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When you run a build script, plain echo messages often feel dull - you don't know if something is still running or stuck. Adding a spinner animation and ✔/✘ status indicators makes your script look more professional and easier to read. In this tutorial, we will build a Bash script that:

• Shows an animated spinner (⠹⠺⠼⠴) while tasks run
• Prints a green ✔ when a step succeeds and a red ✘ when it fails
• Captures logs in a file so you can debug warnings or errors

1. Basic Setup

Start with a normal shell script structure: We will add our spinner and logging functions here.

2. Colors for Success/Failure

We will use ANSI escape codes to color the output:

3. Spinner Frames

We will use braille-style spinner frames that rotate:

4. Run Command with Spinner + Logging

This function runs any command, shows the spinner, and writes logs to /tmp/build-logs/.

5. Using It in a Build Script

Now replace your normal echo + command with run_with_spinner:

6. Example Output

When you run the script: While the command runs → spinner rotates.
On success → ✔ green tick.
On failure →✘ red cross and logs are printed.

Final Thoughts

This small tweak makes your shell scripts feel more interactive and professional - similar to modern CLI tools like yarn or docker. You get clear visual feedback plus logs for debugging when needed.