Shell script to enable a site in Apache.

create_site.sh

#!/bin/bash

# This shell script automates the process of creating virtual host config files and enabling sites in Apache
# for a localhost. The script requires super user permissions as it creates a config file in the Apache
# directory and edits the /etc/hosts file.
#
# Function: The script will first prompt user to enter a name that will be used for the site and then prompt
# for a filepath pointing to the location of the website files (aka DocumentRoot in Apache config). It will
# then use these variables to create a config file, enable the site using a2ensite, and then restart Apache.
# The script will also append a line to hosts file (ex: 127.0.0.1 site-name.local) to allow access through localhost.
#
# Prompted inputs:
# @name: The name of the site without extensions. This name is used for config file and localhost access.
#        Example: entering "website" at this prompt will enable a config file named "website.conf" and 
#        "website.local" will be added to hosts file to allow localhost access at "website.local"
#
# @path: The directory path containing the website index files (used as DocumentRoot in Apache config file)

# Define global variables
name="";
path="";

# Display prompt for site/config name
echo "Enter the name without extensions that will be used for config files and localhost access: ";

# Read user input for site
read name;

# Validate name input
while [[ ! $name =~ ^[A-Za-z0-9._-]+$ ]]
do
  echo "Error: name must only contain letters, numbers, periods(.), dashes(-), and underscores(_). Please try again.";
  echo "Enter the name without extensions that will be used for config files and localhost access: ";
  read name;
done

# Display prompt for setting document root
echo "Enter the full path of the directory containing the site's files (Apache's Document Root)";

# Read user input for path
read -e path;

# Validate filepath input
while [[ ! -d $path ]]
do
  echo "Error: \"$path\" is not a directory or does not exist. Please try again.";
  echo "Enter the full path of the directory containing the site's files (Apache's Document Root)";
  read -e path;
done

# Create the config file
cat << EOF > /etc/apache2/sites-available/$name.conf
<VirtualHost *:80>
  ServerName $name.local
  DocumentRoot "$path"
</VirtualHost>
EOF

# Add new entry to hosts file
echo "127.0.0.1 $name.local" >>/etc/hosts;

# Enable config with a2ensite
`a2ensite $name.conf` 2>/dev/null;

# Restart Apache
echo "Restarting Apache...";
`service apache2 restart`;
echo "Done!";

# Print success message
echo "Your new site has been created!";
echo "################################";
echo "The config file for your site can found at: /etc/apache2/sites-enabled/$name.conf";
echo "You can now visit your site at: $name.local";