How do you automate project launch with a bash script?

Launching a large project locally often involves multiple repetitive steps, from stopping existing services to starting new ones, running build commands, and opening the application in a browser. This manual process can be tedious, especially for developers who frequently work with different projects. Automating these tasks with a Bash script can save valuable time and ensure consistency each time you launch a project. The help center is Mac user-specific; the procedure is the same for Windows, but the commands may vary. 

In this guide, we’ll demonstrate how to create a launch_project.sh script to automate project launch steps, allowing you to focus more on development and less on setup.

Issue: Time-Consuming Manual Launch Steps

For each project launch, developers often go through the following tasks:

• Stopping unnecessary services (e.g., Apache or MySQL) if other services are needed
• Starting essential services like Docker
• Running build or start commands for the project
• Opening the application in a browser

Doing these tasks manually can slow down productivity and create opportunities for missed steps or errors in the setup process. 

Solution: Creating an Automated Bash Script

By creating a launch_project.sh script, you can automate each of these tasks, making the entire project launch process faster and more reliable. Here’s how to create a basic Bash script that handles these steps.

Step 1: Open the Terminal

To begin, open your terminal.

Step 2: Create the Bash Script

1. Create a new file by typing:

Step 3: Define Automation Steps

In the launch_project.sh file, define the automated steps:

Explanation:

• cd /path/to/your/project || exit: Navigates to your project directory, exiting if the directory doesn’t exist.
• npm run start: Starts the server; this command can be customized for your project’s specific start command.
• code . : Opens the project in VSCode or any other code editor.
• open http://localhost:3000: Opens the project URL in a browser.

Step 4: Save the Script

1. Press Ctrl + O to save, then hit Enter.
2. Exit nano by pressing Ctrl + X.

Step 5: Make the Script Executable

To run the script as a command, make it executable:

Step 6: Run the Script

Now, you can launch your project anytime by running:

Conclusion

Using a Bash script to automate your project launch process can save you considerable time, simplify your workflow, and reduce the chance of setup errors. If you’re looking to develop even further, or need help customizing automated workflows, hire a developer experienced in scripting and automation. This approach focuses on coding and creativity while minimizing setup tasks.