Automating and scripting your OS can save you time, improve consistency, and enhance security. However, to get the most out of these tools, you need to follow some best practices that can help you avoid errors, maintain readability, and optimize performance. In this article, we will cover some of these best practices for OS automation and scripting.
The first step is to choose the right tools for your OS automation and scripting needs. Depending on your OS, you may have different options for scripting languages, frameworks, and tools. For example, Windows users can use PowerShell, Batch, or VBScript, while Linux users can use Bash, Python, or Perl. You should consider factors such as compatibility, functionality, documentation, and community support when selecting your tools. You should also use tools that are consistent with your team's standards and preferences.
Windows users may also use Python or Perl if they desire, as those languages are platform-agnostic. With WSL, even bash can be used on Windows systems! PowerShell is also available for installation on Linux.
In my experience, PowerShell tends to work best on Windows machines. Especially considering the robust security and policy management features that come out of the box. From a sys admin perspective, you leverage RBAC to ensure that junior administrators can complete tasks autonomously, without compromising security and functionality. I love using BASH and python on Linux distros. So many robust packages and libraries. I especially enjoy creating custom Ansible modules in Python.
The second step is to use version control for your automation and scripting files. Version control allows you to track changes, collaborate with others, and revert to previous versions if something goes wrong. You can use tools such as Git, SVN, or Mercurial to manage your version control. You should also follow a naming convention, a branching strategy, and a commit message format that are clear and informative.
It's incredibly important to use SCP tools like Github, Azure Repos, Bit Bucket, and others to ensure that yur code can be tracked and collaborated on effectively. I especially enjoy building CI/CD pipelines that fully integrate into my repos. *wink*
The third step is to write modular and reusable code for your automation and scripting tasks. Modular code means that you break down your code into smaller and independent units that perform specific functions. Reusable code means that you avoid repeating yourself and use existing code whenever possible. This can help you reduce complexity, improve readability, and facilitate maintenance. You should also use comments, variables, and functions to make your code more understandable and organized.
The fourth step is to test and debug your code before deploying it to your OS. Testing and debugging can help you identify and fix errors, bugs, and vulnerabilities that may affect your OS functionality and security. You can use tools such as IDEs, debuggers, or validators to test and debug your code. You should also use logging, error handling, and backup mechanisms to handle unexpected situations and recover from failures.
Powershell has a module called Pester. It is amazing for writing highly modular, testable outcomes. It can seriously improve the quality ofyour automation. You should try it out!
The fifth step is to follow security best practices for your automation and scripting activities. Security best practices include encrypting sensitive data, using secure protocols, validating inputs, and limiting permissions. You should also avoid hard-coding passwords, credentials, or keys in your code, and use configuration files or environment variables instead. You should also review your code regularly for any security issues and update it as needed.
The sixth step is to monitor and optimize your code after deploying it to your OS. Monitoring and optimizing can help you measure and improve the performance, reliability, and efficiency of your automation and scripting tasks. You can use tools such as profilers, analyzers, or metrics to monitor and optimize your code. You should also use feedback, reviews, and benchmarks to evaluate and refine your code.