; ZeroLeaks passed. As with any skill, read the SKILL.md and bundled scripts before installing.
Who maintains bash-defensive-patterns?
It is published by wshobson in wshobson/agents. It has 13,545 recorded installs.
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