Setting Up a Windows Environment for Bash Scripts

I’ve written a number of useful command-line scripts for Ark Management in Bash.
Bash is normally used in Linux environments, however these scripts can also be run in Windows using Git Bash.

This guide sets up the small environment needed to run them.

You do not need to know Linux, Git, programming, or Bash to follow this guide.

What are we installing?

There are four things:

• Git Bash — provides the Bash environment used to run the scripts.
• jq.exe — used by some scripts to read and modify JSON files. (Optional)
• mcrcon.exe — used by scripts that need to communicate with an ARK server through RCON.
• A PATH entry — tells Windows where to find these command-line programs.

None of this replaces Windows components or modifies your server configuration in any dangerous way.

1. Install Git for Windows

Download and install Git for Windows from the official website:

https://git-scm.com/download/win

Git Bash is included with Git for Windows, so there is nothing else to install for Bash.

Once installed, open Git Bash from the Windows Start menu.

You can check that it is working with:

git --version

Seeing a version number means Git is installed correctly.

2. Create a folder for command-line tools

Create a folder somewhere convenient for your scripts and utilities.

For example:

C:\Scripts

This folder will contain the small .exe utilities used by the scripts.

3. Add mcrcon.exe

Download the Windows version of mcrcon and place the executable in:

C:\Scripts

Make sure it is named:

mcrcon.exe

4. Add jq.exe (Optional)

(Optional – jq.exe is only used for the ArkShop CLI)
jq is a lightweight and flexible command-line JSON processor – it allows a user (or scripts) to interact with and manipulate JSON data, such as is found in ArkShop’s config.json

Download the Windows version of jq and rename the executable to:

jq.exe

Place it in:

C:\Scripts

5. Add C:\Scripts to your PATH

Windows needs to know that command-line programs can be found in C:\Scripts.

This is safe and simple. You are not replacing Windows files or changing system settings. You are simply adding one folder to the list of locations Windows checks when a command is entered.

Follow the separate guide:

⮞ Adding a Folder to the Windows PATH

7. That’s it

Your Windows server now has the same basic command-line environment that I use for my Bash scripts.

Individual scripts may require additional configuration, but the underlying environment is now ready.

You do not need to install Linux or learn Git to use the scripts.

Adding a Folder to the Windows PATH

This is a simple and safe Windows setting. You are not changing or replacing Windows system files – you are simply telling Windows where it can look for command-line programs.

For ArkShop, this allows you to place jq.exe in a folder such as C:\Scripts and have the arkshop command find it automatically.

1. Open Environment Variables

Open the Windows Start menu and search for environment.

Select Edit environment variables for your account.

2. Open your User PATH

In the Environment Variables window, look at the User variables section at the top.

Select Path, then click Edit.

Make sure you are editing the User variables section, not the System variables section.

3. Add the folder

Click New and enter the folder containing your jq.exe.

For example:

C:\Scripts

Do not change or delete any of the existing entries. You are simply adding one new entry to the list.

Click OK, then OK again to close the Environment Variables windows.

That’s it

This does not install anything, remove anything, or modify Windows itself. It simply adds one folder to the list of places Windows checks when you type a command.

Open a new terminal window and test it with:

jq --version

If jq is installed correctly, you should see its version number.

Nothing else needs to be changed.