Course Outline
Day 1
Module 1: Introduction to Python for Unix Users
Topics
Why Python is ideal for scripting and automation
• advantages of using Python for scripting
• the role of Python in system administration and DevOps
Comparing Bash and Python
• variables
• control flow (if statements, loops)
• working with files
• executing system commands
Structure of a Python script
• running Python scripts
• utilizing the interpreter
• passing command-line arguments
• introduction to argparse
Exercises
Exercise 1 – Converting a simple Bash script to Python
A Bash script that:
• lists files from a directory
• filters by file extension
• displays statistical data
Participants will rewrite this script in Python.
Exercise 2 – Creating a Python script with CLI arguments
Developing a Python script that:
• accepts parameters from the command line
• processes files
• outputs structured results
Module 2: File and Directory Manipulation
Topics
Managing the file system in Python
• reading and writing files
• navigating directories
• handling paths
Utilizing the pathlib module
• path management
• file operations
Replacing Unix utilities
• grep
• find
• sed
• awk
with equivalent Python implementations
Exercises
Exercise 1 – Scanning the file system
A Python script that:
• searches for large files
• identifies older files
• generates a summary report
Exercise 2 – Processing configuration files
A Python script that:
• reads text-based files
• extracts key information
• generates statistical summaries
Day 2
Module 3: Log Processing and Text Manipulation
Topics
Working with text in Python
• string operations
• filtering and transforming data
Regular expressions (regex)
• pattern identification
• parsing log files
Replacing shell pipelines
Example:
Implementing 'grep | awk | sed | sort' chains in Python
Exercises
Exercise 1 – Analyzing log files
A Python script that:
• reads system logs
• identifies error entries
• calculates the frequency of errors
Exercise 2 – Converting a shell pipeline to Python
Transforming a complex Bash pipeline into an efficient Python script
Module 4: Automating System Commands
Topics
Executing shell commands from within Python
• using the subprocess module
• capturing command output
• handling errors
Automating administrative tasks
• running system commands programmatically
• integrating with cron jobs
• scripting for repetitive tasks
Process management
• monitoring active processes
• implementing simple parallel execution
Exercises
Exercise 1 – Running system commands via Python
A script that:
• executes Unix commands
• captures the output
• generates reports
Exercise 2 – Monitoring services
A Python script that:
• checks the status of a specific service
• collects relevant information
• displays the results
Day 3
Module 5: Advanced Automation and Interaction with External Services
Topics
Working with APIs in Python
• introduction to HTTP requests
• authentication methods and token management
• processing JSON responses
Using Python for DevOps automation
• gathering data from external services
• integrating with existing tools
• infrastructure scripting
Exercises
Exercise 1 – Consuming an API via Python
A script that:
• collects data from an API endpoint
• processes the retrieved information
• generates a summary report
Exercise 2 – Automating data collection
A Python script that:
• collects system information
• generates a report in JSON or CSV format
Module 6: Building a CLI Tool for Administration
Topics
Structuring a Python project
• organizing code effectively
• reusing functions
• utilizing modules and packages
Creating a CLI tool
• handling command-line arguments
• producing structured output
• implementing robust error handling
Final exercise
Participants will construct a CLI automation tool in Python that:
• analyzes log files
• identifies errors
• generates statistics
• can be executed directly from the command line
Course Outcomes
Upon completing the course, participants will be able to:
• translate shell scripts into Python equivalents
• leverage Python for automating system tasks
• process logs and complex datasets
• develop CLI tools for Unix system administration
Requirements
Prerequisites
- Fundamental knowledge of Unix/Linux operating systems
- Familiarity with command-line usage (shell/Bash)
- Experience in writing basic shell scripts (e.g., loops, conditional statements, file operations)
- A general understanding of system administration concepts is advantageous
- No prior Python experience is required
Target Audience
- System administrators working within Unix/Linux environments
- DevOps engineers seeking to enhance their automation capabilities
- Engineers and technical specialists who rely on shell scripting for daily tasks
- IT professionals interested in transitioning from Bash to Python
- Developers working in Unix environments who wish to automate workflows more efficiently
Testimonials (2)
everything was perfect
Florin Vrincianu
Course - Python Programming Fundamentals
Hands-on exercises related to content really helps to understand more about each topic. Also, style of start class with lecture and continue with hands-on exercise is good and helpful to relate with the lecture that presented earlier.
