How can beginners improve their PHP skills to handle tasks like automating script execution effectively?

To improve PHP skills for automating script execution, beginners can start by learning about PHP functions like `exec()` and `shell_exec()` which can be used to run shell commands from within PHP scripts. They can also explore PHP libraries like Symfony's Process component or Laravel's Artisan Console for more advanced automation tasks. Additionally, practicing writing PHP scripts to automate common tasks, such as file manipulation or database operations, can help beginners gain confidence and proficiency in handling automation effectively.

// Example PHP script to automate script execution using exec()

$command = 'ls -la'; // Command to be executed
$output = array(); // Array to store output from the command

// Execute the command and store output in the $output array
exec($command, $output);

// Print the output from the command
foreach ($output as $line) {
    echo $line . PHP_EOL;
}