Using a bash script for backing up MySQL databases

#!/bin/bash

user="username"
pass="password"

# Define backup directory
backup_dir="/Users/username/path/to/backup/directory"

# Define log directory
log_dir="/Users/username/path/to/logs/directory"

# Define databases to backup
myarray=("database1" "database2" "database3")

# Loop through all databases
for database in "${myarray[@]}"
do

    # Get timestamp
    now=$(date +"%Y%m%d%H%M%S")

    # Define backup location
    backup_file="${backup_dir}/${database}_${now}.sql"

    # Print out name for backup file (for simple monitoring)
    echo "${database}_${now}.sql"

    # Define logfile for that database
    logfile="${log_dir}/${database}.txt"

    # Concat info on mysqldump starting to the logfile
    echo "mysqldump started at $now" >> "$logfile"

    # Perform backup using mysqldump
    mysqldump --user="$user" --password="$pass" --default-character-set=utf8 "$database" > "$backup_file"

    # Update timestamp for logfile 
    now=$(date +"%Y%m%d%H%M%S")

    # Log completion of database backup in logfile
    echo "mysqldump finished at $now" >> "$logfile"
    echo "*****************" >> "$logfile"

done

# Exit the shell script
exit 0