Scripting languages

There are many scripting languages available to use for a variety of tasks in
different operating system environments. Most scripts are written in command line
environments.

Scripting languages for Windows environments:

PowerShell (.ps1) - Windows PowerShell is among the most common command line
scripting tools used in Windows environments. PowerShell is built on the .NET
platform and employs many of the same elements that programming languages do.
PowerShell scripts are used for building, testing, and deploying solutions, in
addition to automating system management.

Batch scripts (.bat) - Batch scripts, also called batch files, have been around
since the early days of MS DOS and OS/2. Batch files can execute simple tasks, like
calling a set of programs to run when a computer boots up. This type of script
could be useful in setting up employees’ workspaces when they power on their
computers.

Visual Basic Script (.vbs) - Visual Basic Script is an older scripting language. It
has reached its end of life for Microsoft support and has been replaced by
PowerShell scripts. However, as an IT professional, you may encounter .vbs scripts
on some legacy systems.

Scripting languages for Linux and Unix environments:

Shell script (.sh) - Shell scripting languages, like Bash, are used in Unix or
Linux environments. The scripts are often used to manipulate files, including
changing file security settings, creating, copying, editing, renaming and deleting
files. They can also be used to execute programs, print, navigate the operating
system, and much more. The scripts run in command-line interpreter (CLI) shells,
such as the Bourne shell, Bourne Again SHell (Bash), C shell, and Korn (KSH) shell.

Programming languages that can be used for scripting:

JavaScript (.js) - JavaScript the most used programming language in the world. It
is a lightweight language that is used for scripting in web development, mobile and
web apps, games, and more. It can also be used to develop software and automate web
server functions.

Python (.py) - Python is a user-friendly programming language that can perform

advanced tasks and import modules from libraries specially designed for automation
scripts.

Scripting uses - finding the right tool for the job

Basic automation: Python is an excellent script for automation. It’s one of the
most commonly used, with many available automation libraries.

Restarting machines: Many power users use PowerShell (.ps1) scripts to restart
machines (Windows). For Linux machines, they can use .sh (shell) scripts.

Mapping network drives: In the past, mapping network drives was accomplished
with .bat or .vbs scripts. However, PowerShell scripts are most commonly used to
map drives in Windows environments today. For Linux users, shell scripts can be
used for this purpose.

Installing applications: Batch files and shell scripts are often used for automated
software installation.
Automated Backups: Windows PowerShell and Linux/Unix shell scripts can automate
backups.

Gathering of information and data: Python is a popular choice for gathering data.
Python has many available libraries to help with this task.

Initiating Updates: Powershell and shell scripts can be used for initiating updates
in Windows and Linux, respectively.

Security risks of using scripts

IT Support professionals need to be very careful when using scripts, especially
with prewritten scripts copied or downloaded from the internet. Some of the
security risks of using scripts could include:

Unintentionally introducing malware: As an IT Support professional that is new to

scripting, you may try to search the internet for assistance in writing scripts. In
your search, you might find a script online for a task that you want to automate.
It’s tempting to save time and effort by downloading the script and deploying it in
your network environment. However, this is dangerous because scripts authored by an
unverified source could potentially contain malware. Malicious scripts could have
the power to delete files, corrupt data and software, steal confidential
information, disable systems, and even bring down an entire network. Malicious
scripts can create security weaknesses for the purpose of creating entry points for
cybercriminals to penetrate networks. Scripts could also introduce ransomware
attacks, which often works by encrypting file systems and then selling the
decryption keys for ransom.

Inadvertently changing system settings: Scripts are powerful tools for changing
system settings. Using the wrong script can cause the user to inadvertently
configure harmful settings. For example, one minor typo in a shell script that sets
file permission security in Linux could make confidential files accessible to the
world.

Browser or system crashes due to mishandling of resources: Mishandling resources

can lead to program crashes in the browser or cause the entire computer to crash.
For example, directing too much memory to the browser can overload the computer
system.

Key takeaways
A basic knowledge of scripting is an important tool for IT professionals. You may
need to improve workflow efficiency by automating basic functions with a scripting
language. Some common scripting languages include:

Windows environments: batch scripts (.bat), Powershell (.ps1), Visual Basic Script
(.vbs)

Linux/Unix environments: shell scripts (.sh)

Most OS environments: javascript (.js), Python (.py)

Scripts have multiple helpful uses, such as:

Basic Automation

Restarting Machines

Remapping Network Drives

Installing Applications
Automating Backups

Gathering of information/ data

Initiating Updates

There are risks in using scripts, including:

Unintentionally introducing malware

Inadvertently changing system settings

Browser or system crashes due to mishandling of resources

Application Software is any software created to fulfill a specific need, like a

text editor, web browser, or graphic editor
Firmware - Software that's permanently stored on a computer component.
BIOS - Firmware

Compilers - are a key component to programming, and helped to pave the road that
led us to today's modern computing.
Automating basic functions is basic knowledge of scripting an important tool for IT
professionals have

Git - A version control system that helps keep track of changes made to files and
directories

Application software: Any software created to fulfill a specific need, like a text
editor, web browser, or graphics editor

Assembly language: A language that allowed computer scientists to use human

readable instructions, assembled into code that the machines could understand

Automation: It makes processes work automatically

Coding: Translating one language to another

Compiled programming language: A language that uses human readable instructions,

then sends them through a compiler

Copyright: Used when creating original work

.exe: A file extension found in Windows for an executable file

Firmware: Software that's permanently stored on a computer component

GIT: A version control system that helps keep track of changes made to files and
directories

Interpreted programming language: A language that isn't compiled ahead of time

Programming: Coding in a programming language

Programming language: Special languages that software developers use to write

instructions for computers to execute

Script: It is run by an interpreter, which interprets the code into CPU

instructions just in time to run them
Scripting: Coding in a scripting language

Software: The intangible instructions that tell the hardware what to do

Software bug: An error in software that causes unexpected results

Software management: A broad term used to refer to any and all kinds of software
that are designed to manage or help manage some sort of project or task

System software: Software used to keep our core system running, like operating
system tools and utilities