Speed Up Your Local Dev Workflow with Custom Shell Scripts
As developers, we spend a surprising amount of time repeating the same commands every day: starting servers, running builds, installing dependencies, or switching environments. Over time, these small delays add up and slow down our overall productivity.
In this post, I’ll show you how custom shell scripts can dramatically speed up your local development workflow. This guide is especially useful for junior developers, self-taught coders, and MERN stack learners who want to work smarter, not harder.
What Are Shell Scripts?
A shell script is simply a file containing a list of terminal commands that run automatically in sequence. Instead of typing the same commands again and again, you run one script and let the shell do the work for you.
If you use Linux or macOS (or WSL on Windows), you already have everything you need to start writing shell scripts.
Common Examples
- Starting a Node.js server
- Running frontend and backend together
- Cleaning build folders
- Installing dependencies automatically
Why Shell Scripts Matter for Developers
When you’re working on full stack projects, especially with Node.js and React, context switching can slow you down. Shell scripts help by:
- Reducing repetitive typing
- Preventing human error
- Keeping workflows consistent
- Saving mental energy
This is why bash scripts for developers are such a powerful but underrated productivity tool.
Example 1: Start a MERN Project with One Command
Let’s say your project has a frontend and backend in separate folders.
#!/bin/bash
echo "Starting backend..."
cd backend && npm run dev &
echo "Starting frontend..."
cd ../frontend && npm start
Save this file as start-dev.sh, then make it executable:
chmod +x start-dev.sh
Now you can start your entire MERN project with:
./start-dev.sh
This single command replaces multiple terminal windows and commands.
Example 2: Automate Node.js Environment Setup
Environment setup is another area where shell scripts shine.
#!/bin/bash
echo "Installing dependencies..."
npm install
echo "Setting environment variables..."
cp .env.example .env
echo "Starting server..."
npm run dev
This is a great example of practical shell tips Node.js developers can use daily.
Best Practices for Writing Shell Scripts
- Keep scripts small and focused
- Add comments for clarity
- Use meaningful file names
- Store scripts inside a
scripts/folder
Clear structure matters, just like clean code. If you care about maintainability, you might also enjoy my post on writing better Git commits using Conventional Commits.
Useful Tools & Resources
- Bash documentation
- Zsh (advanced shell)
- Makefile (task automation)
- npm scripts (Node.js automation)
Shell scripts pair extremely well with tools like PM2, Docker, and CI/CD pipelines.
When You Should Use Shell Scripts
- Local development workflows
- Project bootstrapping
- Deployment preparation
- Automated cleanup tasks
If you’re interested in automation beyond local development, you may also want to read this guide on setting up a free CI/CD pipeline.
Conclusion
Custom shell scripts are one of the simplest ways to boost productivity as a developer. They reduce friction, eliminate repetition, and help you focus on building features instead of managing commands.
If you’re serious about improving your workflow, start small. Automate one task today, then improve it over time.
Try using shell scripts in your next project, and let me know in the comments how they improved your workflow.
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