When not to use shell scripts

· Resource-intensive tasks, especially where speed is a factor (sorting, hashing,
etc.)Procedures involving heavy-duty math operations, especially floating
point arithmetic, arbitraryprecision calculations, or complex numbers
(use C++ or FORTRAN instead)

· Cross-platform portability required (use C or Java instead) Complex applications, where structured programming is a necessity (need type-checking of variables, function prototypes, etc.)

· Project consists of subcomponents with interlocking dependencies Extensive file operations required (Bash is limited to serial file access, and that only in a particularly clumsy and inefficient line-by-line fashion)

· Need native support for multi-dimensional arrays
· Need data structures, such as linked lists or trees
· Need to generate or manipulate graphics or GUIs
· Need direct access to system hardware
· Need port or socket I/O
· Need to use libraries or interface with legacy code