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7 Bash Mistakes I Made That Cost Me Time (And How to Avoid Them)

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🎯 Why this works:

  • It’s relatable — everyone makes mistakes.
  • It teaches through real examples.
  • It invites readers to reflect on their own usage and improve.
  • It grabs attention without talking about money.

🧩 Article Outline:

Intro:

Even experienced Linux users slip up. When I first started using Bash regularly, I thought I was saving time — but I was actually introducing errors, breaking scripts, and repeating myself. Here are 7 Bash mistakes I made, and what I now do instead.

1. Not Quoting Variables 

rm $filename   # 🔥 Dangerous if $filename is empty or has spaces!rm "$filename" # ✅ Safe

2. Using sudo Too Liberally

  • Mistake: Running everything with sudo, even when testing.
  • Fix: Only use sudo when absolutely necessary. Test scripts as normal user first.

3. Ignoring Exit Codes 

some_commandecho "It worked!"  # 🤦 Could print even if it failed

Fix:

if some_command; then  echo…

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