Master shell scripting with AI APIs. Build 5 practical automation scripts in 90 minutes for economics research, software engineering, and business management.

Command-Line AI Workflows: Automate 5 Recurring Tasks

Master the art of shell scripting with AI APIs to automate your most tedious recurring tasks. Build 5 production-ready automation scripts that save you 30+ minutes every week.

Course Overview

Duration: 90 minutes Difficulty: Beginner Prerequisites: Tier 1 completion, basic command-line familiarity

Course Promise: Learn how to automate 5 recurring tasks using shell scripting and AI APIs, saving 30+ minutes per week on manual work. Build reusable automation scripts for economics research, software engineering, and business management workflows.

What You'll Build

By the end of this course, you will have created:

5 Working Automation Scripts:

Economics: Daily economic indicator summarizer
Software: Automated code review reporter
Business: Weekly meeting notes analyzer
Research: PDF paper summarizer
Productivity: Smart email inbox processor

Supporting Infrastructure:

Reusable shell function library
Configuration system for API keys and secrets
Error handling and logging framework
Documentation templates and setup guides

Deliverables:

5 executable shell scripts ready for production use
Environment configuration file template
Function library for common AI operations
README with setup and usage instructions

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, you will be able to:

Shell Scripting Fundamentals:

Write bash/zsh scripts with proper error handling
Use command-line tools (curl, jq, sed, awk)
Process files and text streams efficiently
Chain commands with pipes and redirects

AI API Integration:

Make authenticated API requests from shell
Parse JSON responses with jq
Handle streaming responses
Manage rate limits and retries

Automation Patterns:

Set up environment variables and secrets
Create reusable function libraries
Implement logging and error reporting
Schedule scripts with cron jobs

Domain Applications:

Automate economics data analysis
Streamline software development workflows
Optimize business management tasks

Course Structure

This course is organized into 9 chapters following the AI Tools Mastery Curriculum standard structure:

Introduction

Course objectives, deliverables, prerequisites, and success criteria for the 5 automation scripts you'll build.

Quick Start

Build your first automation script in 15 minutes. Create a working AI-powered text summarizer to verify your setup.

Core Build

Master the 60-minute core build. Create your reusable function library, configuration system, and three foundation scripts.

Domain: Economics

Build a daily economic indicator summarizer. Automate data fetching from APIs, AI analysis, and report generation for market trends.

Domain: Software Engineering

Create an automated code review reporter. Process git diffs, run AI analysis on changes, and generate structured review reports.

Domain: Business Management

Develop a weekly meeting notes analyzer. Extract action items, summarize decisions, and track follow-ups automatically.

Extension Patterns

Advanced automation techniques including parallel processing, webhook integration, notification systems, and workflow chaining.

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions for API errors, authentication failures, parsing problems, and performance optimization.

Resources

Additional learning resources, related courses, tool documentation, and community links for continued learning.

Who This Course Is For

Perfect for:

Tier 1 graduates ready to automate workflows
Researchers with repetitive data processing tasks
Software engineers looking to streamline daily operations
Business professionals managing recurring reports
Anyone comfortable with basic command-line usage

Not suitable for:

Complete beginners to command line (take Tier 1 first)
Users seeking GUI-based automation tools
Those without access to shell environment (Windows users need WSL/Git Bash)

Prerequisites

Before starting this course, ensure you have:

Required Knowledge:

Tier 1 completion (prompt engineering basics)
Basic command-line navigation (cd, ls, mkdir)
Text editor proficiency (vim, nano, or VS Code)

Required Tools:

Unix-like shell (bash 4.0+, zsh, or compatible)
curl or wget for HTTP requests
jq for JSON processing
API key for OpenAI, Anthropic, or compatible provider

Recommended Setup:

macOS or Linux environment (Windows users: WSL2 or Git Bash)
4GB RAM minimum
500MB free disk space
Internet connection for API calls

Time Commitment

Total Duration: 90 minutes

Chapter Breakdown:

Introduction: 5 minutes
Quick Start: 15 minutes (first script)
Core Build: 45 minutes (function library + scripts)
Domain Applications: 15 minutes (3 chapters × 5 minutes)
Extension Patterns: 5 minutes (overview)
Troubleshooting: Reference as needed
Resources: Reference as needed

Recommended Pace: Complete the course in one focused 90-minute session for maximum retention. Take breaks between domains to test your scripts with real data.

Getting Started

Ready to automate your workflows? Start with the Introduction chapter to understand the deliverables and success criteria, then jump into the Quick Start to build your first script in 15 minutes.

Tip: Keep a text editor and terminal window side-by-side throughout the course. Test each script immediately after writing to catch errors early.