What exactly is a `.sh` file and how do I use it?

General Discussions
1

I’m new to working with different file types, and I came across a .sh file while trying to download map data tiles from Daymet. The instructions suggest using a script called daymet-nc-retrieval.sh from their GitHub repository:

https://github.com/daymet/scripts/blob/master/Bash/daymet-nc-retrieval.sh

I’m not sure what a .sh file is or how I’m supposed to run it. Do I need to paste it into a browser, use some kind of application, or run it in the terminal?

Basically, I’m looking for a simple explanation of what a .sh file is and how to use it from start to finish, assuming no prior knowledge.

How do I take a .sh script like this and actually execute it to get the intended results?

2

Hey! A .sh file is just a shell script, basically a set of commands you can run in your terminal. To run it:

Make it executable:

chmod +x daymet-nc-retrieval.sh

Execute it:

./daymet-nc-retrieval.sh ```
3

You can also run it directly with bash without changing permissions:

bash daymet-nc-retrieval.sh

This is useful if you don’t want to modify file permissions.

4

Tip from experience: Always check the first few lines for a “shebang” like #!/bin/bash — it tells your system which shell to use. Also, review the script briefly to make sure it won’t overwrite anything important.