The primary advantage of learning shell script syntax for me is that it's the same language I use on the command line.
I write for and "while read" loops on the command line a dozen times a day, () subshells, process substitution, sed, awk etc. The more proficient I am on the command line, the more I am with shell scripts, and vice versa.
Another advantage; the shell is a repl in which you can prototype your script. Perform the operations manually, pull the commands out of your history, and adjust as necessary.
> I write for and "while read" loops on the command line a dozen times a day
You earned my respect.
I like REPLs for small operations. When talking about a "full" script, I'm more at ease in a text editor with a script I'm gonna adjust as I run it. Best example is a syntax error: the script just won't run. Meanwhile, in a REPL, I may get myself stuck without knowing it.
I write for and "while read" loops on the command line a dozen times a day, () subshells, process substitution, sed, awk etc. The more proficient I am on the command line, the more I am with shell scripts, and vice versa.
Another advantage; the shell is a repl in which you can prototype your script. Perform the operations manually, pull the commands out of your history, and adjust as necessary.