./task

The task file is a simple bash script and standardized interface for any software project.

It is to be understood as a software development pattern to standardize the installation, configuration and execution of different software frameworks.

• 🛠️ Configuration: Install and configure software and tools with ease.
• 🐳 Docker Build: Build and publish Docker images for your project.
• 🔑 KeePass / Pass: Store and load secrets from KeePass and pass.
• 📄 .env / dotenv: Manage multiple dotenv files for your projects.
• 🔄 CI Pipelines: Simplify CI pipelines by making the executed task reproducible.
• 📝 Helper scripts: There are many examples and commands that make scripting easier.

# Specification

The specification is a short guide to set up a task file for a Python project.

Create a file task in your project.

touch task

Ensure it is executable.

chmod +x task

First add the bash shebang.

#!/usr/bin/env bash

Then append the abort on error setting.

set -e

Add a help function.

help-table() {
    local -a rows
    local max_cmd=7 max_opt=6 max_desc=11

    rows+=("Command|Option|Description")
    rows+=("help|[grep]|Show help for commands.")
    rows+=("install||Setup the local environment.")
    rows+=("lint||Run pre-commit and update index.html.")
    rows+=("version||Show version of required tools.")

    for row in "${rows[@]}"; do
        IFS='|' read -r cmd opt desc <<< "$row"
        (( ${#cmd} > max_cmd )) && max_cmd=${#cmd}
        (( ${#opt} > max_opt )) && max_opt=${#opt}
        (( ${#desc} > max_desc )) && max_desc=${#desc}
    done

    printf '| %-*s | %-*s | %-*s |\n' \
        "$max_cmd" "Command" \
        "$max_opt" "Option" \
        "$max_desc" "Description"

    printf '|-%*s-|-%*s-|-%*s-|\n' \
        "$max_cmd" "$(printf '%*s' "$max_cmd" '' | tr ' ' '-')" \
        "$max_opt" "$(printf '%*s' "$max_opt" '' | tr ' ' '-')" \
        "$max_desc" "$(printf '%*s' "$max_desc" '' | tr ' ' '-')"

    for row in "${rows[@]:1}"; do
        IFS='|' read -r cmd opt desc <<< "$row"
        printf '| %-*s | %-*s | %-*s |\n' \
            "$max_cmd" "$cmd" \
            "$max_opt" "$opt" \
            "$max_desc" "$desc"
    done
}

help() {
    echo
    if [[ -n "$1" ]]; then
        help-table | grep -i "$1" | column -t -s'|'
    else
        echo 'task <command> [options]'
        echo
        echo 'commands:'
        echo
        help-table
    fi
    echo
}

Setup the command functions.

install() {
    echo 'Setup venv and install python dependencies'
    uv venv env
    source env/bin/activate
    uv pip install pre-commit
}

lint() {
    source env/bin/activate

    echo 'Run pre-commit'
    pre-commit run --all-file
}

version() {
    uv --version
}

Finish the task file with command switch cases.

if [[ "$1" == *","* ]]; then
    # Split comma-separated commands
    IFS=',' read -ra COMMANDS <<< "$1"
    for cmd in "${COMMANDS[@]}"; do
        # Trim whitespace
        cmd=$(echo "$cmd" | xargs)
        if declare -f "$cmd" > /dev/null; then
            "$cmd"
        else
            echo "Unknown command: $cmd"
            help
            exit 1
        fi
    done
elif declare -f "$1" > /dev/null; then
    "$1" "${@:2}"
else
    case "$1" in
        all)
            install
            lint
            ;;
        *)
            echo "Unknown command: $1"
            help
            exit 1
            ;;
    esac
fi

These are the main parts of every task file script.

Now see usage on how to use the task file.

# Development

Checkout the development page for details.