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wtf is shell-utils?

davorpa/shell-utils — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-07-17 · repo last pushed 2021-09-18

7ShellAudience · ops devopsComplexity · 1/5DormantSetup · easy

TL;DR

A small collection of Bash and Perl scripts that automate common terminal tasks, like showing terminal colors or installing Zoom.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((shell-utils))
    Inputs
      Shell scripts
      Terminal commands
    Outputs
      Automated installs
      Terminal color reference
    Use Cases
      Automate repetitive setup
      Install or update Zoom
      View terminal color palette
    Tech Stack
      Bash
      Perl
      Shell scripting

Code map

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filefunction / class

Why would anyone build with this?

REASON 1

Run the color script to see all 256 terminal colors when designing a terminal-based tool.

REASON 2

Automate installing or updating Zoom without going through the GUI installer manually.

REASON 3

Save time on repetitive terminal setup steps you'd otherwise do by hand each time.

REASON 4

Use these scripts as a practical starting point for building your own terminal automation.

What's in the stack?

BashPerlShell

How it stacks up

davorpa/shell-utilspi0/maxmind-databasesruanyf/dotfiles
Stars777
LanguageShellShellShell
Last pushed2021-09-182023-12-152020-12-29
MaintenanceDormantDormantDormant
Setup difficultyeasyeasyeasy
Complexity1/52/52/5
Audienceops devopsdeveloperdeveloper

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you spin it up?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

Author recommends reading each script before running it and making it executable yourself.

License is not stated in the available content.

Wtf does this do

This is a collection of useful shell scripts that automate common tasks on your computer. The main idea is simple: instead of doing repetitive work manually, you download a script, review it to make sure it's safe, and then let it run automatically to handle the job for you. The repository contains a handful of practical utilities written in shell scripting languages like Bash and Perl. For example, one script displays all 256 colors available in your terminal, which is handy if you're designing terminal-based tools and need to see what colors you can work with. Another script automates the process of installing or updating Zoom on your machine, it handles downloading the right version, registering certificates, and installing everything without you having to do it manually or through a GUI. The author emphasizes a security-first approach: when you download a script, you're encouraged to read through the code yourself before running it. Only after you've reviewed it and confirmed it does what you expect should you make it executable and run it. This is good practice with any code from the internet, and the README makes this clear upfront. This would be useful for people who spend a lot of time in the terminal, developers, system administrators, or anyone who automates their workflow. If you find yourself doing the same setup steps over and over, or if you want quick access to a tool like a color reference without leaving the command line, these kinds of utilities save time and reduce human error. The project is small and focused, with just a few scripts available, but it's a practical starting point for anyone looking for straightforward terminal automation tools.

Yoink these prompts

Prompt 1
Review this shell-utils Zoom install script and explain exactly what it does before I run it.
Prompt 2
Help me add a new automation script to this repo, following its existing style and safety practices.
Prompt 3
Show me how to use the 256-color terminal script and explain what each color code means.
Prompt 4
Walk me through this repo's scripts and tell me which ones are safe to run on my system.
Prompt 5
Use this repo as a template, help me write a similar script that automates installing another CLI tool.

Frequently asked questions

wtf is shell-utils?

A small collection of Bash and Perl scripts that automate common terminal tasks, like showing terminal colors or installing Zoom.

What language is shell-utils written in?

Mainly Shell. The stack also includes Bash, Perl, Shell.

Is shell-utils actively maintained?

Dormant — no commits in 2+ years (last push 2021-09-18).

What license does shell-utils use?

License is not stated in the available content.

How hard is shell-utils to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 5min to a first successful run.

Who is shell-utils for?

Mainly ops devops.

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