sysupd8.sh – A Unix-Based System Update Script A lightweight, automated maintenance tool for macOS, streamlining system updates, Homebrew, and Python package management while maintaining structured diagnostic logs. Designed for efficiency, with future plans to evolve into a modular, function-driven workflow. Released under the MIT License for fr…

sysupd8.sh

#!/bin/bash

# ---Name the update script---
# sysupd8.sh - Optimized system update and maintenance script for macOS
# Script automates key update and logging processes,
# including self-updating the script itself.
# It manages system diagnostic logs (keeping up to 19 total),
# updates the macOS software, then Homebrew packages,
# then Python packages via pip3.

# ---Script Mechanism to Self-Update---
# Defines path for script to run
SCRIPT_PATH="$HOME/sysupd8.sh"

# Defines path for newer version of script and where to save it if applicable---
UPDATED_SCRIPT_PATH="$HOME/sysupd8_latest.sh"

# Checks for newer version of script; if it exists in designated path
if [ -f "$UPDATED_SCRIPT_PATH" ]; then
    echo "Updating sysupd8.sh..."
    # Moves new version to old one
    mv "$UPDATED_SCRIPT_PATH" "$SCRIPT_PATH"
    # Makes updated script executable
    chmod +x "$SCRIPT_PATH"
fi

# ---macOS Specific System Diagnostic and Log Management
# Creates a unique directory name for logs using current date format
# sysdiagnose command pulls filtered, detailed system diagnostics
# 
LOG_DIR="$HOME/syslogs_beta_$(date +"%Y-%m-%d")"
# 
# sysdiagnose command saves output to newly created directory
# macOS-specific command to gather targeted system information
# 
sysdiagnose -f "$LOG_DIR"
# Cleans old sysdiagnose logs
# 
# call: ls-td $HOME/syslogs_beta_*: Lists matching pattern directory
# then sorts by newest first
# 
# tail -n +19: Skips first 18 then keeps newest 18
# (selects logs older than 19, purges anything 19+)
# 
# xargs rm -rf: Takes tail output (old directory paths)
# forcibly removing them [recursively] retaining latest 1-18 logs
ls -td $HOME/syslogs_beta_* | tail -n +19 | xargs rm -rf
# 
# ---Updates macOS Software---
# Runs standard macOS update command
# sudo: elevated sudo requiring superuser privileges & password
# -ia [--install --all] installs all available updates
# --verbose: outputs detailed progress during update process
sudo softwareupdate -ia --verbose

# ---Homebrew Package Updates---
# Checks for Homebrew [brew command] is installed and executable
# command -v brew &> /dev/null: Suppress all output from check
# &&: If brew is found, proceed with Homebrew commands
# sudo: elevated sudo requiring superuser privileges & password
# brew update: Fetch latest Homebrew definitions and formulae
# brew upgrade: Upgrades all Homebrew packages installed on system if new version exists
command -v brew &> /dev/null && brew update && brew upgrade

# ---Python3 Package (pip3) Updates---
# Checks if pip3 (Python 3's package installer) is installed and executable
# &&: If pip3 is found, proceeds with pip3 command
# pip3 list --outdated: Lists installed Python3 packages that have newer versions available
# awk '{print $1}': Extracts ONLY first column from pip3 list output [package name]
# xargs pip3 install --upgrade: Takes list of outdated package names
# then upgrades them one by one
command -v pip3 &> /dev/null && pip3 list --outdated | awk '{print $1}' | xargs pip3 install --upgrade

# ---Completion Message---
echo "System update completed. Logs & outdated packages managed successfully."

sysupd8.sh – A Unix-Based System Update & Maintenance Script

Sysupd8.sh is a lightweight, automated update script designed for macOS users who need a clean, efficient way to manage system updates, Homebrew packages, and Python dependencies—all while maintaining structured diagnostic logs.

Why I Built This

I wanted a single script that eliminates the hassle of manual updates, keeps my system optimized, and streamlines the workflow for troubleshooting, performance monitoring, and software maintenance.

Core Features

• ✅ Self-updating mechanism ensures script always runs latest version.
• ✅ Automated macOS updates with verbose progress tracking.
• ✅ Homebrew package upgrades keep essential tools up-to-date.
• ✅ Python package updates via pip3, ensuring compatibility.
• ✅ Structured log management retains system diagnostics without clutter.

Future Evolution

Currently structured as a sequential script, sysupd8.sh will eventually evolve into a modular, function-driven workflow, improving reusability, flexibility, and efficiency. I'm still learning, so as my skills evolve, the script will.

License & Usage

Sysupd8.sh is released under the MIT License, meaning anyone can use, modify, and redistribute it freely.

sysupd8 - System Update & Maintenance Script

Overview

sysupd8 is a streamlined system update script designed to automate the process of checking for updates, managing outdated packages, and maintaining system logs.

Features

• ✅ Runs system updates (macOS Software Update, Homebrew updates)
• ✅ Generates system logs for troubleshooting
• ✅ Cleans up outdated packages for efficiency
• ✅ Ensures system stability with minimal manual intervention

How to Run

Basic Execution

To manually run the script:

./sysupd8.sh

Adding Execution Permissions

Ensure the script has executable permissions:

chmod +x sysupd8.sh

Handling Missing Directories

If necessary, create the required directories for logs:

mkdir -p ~/syslogs_beta_

Ensuring the Script Is in $PATH

To allow running sysupd8 globally, add its location to $PATH:

export PATH=$PATH:~/your-script-location

To make this permanent, append the export command to .zshrc:

echo 'export PATH=$PATH:~/your-script-location' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

Running as Root (if needed)

Certain commands within the script may require elevated privileges:

sudo sysupd8

Example Output

sysdiagnose must be run as root
ls: /Users/vet/syslogs_beta_*: No such file or directory
Password:
Software Update Tool

Finding available software
No updates are available.
==> Updating Homebrew...
Already up-to-date.
System update completed. Logs & outdated packages managed successfully.