Here’s a secret you might not have known: you don’t need advanced programming skills to write basic code, and learning how can make a massive difference in the way you use your computer. Anyone can do it, even if you have no prior coding experience. Learning to use write basic scripts with a language like Python or Bash can save you a lot of time on everything from organizing your files, editing text documents, and everything in between. Here’s how.
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Basic scripts let you automate repetitive chores
Say farewell to tedium
There are certain tasks that some users repeat on a near-daily basis, which are necessary but can take up a lot of time. Backing up data is one example. You can write a basic script that performs the backup for you. For another example, let’s say you’re monitoring the stock of a product (the Nintendo Switch 2, maybe?). You can write a script that will check the website for you and then alert you if something has changed. Handy, right?
Let’s take things a step further. If you’re a photographer who uploads a large number of photos each day, you could write a script that automatically renames the files based on the date they were uploaded, potentially even tagging the pictures so you can find them more easily later.
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You’ll understand more about your computer
Troubleshooting becomes much easier
You might not need advanced programming skills to write scripts, but as you learn to better utilize programming languages, you’ll get a better idea of what’s going on under the hood. You’ll need to grant proper permissions for the script to work if you want it to organize data for you, and in doing so, you’ll also learn about file structures and the different layers in your computer’s drive. Other tasks might have you monitoring system resource usage, like how heavy the CPU demands are for a specific application.
As you learn all of the different elements that make up your operating system, you’ll naturally gain a better understanding of what’s going on, and when problems crop up, their error messages will make a lot more sense to you. You’ll recognize the logs and can identify where and when something went wrong. You’ll also be able to recognize if a program is behaving erratically and using far more resources than it should.
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It will improve your cybersecurity
Many vulnerabilities rely on human error
If you watch a lot of TV, you might think hackers rely on an array of coding knowledge and technical wizardry to break into your computer. Most of the time, the truth is a lot more boring: they just exploit weaknesses in your system, like unpatched security flaws. You can improve your computer’s security by writing a script that automatically checks and downloads updates whenever they’re available. By removing the human element — your own memory — from the equation, you make your home network that much harder to break into.
And in that same vein, you can write scripts to handle system maintenance tasks. Disk cleanup isn’t as much of a concern in the modern era of solid state drives, but if you have a NAS (network-attached storage) or similar way of storing files, you can write scripts that will monitor for read/write errors and keep you informed if any of your drives begin to show signs of failure.
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You can write your own shortcuts
Your workflow for a click
Each day, we perform a lot of routine tasks that take up more time than you might realize. Sure, it might only take a few seconds to open your browser, your email platform, etc, but all that time adds up. You could write a Python script that lets you open up all necessary applications with a single click; for example, it could open Thunderbird, your browser (and specific tabs), and even split your desktop into multiple windows. Shortcuts like this can save you a huge amount of time and are basically the scripting version of Tony Stark snapping his fingers.
You can also write shortcuts to fill out text. If you have to write emails that are pretty much the same format numerous times a day, text expansion shortcuts can save you a load of time (and possibly some carpal tunnel, too). Other potential uses include automatically filling out input forms on websites and much more.
No knowledge is ever wasted
Learning basic coding skills is worth it, even if you don’t think you’ll use them often. You can better customize your computer to fit your unique needs, and who knows — you might discover a passion for coding you never knew you had. After all, writing code is a creative outlet in and of itself, and figuring out how to make something work the way you want is a lot like solving a puzzle.
