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.
Profile →npx skills add wshobson/agents --skill bash-defensive-patterns --agent claude-code
Same command for any agent — swap --agent for codex, cursor, copilot.
Weekly change comes from our own snapshots, not the repository page — it measures attention, not adoption.
# 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 1. **Always use strict mode** - `set -Eeuo pipefail` 2. **Quote all variables** - `"$variable"` prevents word splitting 3. **Use [[]] conditionals** - More robust than [ ] 4. **Implement error trapping** - Catch and handle errors gracefully 5. **Validate all inputs** - Check file existence, permissions, formats 6. **Use functions for reusability** - Prefix with meaningful
- When to Use This Skill
- Detailed patterns and worked examples
- Best Practices Summary
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 it?
Run `npx skills add wshobson/agents --skill bash-defensive-patterns --agent claude-code` — it drops the skill into your project so the agent can pick it up. Swap the --agent value for codex, cursor or copilot if you use one of those.
Where does this skill come from?
From wshobson/agents, a repository with 38,479 stars. We read it straight from the repository tree rather than a submitted listing, so what you see here is what is actually published.
Is a popular skill a good skill?
Not necessarily. Stars measure attention, not adoption — a repository can trend for a week and be abandoned. That is why we show the weekly change from our own snapshots next to the total, instead of a single flattering number.