#Python for Scripting

Python excels at automation scripts that are too complex for Bash.

#When to Use Python Over Bash

Use Python When	Use Bash When
Complex logic	Simple commands
API interactions	File operations
Data processing	Text manipulation
Cross-platform	Linux-only
Error handling needs	Quick one-liners

#Script Template

python

1#!/usr/bin/env python3
2"""
3Script: deploy.py
4Description: Automated deployment script
5"""
6
7import argparse
8import logging
9import sys
10from datetime import datetime
11
12# Configure logging
13logging.basicConfig(
14    level=logging.INFO,
15    format='%(asctime)s - %(levelname)s - %(message)s'
16)
17logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
18
19
20def parse_args():
21    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Deployment script')
22    parser.add_argument('environment', choices=['staging', 'production'])
23    parser.add_argument('--version', default='latest')
24    parser.add_argument('--dry-run', action='store_true')
25    return parser.parse_args()
26
27
28def deploy(environment: str, version: str, dry_run: bool = False):
29    """Execute deployment."""
30    logger.info(f"Deploying {version} to {environment}")
31    
32    if dry_run:
33        logger.info("Dry run - no changes made")
34        return
35    
36    # Deployment logic here
37    logger.info("Deployment complete!")
38
39
40def main():
41    args = parse_args()
42    
43    try:
44        deploy(args.environment, args.version, args.dry_run)
45    except Exception as e:
46        logger.error(f"Deployment failed: {e}")
47        sys.exit(1)
48
49
50if __name__ == "__main__":
51    main()

#Common Patterns

#Subprocess for Commands

python

1import subprocess
2
3# Run command
4result = subprocess.run(
5    ["ls", "-la"],
6    capture_output=True,
7    text=True,
8    check=True
9)
10print(result.stdout)
11
12# Shell command
13result = subprocess.run(
14    "echo $HOME",
15    shell=True,
16    capture_output=True,
17    text=True
18)

#HTTP Requests

python

1import requests
2
3# GET
4response = requests.get("https://api.github.com/users/octocat")
5data = response.json()
6
7# POST
8response = requests.post(
9    "https://api.example.com/deploy",
10    json={"version": "1.0.0"},
11    headers={"Authorization": "Bearer token"}
12)

#File Operations

python

1from pathlib import Path
2
3# Read/write
4config = Path("config.yaml").read_text()
5Path("output.txt").write_text("Hello")
6
7# List files
8for file in Path("/var/log").glob("*.log"):
9    print(file.name)

#Summary

Python is ideal for:

Complex automation requiring maintainability
API integrations
Data processing and transformation
Cross-platform scripts