A ShutItFile is an extension of the Dockerfile concept for shell automation.
In the same way that Dockerfiles were designed as a simple way to create Docker images, ShutItFiles are a simple way to create ShutIt scripts.
ShutItFiles can be used to automate tasks, or automate the building of composable Docker images.
Here's an annotated example of an bash script which:
- Logs onto a server
- Runs a command and waits until it completes
- pings a server, and takes different actions based on its output
- Gives you a shell mid-run to do with what you will
- Logs out
# Specify we are working in a simple bash shell (the default). Other options
# include 'docker' container.
DELIVERY bash
# Log into my server
LOGIN ssh imiell@myserver.com
# A password is likely required, so we prompt for one here
GET_PASSWORD Input your password
# Run the command 'whoami'
RUN whoami
# If the output of the previous RUN command is not as we expect (imiell),
# throw an error
ASSERT_OUTPUT imiell
# Ensure a file is removed, sleep for 15 seconds, then create that file
# Run in the background
RUN rm -f /tmp/event_complete && sleep 15 && touch /tmp/event_complete &
# List files in the /tmp directory
RUN ls /tmp
# Wait until the output of the previous command contains the filename created.
# It re-tries every 5 seconds until this is seen.
UNTIL ['.*event_complete.*']
# ping and run different commands based on what happens
SEND ping -c 1 -t 1 bbc.co.uk
EXPECT_REACT ['.*0 packets received.*=echo error > /tmp/bbc_pingres','.*Time to live exceeded.*=echo ttl_exceed > /tmp/bbc_pingres','.*1 packets received.*=echo ok > /tmp/bbc_pingres','.*Unknown host.*=echo unknown > /tmp/bbc_pingres']
# You can debug by creating a 'pause point'. This will give you a shell mid-run
# to examine the state of the system.
PAUSE_POINT You now have a shell to examine the situation
# Exit the session
LOGOUT
Here is a video of the above script being run on my laptop.
A cheat sheet for ShutIt commands is available here
sudo pip install shutit
See here