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Linux Treasure Hunt

This project is more than just a game; it's a practical way to hone your Linux command-line skills, which are essential for any aspiring DevOps engineer. Think of it as an adventure with real-world applications.

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The Challenge:

1. Bury the Treasure:

Create a file with a "secret message" (e.g., a fake API key, a server configuration setting, or even a fun message). Hide this file deep within your Linux file system. Get creative with the file name and location!

2. Craft the Script:

Write a shell script that uses the find command, along with other Linux commands, to locate your hidden treasure. Consider using:

  • find with various options (e.g., -name, -type, -mtime)
  • grep to search for specific content within files
  • awk or sed for more advanced text processing
  • Control flow (e.g., if, else) to handle different scenarios

3. Level Up:

  • Add a timer to your script to track how long it takes to find the treasure.
  • Modify the script to search for multiple treasures.
  • Create a "treasure map" (a text file with clues) that your script can decipher to find the treasure.

Why This Matters for DevOps:

  • File System Mastery: DevOps engineers often work with complex file systems and need to locate and manage files efficiently.
  • Automation: Automating tasks with shell scripts is a core DevOps skill. This project gives you hands-on practice.
  • Problem-Solving: This challenge encourages you to think creatively and use Linux commands in new ways to solve a problem.
  • Security Awareness: By hiding and finding files, you gain a better understanding of file permissions and security implications, which are crucial in DevOps.

Example

cat my_hidden_treasure.txt
super super secret
treasure_hunt.sh
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#!/bin/bash

# Start the timer
start_time=$(date +%s)

# Use find to locate the treasure file
treasure_file=$(find / -name "my_hidden_treasure.txt" 2>/dev/null)

# Check if the treasure was found
if [ -n "$treasure_file" ]; then
  echo "Treasure found: $treasure_file"
  cat "$treasure_file"
else
  echo "Treasure not found!"
fi

# Calculate and display the elapsed time
end_time=$(date +%s)
elapsed_time=$((end_time - start_time))
echo "Elapsed time: $elapsed_time seconds"
chmod +x treasure_hunt.sh
./treasure_hunt.sh
Treasure found: /home/chanvi/learn-devops/learn-linux-sensitive-variables/my_hidden_treasure.txt
super super secret
Elapsed time: 5 seconds

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