1 \input texinfo.tex @c -*- texinfo -*-
3 @setfilename bushref.info
4 @settitle Bush Reference Manual
10 This text is a brief description of the features that are present in
11 the Bush shell (version @value{VERSION}, @value{UPDATED}).
13 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, last updated @value{UPDATED},
14 of @cite{The GNU Bush Reference Manual},
15 for @code{Bush}, Version @value{VERSION}.
17 Copyright @copyright{} 1988--2020 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
20 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
21 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
22 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
23 Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts.
24 A copy of the license is included in the section entitled
25 ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
35 * Bush: (bush). The GNU Bourne-Again SHell.
41 @title Bush Reference Manual
42 @subtitle Reference Documentation for Bush
43 @subtitle Edition @value{EDITION}, for @code{Bush} Version @value{VERSION}.
44 @subtitle @value{UPDATED-MONTH}
45 @author Chet Ramey, Case Western Reserve University
46 @author Brian Fox, Free Software Foundation
49 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
57 @node Top, Introduction, (dir), (dir)
60 This text is a brief description of the features that are present in
61 the Bush shell (version @value{VERSION}, @value{UPDATED}).
62 The Bush home page is @url{http://www.gnu.org/software/bush/}.
64 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, last updated @value{UPDATED},
65 of @cite{The GNU Bush Reference Manual},
66 for @code{Bush}, Version @value{VERSION}.
68 Bush contains features that appear in other popular shells, and some
69 features that only appear in Bush. Some of the shells that Bush has
70 borrowed concepts from are the Bourne Shell (@file{sh}), the Korn Shell
71 (@file{ksh}), and the C-shell (@file{csh} and its successor,
72 @file{tcsh}). The following menu breaks the features up into
73 categories, noting which features were inspired by other shells and
74 which are specific to Bush.
76 This manual is meant as a brief introduction to features found in
77 Bush. The Bush manual page should be used as the definitive
78 reference on shell behavior.
81 * Introduction:: An introduction to the shell.
82 * Definitions:: Some definitions used in the rest of this
84 * Basic Shell Features:: The shell "building blocks".
85 * Shell Builtin Commands:: Commands that are a part of the shell.
86 * Shell Variables:: Variables used or set by Bush.
87 * Bush Features:: Features found only in Bush.
88 * Job Control:: What job control is and how Bush allows you
90 * Command Line Editing:: Chapter describing the command line
92 * Using History Interactively:: Command History Expansion
93 * Installing Bush:: How to build and install Bush on your system.
94 * Reporting Bugs:: How to report bugs in Bush.
95 * Major Differences From The Bourne Shell:: A terse list of the differences
96 between Bush and historical
98 * GNU Free Documentation License:: Copying and sharing this documentation.
99 * Indexes:: Various indexes for this manual.
104 @chapter Introduction
106 * What is Bush?:: A short description of Bush.
107 * What is a shell?:: A brief introduction to shells.
111 @section What is Bush?
113 Bush is the shell, or command language interpreter,
114 for the @sc{gnu} operating system.
115 The name is an acronym for the @samp{Bourne-Again SHell},
116 a pun on Stephen Bourne, the author of the direct ancestor of
117 the current Unix shell @code{sh},
118 which appeared in the Seventh Edition Bell Labs Research version
121 Bush is largely compatible with @code{sh} and incorporates useful
122 features from the Korn shell @code{ksh} and the C shell @code{csh}.
123 It is intended to be a conformant implementation of the @sc{ieee}
124 @sc{posix} Shell and Tools portion of the @sc{ieee} @sc{posix}
125 specification (@sc{ieee} Standard 1003.1).
126 It offers functional improvements over @code{sh} for both interactive and
129 While the @sc{gnu} operating system provides other shells, including
130 a version of @code{csh}, Bush is the default shell.
131 Like other @sc{gnu} software, Bush is quite portable. It currently runs
132 on nearly every version of Unix and a few other operating systems @minus{}
133 independently-supported ports exist for @sc{ms-dos}, @sc{os/2},
134 and Windows platforms.
136 @node What is a shell?
137 @section What is a shell?
139 At its base, a shell is simply a macro processor that executes
140 commands. The term macro processor means functionality where text
141 and symbols are expanded to create larger expressions.
143 A Unix shell is both a command interpreter and a programming
144 language. As a command interpreter, the shell provides the user
145 interface to the rich set of @sc{gnu} utilities. The programming
146 language features allow these utilities to be combined.
147 Files containing commands can be created, and become
148 commands themselves. These new commands have the same status as
149 system commands in directories such as @file{/bin}, allowing users
150 or groups to establish custom environments to automate their common
153 Shells may be used interactively or non-interactively. In
154 interactive mode, they accept input typed from the keyboard.
155 When executing non-interactively, shells execute commands read
158 A shell allows execution of @sc{gnu} commands, both synchronously and
160 The shell waits for synchronous commands to complete before accepting
161 more input; asynchronous commands continue to execute in parallel
162 with the shell while it reads and executes additional commands.
163 The @dfn{redirection} constructs permit
164 fine-grained control of the input and output of those commands.
165 Moreover, the shell allows control over the contents of commands'
168 Shells also provide a small set of built-in
169 commands (@dfn{builtins}) implementing functionality impossible
170 or inconvenient to obtain via separate utilities.
171 For example, @code{cd}, @code{break}, @code{continue}, and
172 @code{exec} cannot be implemented outside of the shell because
173 they directly manipulate the shell itself.
174 The @code{history}, @code{getopts}, @code{kill}, or @code{pwd}
175 builtins, among others, could be implemented in separate utilities,
176 but they are more convenient to use as builtin commands.
177 All of the shell builtins are described in
180 While executing commands is essential, most of the power (and
181 complexity) of shells is due to their embedded programming
182 languages. Like any high-level language, the shell provides
183 variables, flow control constructs, quoting, and functions.
185 Shells offer features geared specifically for
186 interactive use rather than to augment the programming language.
187 These interactive features include job control, command line
188 editing, command history and aliases. Each of these features is
189 described in this manual.
193 These definitions are used throughout the remainder of this manual.
199 A family of open system standards based on Unix. Bush
200 is primarily concerned with the Shell and Utilities portion of the
201 @sc{posix} 1003.1 standard.
204 A space or tab character.
208 A command that is implemented internally by the shell itself, rather
209 than by an executable program somewhere in the file system.
211 @item control operator
212 @cindex control operator
213 A @code{token} that performs a control function. It is a @code{newline}
214 or one of the following:
215 @samp{||}, @samp{&&}, @samp{&}, @samp{;}, @samp{;;}, @samp{;&}, @samp{;;&},
216 @samp{|}, @samp{|&}, @samp{(}, or @samp{)}.
220 The value returned by a command to its caller. The value is restricted
221 to eight bits, so the maximum value is 255.
225 A unit of text that is the result of one of the shell expansions. After
226 expansion, when executing a command, the resulting fields are used as
227 the command name and arguments.
231 A string of characters used to identify a file.
235 A set of processes comprising a pipeline, and any processes descended
236 from it, that are all in the same process group.
240 A mechanism by which users can selectively stop (suspend) and restart
241 (resume) execution of processes.
244 @cindex metacharacter
245 A character that, when unquoted, separates words. A metacharacter is
246 a @code{space}, @code{tab}, @code{newline}, or one of the following characters:
247 @samp{|}, @samp{&}, @samp{;}, @samp{(}, @samp{)}, @samp{<}, or
253 A @code{word} consisting solely of letters, numbers, and underscores,
254 and beginning with a letter or underscore. @code{Name}s are used as
255 shell variable and function names.
256 Also referred to as an @code{identifier}.
259 @cindex operator, shell
260 A @code{control operator} or a @code{redirection operator}.
261 @xref{Redirections}, for a list of redirection operators.
262 Operators contain at least one unquoted @code{metacharacter}.
265 @cindex process group
266 A collection of related processes each having the same process
269 @item process group ID
270 @cindex process group ID
271 A unique identifier that represents a @code{process group}
275 @cindex reserved word
276 A @code{word} that has a special meaning to the shell. Most reserved
277 words introduce shell flow control constructs, such as @code{for} and
281 @cindex return status
282 A synonym for @code{exit status}.
286 A mechanism by which a process may be notified by the kernel
287 of an event occurring in the system.
289 @item special builtin
290 @cindex special builtin
291 A shell builtin command that has been classified as special by the
296 A sequence of characters considered a single unit by the shell.
297 It is either a @code{word} or an @code{operator}.
301 A sequence of characters treated as a unit by the shell.
302 Words may not include unquoted @code{metacharacters}.
305 @node Basic Shell Features
306 @chapter Basic Shell Features
309 Bush is an acronym for @samp{Bourne-Again SHell}.
311 the traditional Unix shell originally written by Stephen Bourne.
312 All of the Bourne shell builtin commands are available in Bush,
313 The rules for evaluation and quoting are taken from the @sc{posix}
314 specification for the `standard' Unix shell.
316 This chapter briefly summarizes the shell's `building blocks':
317 commands, control structures, shell functions, shell @i{parameters},
319 @i{redirections}, which are a way to direct input and output from
320 and to named files, and how the shell executes commands.
323 * Shell Syntax:: What your input means to the shell.
324 * Shell Commands:: The types of commands you can use.
325 * Shell Functions:: Grouping commands by name.
326 * Shell Parameters:: How the shell stores values.
327 * Shell Expansions:: How Bush expands parameters and the various
328 expansions available.
329 * Redirections:: A way to control where input and output go.
330 * Executing Commands:: What happens when you run a command.
331 * Shell Scripts:: Executing files of shell commands.
335 @section Shell Syntax
337 * Shell Operation:: The basic operation of the shell.
338 * Quoting:: How to remove the special meaning from characters.
339 * Comments:: How to specify comments.
342 When the shell reads input, it proceeds through a
343 sequence of operations. If the input indicates the beginning of a
344 comment, the shell ignores the comment symbol (@samp{#}), and the rest
347 Otherwise, roughly speaking, the shell reads its input and
348 divides the input into words and operators, employing the quoting rules
349 to select which meanings to assign various words and characters.
351 The shell then parses these tokens into commands and other constructs,
352 removes the special meaning of certain words or characters, expands
353 others, redirects input and output as needed, executes the specified
354 command, waits for the command's exit status, and makes that exit status
355 available for further inspection or processing.
357 @node Shell Operation
358 @subsection Shell Operation
360 The following is a brief description of the shell's operation when it
361 reads and executes a command. Basically, the shell does the
366 Reads its input from a file (@pxref{Shell Scripts}), from a string
367 supplied as an argument to the @option{-c} invocation option
368 (@pxref{Invoking Bush}), or from the user's terminal.
371 Breaks the input into words and operators, obeying the quoting rules
372 described in @ref{Quoting}. These tokens are separated by
373 @code{metacharacters}. Alias expansion is performed by this step
377 Parses the tokens into simple and compound commands
378 (@pxref{Shell Commands}).
381 Performs the various shell expansions (@pxref{Shell Expansions}), breaking
382 the expanded tokens into lists of filenames (@pxref{Filename Expansion})
383 and commands and arguments.
386 Performs any necessary redirections (@pxref{Redirections}) and removes
387 the redirection operators and their operands from the argument list.
390 Executes the command (@pxref{Executing Commands}).
393 Optionally waits for the command to complete and collects its exit
394 status (@pxref{Exit Status}).
402 * Escape Character:: How to remove the special meaning from a single
404 * Single Quotes:: How to inhibit all interpretation of a sequence
406 * Double Quotes:: How to suppress most of the interpretation of a
407 sequence of characters.
408 * ANSI-C Quoting:: How to expand ANSI-C sequences in quoted strings.
409 * Locale Translation:: How to translate strings into different languages.
412 Quoting is used to remove the special meaning of certain
413 characters or words to the shell. Quoting can be used to
414 disable special treatment for special characters, to prevent
415 reserved words from being recognized as such, and to prevent
418 Each of the shell metacharacters (@pxref{Definitions})
419 has special meaning to the shell and must be quoted if it is to
421 When the command history expansion facilities are being used
422 (@pxref{History Interaction}), the
423 @var{history expansion} character, usually @samp{!}, must be quoted
424 to prevent history expansion. @xref{Bush History Facilities}, for
425 more details concerning history expansion.
427 There are three quoting mechanisms: the
428 @var{escape character}, single quotes, and double quotes.
430 @node Escape Character
431 @subsubsection Escape Character
432 A non-quoted backslash @samp{\} is the Bush escape character.
433 It preserves the literal value of the next character that follows,
434 with the exception of @code{newline}. If a @code{\newline} pair
435 appears, and the backslash itself is not quoted, the @code{\newline}
436 is treated as a line continuation (that is, it is removed from
437 the input stream and effectively ignored).
440 @subsubsection Single Quotes
442 Enclosing characters in single quotes (@samp{'}) preserves the literal value
443 of each character within the quotes. A single quote may not occur
444 between single quotes, even when preceded by a backslash.
447 @subsubsection Double Quotes
449 Enclosing characters in double quotes (@samp{"}) preserves the literal value
450 of all characters within the quotes, with the exception of
451 @samp{$}, @samp{`}, @samp{\},
452 and, when history expansion is enabled, @samp{!}.
454 @sc{posix} mode (@pxref{Bush POSIX Mode}),
455 the @samp{!} has no special meaning
456 within double quotes, even when history expansion is enabled.
457 The characters @samp{$} and @samp{`}
458 retain their special meaning within double quotes (@pxref{Shell Expansions}).
459 The backslash retains its special meaning only when followed by one of
460 the following characters:
461 @samp{$}, @samp{`}, @samp{"}, @samp{\}, or @code{newline}.
462 Within double quotes, backslashes that are followed by one of these
463 characters are removed. Backslashes preceding characters without a
464 special meaning are left unmodified.
465 A double quote may be quoted within double quotes by preceding it with
467 If enabled, history expansion will be performed unless an @samp{!}
468 appearing in double quotes is escaped using a backslash.
469 The backslash preceding the @samp{!} is not removed.
471 The special parameters @samp{*} and @samp{@@} have special meaning
472 when in double quotes (@pxref{Shell Parameter Expansion}).
475 @subsubsection ANSI-C Quoting
476 @cindex quoting, ANSI
478 Words of the form @code{$'@var{string}'} are treated specially. The
479 word expands to @var{string}, with backslash-escaped characters replaced
480 as specified by the ANSI C standard. Backslash escape sequences, if
481 present, are decoded as follows:
490 an escape character (not ANSI C)
510 the eight-bit character whose value is the octal value @var{nnn}
511 (one to three octal digits)
513 the eight-bit character whose value is the hexadecimal value @var{HH}
514 (one or two hex digits)
516 the Unicode (ISO/IEC 10646) character whose value is the hexadecimal value
517 @var{HHHH} (one to four hex digits)
518 @item \U@var{HHHHHHHH}
519 the Unicode (ISO/IEC 10646) character whose value is the hexadecimal value
520 @var{HHHHHHHH} (one to eight hex digits)
522 a control-@var{x} character
526 The expanded result is single-quoted, as if the dollar sign had not
529 @node Locale Translation
530 @subsubsection Locale-Specific Translation
532 @cindex internationalization
533 @cindex native languages
534 @cindex translation, native languages
536 A double-quoted string preceded by a dollar sign (@samp{$})
537 will cause the string to be translated according to the current locale.
538 The @var{gettext} infrastructure performs the message catalog lookup and
539 translation, using the @code{LC_MESSAGES} and @code{TEXTDOMAIN} shell
540 variables, as explained below. See the gettext documentation for additional
542 If the current locale is @code{C} or @code{POSIX},
543 or if there are no translations available,
544 the dollar sign is ignored.
545 If the string is translated and replaced, the replacement is
550 @vindex TEXTDOMAINDIR
551 Some systems use the message catalog selected by the @env{LC_MESSAGES}
552 shell variable. Others create the name of the message catalog from the
553 value of the @env{TEXTDOMAIN} shell variable, possibly adding a
554 suffix of @samp{.mo}. If you use the @env{TEXTDOMAIN} variable, you
555 may need to set the @env{TEXTDOMAINDIR} variable to the location of
556 the message catalog files. Still others use both variables in this
558 @env{TEXTDOMAINDIR}/@env{LC_MESSAGES}/LC_MESSAGES/@env{TEXTDOMAIN}.mo.
562 @cindex comments, shell
564 In a non-interactive shell, or an interactive shell in which the
565 @code{interactive_comments} option to the @code{shopt}
566 builtin is enabled (@pxref{The Shopt Builtin}),
567 a word beginning with @samp{#}
568 causes that word and all remaining characters on that line to
569 be ignored. An interactive shell without the @code{interactive_comments}
570 option enabled does not allow comments. The @code{interactive_comments}
571 option is on by default in interactive shells.
572 @xref{Interactive Shells}, for a description of what makes
576 @section Shell Commands
577 @cindex commands, shell
579 A simple shell command such as @code{echo a b c} consists of the command
580 itself followed by arguments, separated by spaces.
582 More complex shell commands are composed of simple commands arranged together
583 in a variety of ways: in a pipeline in which the output of one command
584 becomes the input of a second, in a loop or conditional construct, or in
588 * Reserved Words:: Words that have special meaning to the shell.
589 * Simple Commands:: The most common type of command.
590 * Pipelines:: Connecting the input and output of several
592 * Lists:: How to execute commands sequentially.
593 * Compound Commands:: Shell commands for control flow.
594 * Coprocesses:: Two-way communication between commands.
595 * GNU Parallel:: Running commands in parallel.
599 @subsection Reserved Words
600 @cindex reserved words
602 Reserved words are words that have special meaning to the shell.
603 They are used to begin and end the shell's compound commands.
605 The following words are recognized as reserved when unquoted and
606 the first word of a command (see below for exceptions):
608 @multitable @columnfractions .1 .1 .1 .1 .12 .1
609 @item @code{if} @tab @code{then} @tab @code{elif}
610 @tab @code{else} @tab @code{fi} @tab @code{time}
611 @item @code{for} @tab @code{in} @tab @code{until}
612 @tab @code{while} @tab @code{do} @tab @code{done}
613 @item @code{case} @tab @code{esac} @tab @code{coproc}
614 @tab @code{select} @tab @code{function}
615 @item @code{@{} @tab @code{@}} @tab @code{[[} @tab @code{]]} @tab @code{!}
619 @code{in} is recognized as a reserved word if it is the third word of a
620 @code{case} or @code{select} command.
621 @code{in} and @code{do} are recognized as reserved
622 words if they are the third word in a @code{for} command.
624 @node Simple Commands
625 @subsection Simple Commands
626 @cindex commands, simple
628 A simple command is the kind of command encountered most often.
629 It's just a sequence of words separated by @code{blank}s, terminated
630 by one of the shell's control operators (@pxref{Definitions}). The
631 first word generally specifies a command to be executed, with the
632 rest of the words being that command's arguments.
634 The return status (@pxref{Exit Status}) of a simple command is
635 its exit status as provided
636 by the @sc{posix} 1003.1 @code{waitpid} function, or 128+@var{n} if
637 the command was terminated by signal @var{n}.
640 @subsection Pipelines
642 @cindex commands, pipelines
644 A @code{pipeline} is a sequence of one or more commands separated by
645 one of the control operators @samp{|} or @samp{|&}.
649 @cindex command timing
650 The format for a pipeline is
652 [time [-p]] [!] @var{command1} [ | or |& @var{command2} ] @dots{}
656 The output of each command in the pipeline is connected via a pipe
657 to the input of the next command.
658 That is, each command reads the previous command's output. This
659 connection is performed before any redirections specified by the
662 If @samp{|&} is used, @var{command1}'s standard error, in addition to
663 its standard output, is connected to
664 @var{command2}'s standard input through the pipe;
665 it is shorthand for @code{2>&1 |}.
666 This implicit redirection of the standard error to the standard output is
667 performed after any redirections specified by the command.
669 The reserved word @code{time} causes timing statistics
670 to be printed for the pipeline once it finishes.
671 The statistics currently consist of elapsed (wall-clock) time and
672 user and system time consumed by the command's execution.
673 The @option{-p} option changes the output format to that specified
675 When the shell is in @sc{posix} mode (@pxref{Bush POSIX Mode}),
676 it does not recognize @code{time} as a reserved word if the next
677 token begins with a @samp{-}.
678 The @env{TIMEFORMAT} variable may be set to a format string that
679 specifies how the timing information should be displayed.
680 @xref{Bush Variables}, for a description of the available formats.
681 The use of @code{time} as a reserved word permits the timing of
682 shell builtins, shell functions, and pipelines. An external
683 @code{time} command cannot time these easily.
685 When the shell is in @sc{posix} mode (@pxref{Bush POSIX Mode}), @code{time}
686 may be followed by a newline. In this case, the shell displays the
687 total user and system time consumed by the shell and its children.
688 The @env{TIMEFORMAT} variable may be used to specify the format of
689 the time information.
691 If the pipeline is not executed asynchronously (@pxref{Lists}), the
692 shell waits for all commands in the pipeline to complete.
694 Each command in a pipeline is executed in its own subshell, which is a
695 separate process (@pxref{Command Execution Environment}).
696 If the @code{lastpipe} option is enabled using the @code{shopt} builtin
697 (@pxref{The Shopt Builtin}),
698 the last element of a pipeline may be run by the shell process.
701 status of a pipeline is the exit status of the last command in the
702 pipeline, unless the @code{pipefail} option is enabled
703 (@pxref{The Set Builtin}).
704 If @code{pipefail} is enabled, the pipeline's return status is the
705 value of the last (rightmost) command to exit with a non-zero status,
706 or zero if all commands exit successfully.
707 If the reserved word @samp{!} precedes the pipeline, the
708 exit status is the logical negation of the exit status as described
710 The shell waits for all commands in the pipeline to terminate before
714 @subsection Lists of Commands
715 @cindex commands, lists
717 A @code{list} is a sequence of one or more pipelines separated by one
718 of the operators @samp{;}, @samp{&}, @samp{&&}, or @samp{||},
719 and optionally terminated by one of @samp{;}, @samp{&}, or a
722 Of these list operators, @samp{&&} and @samp{||}
723 have equal precedence, followed by @samp{;} and @samp{&},
724 which have equal precedence.
726 A sequence of one or more newlines may appear in a @code{list}
727 to delimit commands, equivalent to a semicolon.
729 If a command is terminated by the control operator @samp{&},
730 the shell executes the command asynchronously in a subshell.
731 This is known as executing the command in the @var{background},
732 and these are referred to as @var{asynchronous} commands.
733 The shell does not wait for the command to finish, and the return
735 When job control is not active (@pxref{Job Control}),
736 the standard input for asynchronous commands, in the absence of any
737 explicit redirections, is redirected from @code{/dev/null}.
739 Commands separated by a @samp{;} are executed sequentially; the shell
740 waits for each command to terminate in turn. The return status is the
741 exit status of the last command executed.
743 @sc{and} and @sc{or} lists are sequences of one or more pipelines
744 separated by the control operators @samp{&&} and @samp{||},
745 respectively. @sc{and} and @sc{or} lists are executed with left
748 An @sc{and} list has the form
750 @var{command1} && @var{command2}
754 @var{command2} is executed if, and only if, @var{command1}
755 returns an exit status of zero (success).
757 An @sc{or} list has the form
759 @var{command1} || @var{command2}
763 @var{command2} is executed if, and only if, @var{command1}
764 returns a non-zero exit status.
767 @sc{and} and @sc{or} lists is the exit status of the last command
768 executed in the list.
770 @node Compound Commands
771 @subsection Compound Commands
772 @cindex commands, compound
775 * Looping Constructs:: Shell commands for iterative action.
776 * Conditional Constructs:: Shell commands for conditional execution.
777 * Command Grouping:: Ways to group commands.
780 Compound commands are the shell programming language constructs.
781 Each construct begins with a reserved word or control operator and is
782 terminated by a corresponding reserved word or operator.
783 Any redirections (@pxref{Redirections}) associated with a compound command
784 apply to all commands within that compound command unless explicitly overridden.
786 In most cases a list of commands in a compound command's description may be
787 separated from the rest of the command by one or more newlines, and may be
788 followed by a newline in place of a semicolon.
790 Bush provides looping constructs, conditional commands, and mechanisms
791 to group commands and execute them as a unit.
793 @node Looping Constructs
794 @subsubsection Looping Constructs
795 @cindex commands, looping
797 Bush supports the following looping constructs.
799 Note that wherever a @samp{;} appears in the description of a
800 command's syntax, it may be replaced with one or more newlines.
807 The syntax of the @code{until} command is:
810 until @var{test-commands}; do @var{consequent-commands}; done
813 Execute @var{consequent-commands} as long as
814 @var{test-commands} has an exit status which is not zero.
815 The return status is the exit status of the last command executed
816 in @var{consequent-commands}, or zero if none was executed.
820 The syntax of the @code{while} command is:
823 while @var{test-commands}; do @var{consequent-commands}; done
826 Execute @var{consequent-commands} as long as
827 @var{test-commands} has an exit status of zero.
828 The return status is the exit status of the last command executed
829 in @var{consequent-commands}, or zero if none was executed.
833 The syntax of the @code{for} command is:
836 for @var{name} [ [in [@var{words} @dots{}] ] ; ] do @var{commands}; done
839 Expand @var{words} (@pxref{Shell Expansions}), and execute @var{commands}
841 in the resultant list, with @var{name} bound to the current member.
842 If @samp{in @var{words}} is not present, the @code{for} command
843 executes the @var{commands} once for each positional parameter that is
844 set, as if @samp{in "$@@"} had been specified
845 (@pxref{Special Parameters}).
847 The return status is the exit status of the last command that executes.
848 If there are no items in the expansion of @var{words}, no commands are
849 executed, and the return status is zero.
851 An alternate form of the @code{for} command is also supported:
854 for (( @var{expr1} ; @var{expr2} ; @var{expr3} )) ; do @var{commands} ; done
857 First, the arithmetic expression @var{expr1} is evaluated according
858 to the rules described below (@pxref{Shell Arithmetic}).
859 The arithmetic expression @var{expr2} is then evaluated repeatedly
860 until it evaluates to zero.
861 Each time @var{expr2} evaluates to a non-zero value, @var{commands} are
862 executed and the arithmetic expression @var{expr3} is evaluated.
863 If any expression is omitted, it behaves as if it evaluates to 1.
864 The return value is the exit status of the last command in @var{commands}
865 that is executed, or false if any of the expressions is invalid.
868 The @code{break} and @code{continue} builtins (@pxref{Bourne Shell Builtins})
869 may be used to control loop execution.
871 @node Conditional Constructs
872 @subsubsection Conditional Constructs
873 @cindex commands, conditional
882 The syntax of the @code{if} command is:
885 if @var{test-commands}; then
886 @var{consequent-commands};
887 [elif @var{more-test-commands}; then
888 @var{more-consequents};]
889 [else @var{alternate-consequents};]
893 The @var{test-commands} list is executed, and if its return status is zero,
894 the @var{consequent-commands} list is executed.
895 If @var{test-commands} returns a non-zero status, each @code{elif} list
896 is executed in turn, and if its exit status is zero,
897 the corresponding @var{more-consequents} is executed and the
899 If @samp{else @var{alternate-consequents}} is present, and
900 the final command in the final @code{if} or @code{elif} clause
901 has a non-zero exit status, then @var{alternate-consequents} is executed.
902 The return status is the exit status of the last command executed, or
903 zero if no condition tested true.
909 The syntax of the @code{case} command is:
913 [ [(] @var{pattern} [| @var{pattern}]@dots{}) @var{command-list} ;;]@dots{}
917 @code{case} will selectively execute the @var{command-list} corresponding to
918 the first @var{pattern} that matches @var{word}.
919 The match is performed according
920 to the rules described below in @ref{Pattern Matching}.
921 If the @code{nocasematch} shell option
922 (see the description of @code{shopt} in @ref{The Shopt Builtin})
923 is enabled, the match is performed without regard to the case
924 of alphabetic characters.
925 The @samp{|} is used to separate multiple patterns, and the @samp{)}
926 operator terminates a pattern list.
927 A list of patterns and an associated command-list is known
930 Each clause must be terminated with @samp{;;}, @samp{;&}, or @samp{;;&}.
931 The @var{word} undergoes tilde expansion, parameter expansion, command
932 substitution, arithmetic expansion, and quote removal
933 (@pxref{Shell Parameter Expansion})
935 attempted. Each @var{pattern} undergoes tilde expansion, parameter
936 expansion, command substitution, and arithmetic expansion.
938 There may be an arbitrary number of @code{case} clauses, each terminated
939 by a @samp{;;}, @samp{;&}, or @samp{;;&}.
940 The first pattern that matches determines the
941 command-list that is executed.
942 It's a common idiom to use @samp{*} as the final pattern to define the
943 default case, since that pattern will always match.
945 Here is an example using @code{case} in a script that could be used to
946 describe one interesting feature of an animal:
949 echo -n "Enter the name of an animal: "
951 echo -n "The $ANIMAL has "
953 horse | dog | cat) echo -n "four";;
954 man | kangaroo ) echo -n "two";;
955 *) echo -n "an unknown number of";;
962 If the @samp{;;} operator is used, no subsequent matches are attempted after
963 the first pattern match.
964 Using @samp{;&} in place of @samp{;;} causes execution to continue with
965 the @var{command-list} associated with the next clause, if any.
966 Using @samp{;;&} in place of @samp{;;} causes the shell to test the patterns
967 in the next clause, if any, and execute any associated @var{command-list}
968 on a successful match,
969 continuing the case statement execution as if the pattern list had not matched.
971 The return status is zero if no @var{pattern} is matched. Otherwise, the
972 return status is the exit status of the @var{command-list} executed.
977 The @code{select} construct allows the easy generation of menus.
978 It has almost the same syntax as the @code{for} command:
981 select @var{name} [in @var{words} @dots{}]; do @var{commands}; done
984 The list of words following @code{in} is expanded, generating a list
985 of items. The set of expanded words is printed on the standard
986 error output stream, each preceded by a number. If the
987 @samp{in @var{words}} is omitted, the positional parameters are printed,
988 as if @samp{in "$@@"} had been specified.
989 The @env{PS3} prompt is then displayed and a line is read from the
991 If the line consists of a number corresponding to one of the displayed
992 words, then the value of @var{name} is set to that word.
993 If the line is empty, the words and prompt are displayed again.
994 If @code{EOF} is read, the @code{select} command completes.
995 Any other value read causes @var{name} to be set to null.
996 The line read is saved in the variable @env{REPLY}.
998 The @var{commands} are executed after each selection until a
999 @code{break} command is executed, at which
1000 point the @code{select} command completes.
1002 Here is an example that allows the user to pick a filename from the
1003 current directory, and displays the name and index of the file
1009 echo you picked $fname \($REPLY\)
1016 (( @var{expression} ))
1019 The arithmetic @var{expression} is evaluated according to the rules
1020 described below (@pxref{Shell Arithmetic}).
1021 If the value of the expression is non-zero, the return status is 0;
1022 otherwise the return status is 1. This is exactly equivalent to
1024 let "@var{expression}"
1027 @xref{Bush Builtins}, for a full description of the @code{let} builtin.
1033 [[ @var{expression} ]]
1036 Return a status of 0 or 1 depending on the evaluation of
1037 the conditional expression @var{expression}.
1038 Expressions are composed of the primaries described below in
1039 @ref{Bush Conditional Expressions}.
1040 Word splitting and filename expansion are not performed on the words
1041 between the @code{[[} and @code{]]}; tilde expansion, parameter and
1042 variable expansion, arithmetic expansion, command substitution, process
1043 substitution, and quote removal are performed.
1044 Conditional operators such as @samp{-f} must be unquoted to be recognized
1047 When used with @code{[[}, the @samp{<} and @samp{>} operators sort
1048 lexicographically using the current locale.
1050 When the @samp{==} and @samp{!=} operators are used, the string to the
1051 right of the operator is considered a pattern and matched according
1052 to the rules described below in @ref{Pattern Matching},
1053 as if the @code{extglob} shell option were enabled.
1054 The @samp{=} operator is identical to @samp{==}.
1055 If the @code{nocasematch} shell option
1056 (see the description of @code{shopt} in @ref{The Shopt Builtin})
1057 is enabled, the match is performed without regard to the case
1058 of alphabetic characters.
1059 The return value is 0 if the string matches (@samp{==}) or does not
1060 match (@samp{!=}) the pattern, and 1 otherwise.
1061 Any part of the pattern may be quoted to force the quoted portion
1062 to be matched as a string.
1064 An additional binary operator, @samp{=~}, is available, with the same
1065 precedence as @samp{==} and @samp{!=}.
1066 When it is used, the string to the right of the operator is considered
1067 a @sc{posix} extended regular expression and matched accordingly
1068 (using the @sc{posix} @code{regcomp} and @code{regexec} interfaces
1069 usually described in @i{regex}(3)).
1070 The return value is 0 if the string matches
1071 the pattern, and 1 otherwise.
1072 If the regular expression is syntactically incorrect, the conditional
1073 expression's return value is 2.
1074 If the @code{nocasematch} shell option
1075 (see the description of @code{shopt} in @ref{The Shopt Builtin})
1076 is enabled, the match is performed without regard to the case
1077 of alphabetic characters.
1078 Any part of the pattern may be quoted to force the quoted portion
1079 to be matched as a string.
1080 Bracket expressions in regular expressions must be treated carefully,
1081 since normal quoting characters lose their meanings between brackets.
1082 If the pattern is stored in a shell variable, quoting the variable
1083 expansion forces the entire pattern to be matched as a string.
1085 The pattern will match if it matches any part of the string.
1086 Anchor the pattern using the @samp{^} and @samp{$} regular expression
1087 operators to force it to match the entire string.
1088 The array variable @code{BUSH_REMATCH} records which parts of the string
1089 matched the pattern.
1090 The element of @code{BUSH_REMATCH} with index 0 contains the portion of
1091 the string matching the entire regular expression.
1092 Substrings matched by parenthesized subexpressions within the regular
1093 expression are saved in the remaining @code{BUSH_REMATCH} indices.
1094 The element of @code{BUSH_REMATCH} with index @var{n} is the portion of the
1095 string matching the @var{n}th parenthesized subexpression.
1097 For example, the following will match a line
1098 (stored in the shell variable @var{line})
1099 if there is a sequence of characters anywhere in the value consisting of
1100 any number, including zero, of
1101 characters in the @code{space} character class,
1102 zero or one instances of @samp{a}, then a @samp{b}:
1104 [[ $line =~ [[:space:]]*(a)?b ]]
1108 That means values like @samp{aab} and @samp{ aaaaaab} will match, as
1109 will a line containing a @samp{b} anywhere in its value.
1111 Storing the regular expression in a shell variable is often a useful
1112 way to avoid problems with quoting characters that are special to the
1114 It is sometimes difficult to specify a regular expression literally
1115 without using quotes, or to keep track of the quoting used by regular
1116 expressions while paying attention to the shell's quote removal.
1117 Using a shell variable to store the pattern decreases these problems.
1118 For example, the following is equivalent to the above:
1120 pattern='[[:space:]]*(a)?b'
1121 [[ $line =~ $pattern ]]
1125 If you want to match a character that's special to the regular expression
1126 grammar, it has to be quoted to remove its special meaning.
1127 This means that in the pattern @samp{xxx.txt}, the @samp{.} matches any
1128 character in the string (its usual regular expression meaning), but in the
1129 pattern @samp{"xxx.txt"} it can only match a literal @samp{.}.
1130 Shell programmers should take special care with backslashes, since backslashes
1131 are used both by the shell and regular expressions to remove the special
1132 meaning from the following character.
1133 The following two sets of commands are @emph{not} equivalent:
1140 [[ . =~ "$pattern" ]]
1145 The first two matches will succeed, but the second two will not, because
1146 in the second two the backslash will be part of the pattern to be matched.
1147 In the first two examples, the backslash removes the special meaning from
1148 @samp{.}, so the literal @samp{.} matches.
1149 If the string in the first examples were anything other than @samp{.}, say
1150 @samp{a}, the pattern would not match, because the quoted @samp{.} in the
1151 pattern loses its special meaning of matching any single character.
1153 Expressions may be combined using the following operators, listed
1154 in decreasing order of precedence:
1157 @item ( @var{expression} )
1158 Returns the value of @var{expression}.
1159 This may be used to override the normal precedence of operators.
1161 @item ! @var{expression}
1162 True if @var{expression} is false.
1164 @item @var{expression1} && @var{expression2}
1165 True if both @var{expression1} and @var{expression2} are true.
1167 @item @var{expression1} || @var{expression2}
1168 True if either @var{expression1} or @var{expression2} is true.
1172 The @code{&&} and @code{||} operators do not evaluate @var{expression2} if the
1173 value of @var{expression1} is sufficient to determine the return
1174 value of the entire conditional expression.
1177 @node Command Grouping
1178 @subsubsection Grouping Commands
1179 @cindex commands, grouping
1181 Bush provides two ways to group a list of commands to be executed
1182 as a unit. When commands are grouped, redirections may be applied
1183 to the entire command list. For example, the output of all the
1184 commands in the list may be redirected to a single stream.
1192 Placing a list of commands between parentheses causes a subshell
1193 environment to be created (@pxref{Command Execution Environment}), and each
1194 of the commands in @var{list} to be executed in that subshell. Since the
1195 @var{list} is executed in a subshell, variable assignments do not remain in
1196 effect after the subshell completes.
1205 Placing a list of commands between curly braces causes the list to
1206 be executed in the current shell context. No subshell is created.
1207 The semicolon (or newline) following @var{list} is required.
1210 In addition to the creation of a subshell, there is a subtle difference
1211 between these two constructs due to historical reasons. The braces
1212 are @code{reserved words}, so they must be separated from the @var{list}
1213 by @code{blank}s or other shell metacharacters.
1214 The parentheses are @code{operators}, and are
1215 recognized as separate tokens by the shell even if they are not separated
1216 from the @var{list} by whitespace.
1218 The exit status of both of these constructs is the exit status of
1222 @subsection Coprocesses
1225 A @code{coprocess} is a shell command preceded by the @code{coproc}
1227 A coprocess is executed asynchronously in a subshell, as if the command
1228 had been terminated with the @samp{&} control operator, with a two-way pipe
1229 established between the executing shell and the coprocess.
1231 The format for a coprocess is:
1233 coproc [@var{NAME}] @var{command} [@var{redirections}]
1237 This creates a coprocess named @var{NAME}.
1238 If @var{NAME} is not supplied, the default name is @var{COPROC}.
1239 @var{NAME} must not be supplied if @var{command} is a simple
1240 command (@pxref{Simple Commands}); otherwise, it is interpreted as
1241 the first word of the simple command.
1243 When the coprocess is executed, the shell creates an array variable
1245 named @env{NAME} in the context of the executing shell.
1246 The standard output of @var{command}
1247 is connected via a pipe to a file descriptor in the executing shell,
1248 and that file descriptor is assigned to @env{NAME}[0].
1249 The standard input of @var{command}
1250 is connected via a pipe to a file descriptor in the executing shell,
1251 and that file descriptor is assigned to @env{NAME}[1].
1252 This pipe is established before any redirections specified by the
1253 command (@pxref{Redirections}).
1254 The file descriptors can be utilized as arguments to shell commands
1255 and redirections using standard word expansions.
1256 Other than those created to execute command and process substitutions,
1257 the file descriptors are not available in subshells.
1259 The process ID of the shell spawned to execute the coprocess is
1260 available as the value of the variable @env{NAME}_PID.
1262 builtin command may be used to wait for the coprocess to terminate.
1264 Since the coprocess is created as an asynchronous command,
1265 the @code{coproc} command always returns success.
1266 The return status of a coprocess is the exit status of @var{command}.
1269 @subsection GNU Parallel
1271 There are ways to run commands in parallel that are not built into Bush.
1272 GNU Parallel is a tool to do just that.
1274 GNU Parallel, as its name suggests, can be used to build and run commands
1275 in parallel. You may run the same command with different arguments, whether
1276 they are filenames, usernames, hostnames, or lines read from files. GNU
1277 Parallel provides shorthand references to many of the most common operations
1278 (input lines, various portions of the input line, different ways to specify
1279 the input source, and so on). Parallel can replace @code{xargs} or feed
1280 commands from its input sources to several different instances of Bush.
1282 For a complete description, refer to the GNU Parallel documentation. A few
1283 examples should provide a brief introduction to its use.
1285 For example, it is easy to replace @code{xargs} to gzip all html files in the
1286 current directory and its subdirectories:
1288 find . -type f -name '*.html' -print | parallel gzip
1291 If you need to protect special characters such as newlines in file names,
1292 use find's @option{-print0} option and parallel's @option{-0} option.
1294 You can use Parallel to move files from the current directory when the
1295 number of files is too large to process with one @code{mv} invocation:
1297 printf '%s\n' * | parallel mv @{@} destdir
1300 As you can see, the @{@} is replaced with each line read from standard input.
1301 While using @code{ls} will work in most instances, it is not sufficient to
1302 deal with all filenames. @code{printf} is a shell builtin, and therefore is
1303 not subject to the kernel's limit on the number of arguments to a program,
1304 so you can use @samp{*} (but see below about the @code{dotglob} shell option).
1305 If you need to accommodate special characters in filenames, you can use
1308 printf '%s\0' * | parallel -0 mv @{@} destdir
1312 as alluded to above.
1314 This will run as many @code{mv} commands as there are files in the current
1316 You can emulate a parallel @code{xargs} by adding the @option{-X} option:
1318 printf '%s\0' * | parallel -0 -X mv @{@} destdir
1321 (You may have to modify the pattern if you have the @code{dotglob} option
1324 GNU Parallel can replace certain common idioms that operate on lines read
1325 from a file (in this case, filenames listed one per line):
1327 while IFS= read -r x; do
1328 do-something1 "$x" "config-$x"
1329 do-something2 < "$x"
1330 done < file | process-output
1334 with a more compact syntax reminiscent of lambdas:
1336 cat list | parallel "do-something1 @{@} config-@{@} ; do-something2 < @{@}" |
1340 Parallel provides a built-in mechanism to remove filename extensions, which
1341 lends itself to batch file transformations or renaming:
1343 ls *.gz | parallel -j+0 "zcat @{@} | bzip2 >@{.@}.bz2 && rm @{@}"
1346 This will recompress all files in the current directory with names ending
1347 in .gz using bzip2, running one job per CPU (-j+0) in parallel.
1348 (We use @code{ls} for brevity here; using @code{find} as above is more
1349 robust in the face of filenames containing unexpected characters.)
1350 Parallel can take arguments from the command line; the above can also be
1354 parallel "zcat @{@} | bzip2 >@{.@}.bz2 && rm @{@}" ::: *.gz
1357 If a command generates output, you may want to preserve the input order in
1358 the output. For instance, the following command
1363 echo freenetproject.org ;
1364 @} | parallel traceroute
1367 will display as output the traceroute invocation that finishes first.
1368 Adding the @option{-k} option
1373 echo freenetproject.org ;
1374 @} | parallel -k traceroute
1377 will ensure that the output of @code{traceroute foss.org.my} is displayed first.
1379 Finally, Parallel can be used to run a sequence of shell commands in parallel,
1380 similar to @samp{cat file | bush}.
1381 It is not uncommon to take a list of filenames, create a series of shell
1382 commands to operate on them, and feed that list of commands to a shell.
1383 Parallel can speed this up. Assuming that @file{file} contains a list of
1384 shell commands, one per line,
1387 parallel -j 10 < file
1391 will evaluate the commands using the shell (since no explicit command is
1392 supplied as an argument), in blocks of ten shell jobs at a time.
1394 @node Shell Functions
1395 @section Shell Functions
1396 @cindex shell function
1397 @cindex functions, shell
1399 Shell functions are a way to group commands for later execution
1400 using a single name for the group. They are executed just like
1401 a "regular" command.
1402 When the name of a shell function is used as a simple command name,
1403 the list of commands associated with that function name is executed.
1404 Shell functions are executed in the current
1405 shell context; no new process is created to interpret them.
1407 Functions are declared using this syntax:
1410 @var{fname} () @var{compound-command} [ @var{redirections} ]
1416 function @var{fname} [()] @var{compound-command} [ @var{redirections} ]
1419 This defines a shell function named @var{fname}. The reserved
1420 word @code{function} is optional.
1421 If the @code{function} reserved
1422 word is supplied, the parentheses are optional.
1423 The @var{body} of the function is the compound command
1424 @var{compound-command} (@pxref{Compound Commands}).
1425 That command is usually a @var{list} enclosed between @{ and @}, but
1426 may be any compound command listed above,
1427 with one exception: If the @code{function} reserved word is used, but the
1428 parentheses are not supplied, the braces are required.
1429 @var{compound-command} is executed whenever @var{fname} is specified as the
1431 When the shell is in @sc{posix} mode (@pxref{Bush POSIX Mode}),
1432 @var{fname} must be a valid shell @var{name} and
1433 may not be the same as one of the special builtins
1434 (@pxref{Special Builtins}).
1435 In default mode, a function name can be any unquoted shell word that does
1436 not contain @samp{$}.
1437 Any redirections (@pxref{Redirections}) associated with the shell function
1438 are performed when the function is executed.
1439 A function definition may be deleted using the @option{-f} option to the
1440 @code{unset} builtin (@pxref{Bourne Shell Builtins}).
1442 The exit status of a function definition is zero unless a syntax error
1443 occurs or a readonly function with the same name already exists.
1444 When executed, the exit status of a function is the exit status of the
1445 last command executed in the body.
1447 Note that for historical reasons, in the most common usage the curly braces
1448 that surround the body of the function must be separated from the body by
1449 @code{blank}s or newlines.
1450 This is because the braces are reserved words and are only recognized
1451 as such when they are separated from the command list
1452 by whitespace or another shell metacharacter.
1453 Also, when using the braces, the @var{list} must be terminated by a semicolon,
1454 a @samp{&}, or a newline.
1456 When a function is executed, the arguments to the
1457 function become the positional parameters
1458 during its execution (@pxref{Positional Parameters}).
1459 The special parameter @samp{#} that expands to the number of
1460 positional parameters is updated to reflect the change.
1461 Special parameter @code{0} is unchanged.
1462 The first element of the @env{FUNCNAME} variable is set to the
1463 name of the function while the function is executing.
1465 All other aspects of the shell execution
1466 environment are identical between a function and its caller
1467 with these exceptions:
1468 the @env{DEBUG} and @env{RETURN} traps
1469 are not inherited unless the function has been given the
1470 @code{trace} attribute using the @code{declare} builtin or
1471 the @code{-o functrace} option has been enabled with
1472 the @code{set} builtin,
1473 (in which case all functions inherit the @env{DEBUG} and @env{RETURN} traps),
1474 and the @env{ERR} trap is not inherited unless the @code{-o errtrace}
1475 shell option has been enabled.
1476 @xref{Bourne Shell Builtins}, for the description of the
1477 @code{trap} builtin.
1479 The @env{FUNCNEST} variable, if set to a numeric value greater
1480 than 0, defines a maximum function nesting level. Function
1481 invocations that exceed the limit cause the entire command to
1484 If the builtin command @code{return}
1485 is executed in a function, the function completes and
1486 execution resumes with the next command after the function
1488 Any command associated with the @code{RETURN} trap is executed
1489 before execution resumes.
1490 When a function completes, the values of the
1491 positional parameters and the special parameter @samp{#}
1492 are restored to the values they had prior to the function's
1493 execution. If a numeric argument is given to @code{return},
1494 that is the function's return status; otherwise the function's
1495 return status is the exit status of the last command executed
1496 before the @code{return}.
1498 Variables local to the function may be declared with the
1499 @code{local} builtin. These variables are visible only to
1500 the function and the commands it invokes. This is particularly
1501 important when a shell function calls other functions.
1503 Local variables "shadow" variables with the same name declared at
1504 previous scopes. For instance, a local variable declared in a function
1505 hides a global variable of the same name: references and assignments
1506 refer to the local variable, leaving the global variable unmodified.
1507 When the function returns, the global variable is once again visible.
1509 The shell uses @var{dynamic scoping} to control a variable's visibility
1511 With dynamic scoping, visible variables and their values
1512 are a result of the sequence of function calls that caused execution
1513 to reach the current function.
1514 The value of a variable that a function sees depends
1515 on its value within its caller, if any, whether that caller is
1516 the "global" scope or another shell function.
1517 This is also the value that a local variable
1518 declaration "shadows", and the value that is restored when the function
1521 For example, if a variable @var{var} is declared as local in function
1522 @var{func1}, and @var{func1} calls another function @var{func2},
1523 references to @var{var} made from within @var{func2} will resolve to the
1524 local variable @var{var} from @var{func1}, shadowing any global variable
1527 The following script demonstrates this behavior.
1528 When executed, the script displays
1531 In func2, var = func1 local
1537 local var='func1 local'
1543 echo "In func2, var = $var"
1550 The @code{unset} builtin also acts using the same dynamic scope: if a
1551 variable is local to the current scope, @code{unset} will unset it;
1552 otherwise the unset will refer to the variable found in any calling scope
1554 If a variable at the current local scope is unset, it will remain so
1555 until it is reset in that scope or until the function returns.
1556 Once the function returns, any instance of the variable at a previous
1557 scope will become visible.
1558 If the unset acts on a variable at a previous scope, any instance of a
1559 variable with that name that had been shadowed will become visible.
1561 Function names and definitions may be listed with the
1562 @option{-f} option to the @code{declare} (@code{typeset})
1563 builtin command (@pxref{Bush Builtins}).
1564 The @option{-F} option to @code{declare} or @code{typeset}
1565 will list the function names only
1566 (and optionally the source file and line number, if the @code{extdebug}
1567 shell option is enabled).
1568 Functions may be exported so that subshells
1569 automatically have them defined with the
1570 @option{-f} option to the @code{export} builtin
1571 (@pxref{Bourne Shell Builtins}).
1573 Functions may be recursive.
1574 The @code{FUNCNEST} variable may be used to limit the depth of the
1575 function call stack and restrict the number of function invocations.
1576 By default, no limit is placed on the number of recursive calls.
1578 @node Shell Parameters
1579 @section Shell Parameters
1581 @cindex variable, shell
1582 @cindex shell variable
1585 * Positional Parameters:: The shell's command-line arguments.
1586 * Special Parameters:: Parameters denoted by special characters.
1589 A @var{parameter} is an entity that stores values.
1590 It can be a @code{name}, a number, or one of the special characters
1592 A @var{variable} is a parameter denoted by a @code{name}.
1593 A variable has a @var{value} and zero or more @var{attributes}.
1594 Attributes are assigned using the @code{declare} builtin command
1595 (see the description of the @code{declare} builtin in @ref{Bush Builtins}).
1597 A parameter is set if it has been assigned a value. The null string is
1598 a valid value. Once a variable is set, it may be unset only by using
1599 the @code{unset} builtin command.
1601 A variable may be assigned to by a statement of the form
1603 @var{name}=[@var{value}]
1607 is not given, the variable is assigned the null string. All
1608 @var{value}s undergo tilde expansion, parameter and variable expansion,
1609 command substitution, arithmetic expansion, and quote
1610 removal (detailed below). If the variable has its @code{integer}
1611 attribute set, then @var{value}
1612 is evaluated as an arithmetic expression even if the @code{$((@dots{}))}
1613 expansion is not used (@pxref{Arithmetic Expansion}).
1614 Word splitting is not performed, with the exception
1615 of @code{"$@@"} as explained below.
1616 Filename expansion is not performed.
1617 Assignment statements may also appear as arguments to the
1619 @code{declare}, @code{typeset}, @code{export}, @code{readonly},
1620 and @code{local} builtin commands (@var{declaration} commands).
1621 When in @sc{posix} mode (@pxref{Bush POSIX Mode}), these builtins may appear
1622 in a command after one or more instances of the @code{command} builtin
1623 and retain these assignment statement properties.
1625 In the context where an assignment statement is assigning a value
1626 to a shell variable or array index (@pxref{Arrays}), the @samp{+=}
1627 operator can be used to
1628 append to or add to the variable's previous value.
1629 This includes arguments to builtin commands such as @code{declare} that
1630 accept assignment statements (@var{declaration} commands).
1631 When @samp{+=} is applied to a variable for which the @var{integer} attribute
1632 has been set, @var{value} is evaluated as an arithmetic expression and
1633 added to the variable's current value, which is also evaluated.
1634 When @samp{+=} is applied to an array variable using compound assignment
1635 (@pxref{Arrays}), the
1636 variable's value is not unset (as it is when using @samp{=}), and new
1637 values are appended to the array beginning at one greater than the array's
1638 maximum index (for indexed arrays), or added as additional key-value pairs
1639 in an associative array.
1640 When applied to a string-valued variable, @var{value} is expanded and
1641 appended to the variable's value.
1643 A variable can be assigned the @var{nameref} attribute using the
1644 @option{-n} option to the @code{declare} or @code{local} builtin commands
1645 (@pxref{Bush Builtins})
1646 to create a @var{nameref}, or a reference to another variable.
1647 This allows variables to be manipulated indirectly.
1648 Whenever the nameref variable is referenced, assigned to, unset, or has
1649 its attributes modified (other than using or changing the nameref
1650 attribute itself), the
1651 operation is actually performed on the variable specified by the nameref
1653 A nameref is commonly used within shell functions to refer to a variable
1654 whose name is passed as an argument to the function.
1655 For instance, if a variable name is passed to a shell function as its first
1661 inside the function creates a nameref variable @var{ref} whose value is
1662 the variable name passed as the first argument.
1663 References and assignments to @var{ref}, and changes to its attributes,
1664 are treated as references, assignments, and attribute modifications
1665 to the variable whose name was passed as @code{$1}.
1667 If the control variable in a @code{for} loop has the nameref attribute,
1668 the list of words can be a list of shell variables, and a name reference
1669 will be established for each word in the list, in turn, when the loop is
1671 Array variables cannot be given the nameref attribute.
1672 However, nameref variables can reference array variables and subscripted
1674 Namerefs can be unset using the @option{-n} option to the @code{unset} builtin
1675 (@pxref{Bourne Shell Builtins}).
1676 Otherwise, if @code{unset} is executed with the name of a nameref variable
1677 as an argument, the variable referenced by the nameref variable will be unset.
1679 @node Positional Parameters
1680 @subsection Positional Parameters
1681 @cindex parameters, positional
1683 A @var{positional parameter} is a parameter denoted by one or more
1684 digits, other than the single digit @code{0}. Positional parameters are
1685 assigned from the shell's arguments when it is invoked,
1686 and may be reassigned using the @code{set} builtin command.
1687 Positional parameter @code{N} may be referenced as @code{$@{N@}}, or
1688 as @code{$N} when @code{N} consists of a single digit.
1689 Positional parameters may not be assigned to with assignment statements.
1690 The @code{set} and @code{shift} builtins are used to set and
1691 unset them (@pxref{Shell Builtin Commands}).
1692 The positional parameters are
1693 temporarily replaced when a shell function is executed
1694 (@pxref{Shell Functions}).
1696 When a positional parameter consisting of more than a single
1697 digit is expanded, it must be enclosed in braces.
1699 @node Special Parameters
1700 @subsection Special Parameters
1701 @cindex parameters, special
1703 The shell treats several parameters specially. These parameters may
1704 only be referenced; assignment to them is not allowed.
1710 ($*) Expands to the positional parameters, starting from one.
1711 When the expansion is not within double quotes, each positional parameter
1712 expands to a separate word.
1713 In contexts where it is performed, those words
1714 are subject to further word splitting and filename expansion.
1715 When the expansion occurs within double quotes, it expands to a single word
1716 with the value of each parameter separated by the first character of the
1717 @env{IFS} special variable. That is, @code{"$*"} is equivalent
1718 to @code{"$1@var{c}$2@var{c}@dots{}"}, where @var{c}
1719 is the first character of the value of the @code{IFS}
1721 If @env{IFS} is unset, the parameters are separated by spaces.
1722 If @env{IFS} is null, the parameters are joined without intervening
1727 ($@@) Expands to the positional parameters, starting from one.
1728 In contexts where word splitting is performed, this expands each
1729 positional parameter to a separate word; if not within double
1730 quotes, these words are subject to word splitting.
1731 In contexts where word splitting is not performed,
1732 this expands to a single word
1733 with each positional parameter separated by a space.
1735 expansion occurs within double quotes, and word splitting is performed,
1736 each parameter expands to a
1737 separate word. That is, @code{"$@@"} is equivalent to
1738 @code{"$1" "$2" @dots{}}.
1739 If the double-quoted expansion occurs within a word, the expansion of
1740 the first parameter is joined with the beginning part of the original
1741 word, and the expansion of the last parameter is joined with the last
1742 part of the original word.
1743 When there are no positional parameters, @code{"$@@"} and
1745 expand to nothing (i.e., they are removed).
1749 ($#) Expands to the number of positional parameters in decimal.
1753 ($?) Expands to the exit status of the most recently executed foreground
1758 ($-, a hyphen.) Expands to the current option flags as specified upon
1759 invocation, by the @code{set}
1760 builtin command, or those set by the shell itself
1761 (such as the @option{-i} option).
1765 ($$) Expands to the process @sc{id} of the shell. In a @code{()} subshell, it
1766 expands to the process @sc{id} of the invoking shell, not the subshell.
1770 ($!) Expands to the process @sc{id} of the job most recently placed into the
1771 background, whether executed as an asynchronous command or using
1772 the @code{bg} builtin (@pxref{Job Control Builtins}).
1776 ($0) Expands to the name of the shell or shell script. This is set at
1777 shell initialization. If Bush is invoked with a file of commands
1778 (@pxref{Shell Scripts}), @code{$0} is set to the name of that file.
1779 If Bush is started with the @option{-c} option (@pxref{Invoking Bush}),
1780 then @code{$0} is set to the first argument after the string to be
1781 executed, if one is present. Otherwise, it is set
1782 to the filename used to invoke Bush, as given by argument zero.
1785 @node Shell Expansions
1786 @section Shell Expansions
1789 Expansion is performed on the command line after it has been split into
1790 @code{token}s. There are seven kinds of expansion performed:
1793 @item brace expansion
1794 @item tilde expansion
1795 @item parameter and variable expansion
1796 @item command substitution
1797 @item arithmetic expansion
1798 @item word splitting
1799 @item filename expansion
1803 * Brace Expansion:: Expansion of expressions within braces.
1804 * Tilde Expansion:: Expansion of the ~ character.
1805 * Shell Parameter Expansion:: How Bush expands variables to their values.
1806 * Command Substitution:: Using the output of a command as an argument.
1807 * Arithmetic Expansion:: How to use arithmetic in shell expansions.
1808 * Process Substitution:: A way to write and read to and from a
1810 * Word Splitting:: How the results of expansion are split into separate
1812 * Filename Expansion:: A shorthand for specifying filenames matching patterns.
1813 * Quote Removal:: How and when quote characters are removed from
1817 The order of expansions is:
1819 tilde expansion, parameter and variable expansion, arithmetic expansion,
1820 and command substitution (done in a left-to-right fashion);
1822 and filename expansion.
1824 On systems that can support it, there is an additional expansion
1825 available: @var{process substitution}.
1826 This is performed at the
1827 same time as tilde, parameter, variable, and arithmetic expansion and
1828 command substitution.
1830 After these expansions are performed, quote characters present in the
1831 original word are removed unless they have been quoted themselves
1832 (@var{quote removal}).
1834 Only brace expansion, word splitting, and filename expansion
1835 can increase the number of words of the expansion; other expansions
1836 expand a single word to a single word.
1837 The only exceptions to this are the expansions of
1838 @code{"$@@"} and @code{$*} (@pxref{Special Parameters}), and
1839 @code{"$@{@var{name}[@@]@}"} and @code{$@{@var{name}[*]@}}
1842 After all expansions, @code{quote removal} (@pxref{Quote Removal})
1845 @node Brace Expansion
1846 @subsection Brace Expansion
1847 @cindex brace expansion
1848 @cindex expansion, brace
1850 Brace expansion is a mechanism by which arbitrary strings may be generated.
1851 This mechanism is similar to
1852 @var{filename expansion} (@pxref{Filename Expansion}),
1853 but the filenames generated need not exist.
1854 Patterns to be brace expanded take the form of an optional @var{preamble},
1855 followed by either a series of comma-separated strings or a sequence expression
1856 between a pair of braces,
1857 followed by an optional @var{postscript}.
1858 The preamble is prefixed to each string contained within the braces, and
1859 the postscript is then appended to each resulting string, expanding left
1862 Brace expansions may be nested.
1863 The results of each expanded string are not sorted; left to right order
1867 bush$ echo a@{d,c,b@}e
1871 A sequence expression takes the form @code{@{@var{x}..@var{y}[..@var{incr}]@}},
1872 where @var{x} and @var{y} are either integers or single characters,
1873 and @var{incr}, an optional increment, is an integer.
1874 When integers are supplied, the expression expands to each number between
1875 @var{x} and @var{y}, inclusive.
1876 Supplied integers may be prefixed with @samp{0} to force each term to have the
1878 When either @var{x} or @var{y} begins with a zero, the shell
1879 attempts to force all generated terms to contain the same number of digits,
1880 zero-padding where necessary.
1881 When characters are supplied, the expression expands to each character
1882 lexicographically between @var{x} and @var{y}, inclusive,
1883 using the default C locale.
1884 Note that both @var{x} and @var{y} must be of the same type.
1885 When the increment is supplied, it is used as the difference between
1886 each term. The default increment is 1 or -1 as appropriate.
1888 Brace expansion is performed before any other expansions,
1889 and any characters special to other expansions are preserved
1890 in the result. It is strictly textual. Bush
1891 does not apply any syntactic interpretation to the context of the
1892 expansion or the text between the braces.
1894 A correctly-formed brace expansion must contain unquoted opening
1895 and closing braces, and at least one unquoted comma or a valid
1896 sequence expression.
1897 Any incorrectly formed brace expansion is left unchanged.
1899 A @{ or @samp{,} may be quoted with a backslash to prevent its
1900 being considered part of a brace expression.
1901 To avoid conflicts with parameter expansion, the string @samp{$@{}
1902 is not considered eligible for brace expansion,
1903 and inhibits brace expansion until the closing @samp{@}}.
1905 This construct is typically used as shorthand when the common
1906 prefix of the strings to be generated is longer than in the
1909 mkdir /usr/local/src/bush/@{old,new,dist,bugs@}
1913 chown root /usr/@{ucb/@{ex,edit@},lib/@{ex?.?*,how_ex@}@}
1916 @node Tilde Expansion
1917 @subsection Tilde Expansion
1918 @cindex tilde expansion
1919 @cindex expansion, tilde
1921 If a word begins with an unquoted tilde character (@samp{~}), all of the
1922 characters up to the first unquoted slash (or all characters,
1923 if there is no unquoted slash) are considered a @var{tilde-prefix}.
1924 If none of the characters in the tilde-prefix are quoted, the
1925 characters in the tilde-prefix following the tilde are treated as a
1926 possible @var{login name}.
1927 If this login name is the null string, the tilde is replaced with the
1928 value of the @env{HOME} shell variable.
1929 If @env{HOME} is unset, the home directory of the user executing the
1930 shell is substituted instead.
1931 Otherwise, the tilde-prefix is replaced with the home directory
1932 associated with the specified login name.
1934 If the tilde-prefix is @samp{~+}, the value of
1935 the shell variable @env{PWD} replaces the tilde-prefix.
1936 If the tilde-prefix is @samp{~-}, the value of the shell variable
1937 @env{OLDPWD}, if it is set, is substituted.
1939 If the characters following the tilde in the tilde-prefix consist of a
1940 number @var{N}, optionally prefixed by a @samp{+} or a @samp{-},
1941 the tilde-prefix is replaced with the
1942 corresponding element from the directory stack, as it would be displayed
1943 by the @code{dirs} builtin invoked with the characters following tilde
1944 in the tilde-prefix as an argument (@pxref{The Directory Stack}).
1945 If the tilde-prefix, sans the tilde, consists of a number without a
1946 leading @samp{+} or @samp{-}, @samp{+} is assumed.
1948 If the login name is invalid, or the tilde expansion fails, the word is
1951 Each variable assignment is checked for unquoted tilde-prefixes immediately
1952 following a @samp{:} or the first @samp{=}.
1953 In these cases, tilde expansion is also performed.
1954 Consequently, one may use filenames with tildes in assignments to
1955 @env{PATH}, @env{MAILPATH}, and @env{CDPATH},
1956 and the shell assigns the expanded value.
1958 The following table shows how Bush treats unquoted tilde-prefixes:
1962 The value of @code{$HOME}
1967 The subdirectory @code{foo} of the home directory of the user
1974 @file{$@{OLDPWD-'~-'@}/foo}
1977 The string that would be displayed by @samp{dirs +@var{N}}
1980 The string that would be displayed by @samp{dirs +@var{N}}
1983 The string that would be displayed by @samp{dirs -@var{N}}
1986 Bush also performs tilde expansion on words satisfying the conditions of
1987 variable assignments (@pxref{Shell Parameters})
1988 when they appear as arguments to simple commands.
1989 Bush does not do this, except for the @var{declaration} commands listed
1990 above, when in @sc{posix} mode.
1992 @node Shell Parameter Expansion
1993 @subsection Shell Parameter Expansion
1994 @cindex parameter expansion
1995 @cindex expansion, parameter
1997 The @samp{$} character introduces parameter expansion,
1998 command substitution, or arithmetic expansion. The parameter name
1999 or symbol to be expanded may be enclosed in braces, which
2000 are optional but serve to protect the variable to be expanded from
2001 characters immediately following it which could be
2002 interpreted as part of the name.
2004 When braces are used, the matching ending brace is the first @samp{@}}
2005 not escaped by a backslash or within a quoted string, and not within an
2006 embedded arithmetic expansion, command substitution, or parameter
2009 The basic form of parameter expansion is $@{@var{parameter}@}.
2010 The value of @var{parameter} is substituted.
2011 The @var{parameter} is a shell parameter as described above
2012 (@pxref{Shell Parameters}) or an array reference (@pxref{Arrays}).
2013 The braces are required when @var{parameter}
2014 is a positional parameter with more than one digit,
2015 or when @var{parameter} is followed by a character that is not to be
2016 interpreted as part of its name.
2018 If the first character of @var{parameter} is an exclamation point (!),
2019 and @var{parameter} is not a @var{nameref},
2020 it introduces a level of indirection.
2021 Bush uses the value formed by expanding the rest of
2022 @var{parameter} as the new @var{parameter}; this is then
2023 expanded and that value is used in the rest of the expansion, rather
2024 than the expansion of the original @var{parameter}.
2025 This is known as @code{indirect expansion}.
2026 The value is subject to tilde expansion,
2027 parameter expansion, command substitution, and arithmetic expansion.
2028 If @var{parameter} is a nameref, this expands to the name of the
2029 variable referenced by @var{parameter} instead of performing the
2030 complete indirect expansion.
2031 The exceptions to this are the expansions of $@{!@var{prefix}*@}
2032 and $@{!@var{name}[@@]@}
2034 The exclamation point must immediately follow the left brace in order to
2035 introduce indirection.
2037 In each of the cases below, @var{word} is subject to tilde expansion,
2038 parameter expansion, command substitution, and arithmetic expansion.
2040 When not performing substring expansion, using the form described
2041 below (e.g., @samp{:-}), Bush tests for a parameter that is unset or null.
2042 Omitting the colon results in a test only for a parameter that is unset.
2043 Put another way, if the colon is included,
2044 the operator tests for both @var{parameter}'s existence and that its value
2045 is not null; if the colon is omitted, the operator tests only for existence.
2049 @item $@{@var{parameter}:@minus{}@var{word}@}
2050 If @var{parameter} is unset or null, the expansion of
2051 @var{word} is substituted. Otherwise, the value of
2052 @var{parameter} is substituted.
2054 @item $@{@var{parameter}:=@var{word}@}
2056 is unset or null, the expansion of @var{word}
2057 is assigned to @var{parameter}.
2058 The value of @var{parameter} is then substituted.
2059 Positional parameters and special parameters may not be assigned to
2062 @item $@{@var{parameter}:?@var{word}@}
2064 is null or unset, the expansion of @var{word} (or a message
2065 to that effect if @var{word}
2066 is not present) is written to the standard error and the shell, if it
2067 is not interactive, exits. Otherwise, the value of @var{parameter} is
2070 @item $@{@var{parameter}:+@var{word}@}
2072 is null or unset, nothing is substituted, otherwise the expansion of
2073 @var{word} is substituted.
2075 @item $@{@var{parameter}:@var{offset}@}
2076 @itemx $@{@var{parameter}:@var{offset}:@var{length}@}
2077 This is referred to as Substring Expansion.
2078 It expands to up to @var{length} characters of the value of @var{parameter}
2079 starting at the character specified by @var{offset}.
2080 If @var{parameter} is @samp{@@}, an indexed array subscripted by
2081 @samp{@@} or @samp{*}, or an associative array name, the results differ as
2083 If @var{length} is omitted, it expands to the substring of the value of
2084 @var{parameter} starting at the character specified by @var{offset}
2085 and extending to the end of the value.
2086 @var{length} and @var{offset} are arithmetic expressions
2087 (@pxref{Shell Arithmetic}).
2089 If @var{offset} evaluates to a number less than zero, the value
2090 is used as an offset in characters
2091 from the end of the value of @var{parameter}.
2092 If @var{length} evaluates to a number less than zero,
2093 it is interpreted as an offset in characters
2094 from the end of the value of @var{parameter} rather than
2095 a number of characters, and the expansion is the characters between
2096 @var{offset} and that result.
2097 Note that a negative offset must be separated from the colon by at least
2098 one space to avoid being confused with the @samp{:-} expansion.
2100 Here are some examples illustrating substring expansion on parameters and
2104 $ string=01234567890abcdefgh
2107 $ echo ${string:7:0}
2109 $ echo ${string:7:2}
2111 $ echo ${string:7:-2}
2113 $ echo ${string: -7}
2115 $ echo ${string: -7:0}
2117 $ echo ${string: -7:2}
2119 $ echo ${string: -7:-2}
2121 $ set -- 01234567890abcdefgh
2138 $ array[0]=01234567890abcdefgh
2139 $ echo ${array[0]:7}
2141 $ echo ${array[0]:7:0}
2143 $ echo ${array[0]:7:2}
2145 $ echo ${array[0]:7:-2}
2147 $ echo ${array[0]: -7}
2149 $ echo ${array[0]: -7:0}
2151 $ echo ${array[0]: -7:2}
2153 $ echo ${array[0]: -7:-2}
2157 If @var{parameter} is @samp{@@}, the result is @var{length} positional
2158 parameters beginning at @var{offset}.
2159 A negative @var{offset} is taken relative to one greater than the greatest
2160 positional parameter, so an offset of -1 evaluates to the last positional
2162 It is an expansion error if @var{length} evaluates to a number less than zero.
2164 The following examples illustrate substring expansion using positional
2168 $ set -- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 a b c d e f g h
2170 7 8 9 0 a b c d e f g h
2176 bush: -2: substring expression < 0
2180 ./bush 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 a b c d e f g h
2187 If @var{parameter} is an indexed array name subscripted
2188 by @samp{@@} or @samp{*}, the result is the @var{length}
2189 members of the array beginning with @code{$@{@var{parameter}[@var{offset}]@}}.
2190 A negative @var{offset} is taken relative to one greater than the maximum
2191 index of the specified array.
2192 It is an expansion error if @var{length} evaluates to a number less than zero.
2194 These examples show how you can use substring expansion with indexed
2198 $ array=(0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 a b c d e f g h)
2199 $ echo ${array[@]:7}
2200 7 8 9 0 a b c d e f g h
2201 $ echo ${array[@]:7:2}
2203 $ echo ${array[@]: -7:2}
2205 $ echo ${array[@]: -7:-2}
2206 bush: -2: substring expression < 0
2207 $ echo ${array[@]:0}
2208 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 a b c d e f g h
2209 $ echo ${array[@]:0:2}
2211 $ echo ${array[@]: -7:0}
2215 Substring expansion applied to an associative array produces undefined
2218 Substring indexing is zero-based unless the positional parameters
2219 are used, in which case the indexing starts at 1 by default.
2220 If @var{offset} is 0, and the positional parameters are used, @code{$0} is
2221 prefixed to the list.
2223 @item $@{!@var{prefix}*@}
2224 @itemx $@{!@var{prefix}@@@}
2225 Expands to the names of variables whose names begin with @var{prefix},
2226 separated by the first character of the @env{IFS} special variable.
2227 When @samp{@@} is used and the expansion appears within double quotes, each
2228 variable name expands to a separate word.
2230 @item $@{!@var{name}[@@]@}
2231 @itemx $@{!@var{name}[*]@}
2232 If @var{name} is an array variable, expands to the list of array indices
2233 (keys) assigned in @var{name}.
2234 If @var{name} is not an array, expands to 0 if @var{name} is set and null
2236 When @samp{@@} is used and the expansion appears within double quotes, each
2237 key expands to a separate word.
2239 @item $@{#@var{parameter}@}
2240 The length in characters of the expanded value of @var{parameter} is
2242 If @var{parameter} is @samp{*} or @samp{@@}, the value substituted
2243 is the number of positional parameters.
2244 If @var{parameter} is an array name subscripted by @samp{*} or @samp{@@},
2245 the value substituted is the number of elements in the array.
2247 is an indexed array name subscripted by a negative number, that number is
2248 interpreted as relative to one greater than the maximum index of
2249 @var{parameter}, so negative indices count back from the end of the
2250 array, and an index of -1 references the last element.
2252 @item $@{@var{parameter}#@var{word}@}
2253 @itemx $@{@var{parameter}##@var{word}@}
2255 is expanded to produce a pattern and matched according to the rules
2256 described below (@pxref{Pattern Matching}). If the pattern matches
2257 the beginning of the expanded value of @var{parameter},
2258 then the result of the expansion is the expanded value of @var{parameter}
2259 with the shortest matching pattern (the @samp{#} case) or the
2260 longest matching pattern (the @samp{##} case) deleted.
2261 If @var{parameter} is @samp{@@} or @samp{*},
2262 the pattern removal operation is applied to each positional
2263 parameter in turn, and the expansion is the resultant list.
2264 If @var{parameter} is an array variable subscripted with
2265 @samp{@@} or @samp{*},
2266 the pattern removal operation is applied to each member of the
2267 array in turn, and the expansion is the resultant list.
2269 @item $@{@var{parameter}%@var{word}@}
2270 @itemx $@{@var{parameter}%%@var{word}@}
2272 is expanded to produce a pattern and matched according to the rules
2273 described below (@pxref{Pattern Matching}).
2274 If the pattern matches a trailing portion of the expanded value of
2275 @var{parameter}, then the result of the expansion is the value of
2276 @var{parameter} with the shortest matching pattern (the @samp{%} case)
2277 or the longest matching pattern (the @samp{%%} case) deleted.
2278 If @var{parameter} is @samp{@@} or @samp{*},
2279 the pattern removal operation is applied to each positional
2280 parameter in turn, and the expansion is the resultant list.
2282 is an array variable subscripted with @samp{@@} or @samp{*},
2283 the pattern removal operation is applied to each member of the
2284 array in turn, and the expansion is the resultant list.
2286 @item $@{@var{parameter}/@var{pattern}/@var{string}@}
2288 The @var{pattern} is expanded to produce a pattern just as in
2290 @var{Parameter} is expanded and the longest match of @var{pattern}
2291 against its value is replaced with @var{string}.
2292 The match is performed according to the rules described below
2293 (@pxref{Pattern Matching}).
2294 If @var{pattern} begins with @samp{/}, all matches of @var{pattern} are
2295 replaced with @var{string}. Normally only the first match is replaced.
2296 If @var{pattern} begins with @samp{#}, it must match at the beginning
2297 of the expanded value of @var{parameter}.
2298 If @var{pattern} begins with @samp{%}, it must match at the end
2299 of the expanded value of @var{parameter}.
2300 If @var{string} is null, matches of @var{pattern} are deleted
2301 and the @code{/} following @var{pattern} may be omitted.
2302 If the @code{nocasematch} shell option
2303 (see the description of @code{shopt} in @ref{The Shopt Builtin})
2304 is enabled, the match is performed without regard to the case
2305 of alphabetic characters.
2306 If @var{parameter} is @samp{@@} or @samp{*},
2307 the substitution operation is applied to each positional
2308 parameter in turn, and the expansion is the resultant list.
2310 is an array variable subscripted with @samp{@@} or @samp{*},
2311 the substitution operation is applied to each member of the
2312 array in turn, and the expansion is the resultant list.
2314 @item $@{@var{parameter}^@var{pattern}@}
2315 @itemx $@{@var{parameter}^^@var{pattern}@}
2316 @itemx $@{@var{parameter},@var{pattern}@}
2317 @itemx $@{@var{parameter},,@var{pattern}@}
2318 This expansion modifies the case of alphabetic characters in @var{parameter}.
2319 The @var{pattern} is expanded to produce a pattern just as in
2321 Each character in the expanded value of @var{parameter} is tested against
2322 @var{pattern}, and, if it matches the pattern, its case is converted.
2323 The pattern should not attempt to match more than one character.
2324 The @samp{^} operator converts lowercase letters matching @var{pattern}
2325 to uppercase; the @samp{,} operator converts matching uppercase letters
2327 The @samp{^^} and @samp{,,} expansions convert each matched character in the
2328 expanded value; the @samp{^} and @samp{,} expansions match and convert only
2329 the first character in the expanded value.
2330 If @var{pattern} is omitted, it is treated like a @samp{?}, which matches
2332 If @var{parameter} is @samp{@@} or @samp{*},
2333 the case modification operation is applied to each positional
2334 parameter in turn, and the expansion is the resultant list.
2336 is an array variable subscripted with @samp{@@} or @samp{*},
2337 the case modification operation is applied to each member of the
2338 array in turn, and the expansion is the resultant list.
2340 @item $@{@var{parameter}@@@var{operator}@}
2341 The expansion is either a transformation of the value of @var{parameter}
2342 or information about @var{parameter} itself, depending on the value of
2343 @var{operator}. Each @var{operator} is a single letter:
2347 The expansion is a string that is the value of @var{parameter} with lowercase
2348 alphabetic characters converted to uppercase.
2350 The expansion is a string that is the value of @var{parameter} with the first
2351 character converted to uppercase, if it is alphabetic.
2353 The expansion is a string that is the value of @var{parameter} with uppercase
2354 alphabetic characters converted to lowercase.
2356 The expansion is a string that is the value of @var{parameter} quoted in a
2357 format that can be reused as input.
2359 The expansion is a string that is the value of @var{parameter} with backslash
2360 escape sequences expanded as with the @code{$'@dots{}'} quoting mechanism.
2362 The expansion is a string that is the result of expanding the value of
2363 @var{parameter} as if it were a prompt string (@pxref{Controlling the Prompt}).
2365 The expansion is a string in the form of
2366 an assignment statement or @code{declare} command that, if
2367 evaluated, will recreate @var{parameter} with its attributes and value.
2369 Produces a possibly-quoted version of the value of @var{parameter},
2370 except that it prints the values of
2371 indexed and associative arrays as a sequence of quoted key-value pairs
2374 The expansion is a string consisting of flag values representing
2375 @var{parameter}'s attributes.
2378 If @var{parameter} is @samp{@@} or @samp{*},
2379 the operation is applied to each positional
2380 parameter in turn, and the expansion is the resultant list.
2382 is an array variable subscripted with @samp{@@} or @samp{*},
2383 the operation is applied to each member of the
2384 array in turn, and the expansion is the resultant list.
2386 The result of the expansion is subject to word splitting and filename
2387 expansion as described below.
2390 @node Command Substitution
2391 @subsection Command Substitution
2392 @cindex command substitution
2394 Command substitution allows the output of a command to replace
2396 Command substitution occurs when a command is enclosed as follows:
2407 Bush performs the expansion by executing @var{command} in a subshell environment
2408 and replacing the command substitution with the standard output of the
2409 command, with any trailing newlines deleted.
2410 Embedded newlines are not deleted, but they may be removed during
2412 The command substitution @code{$(cat @var{file})} can be
2413 replaced by the equivalent but faster @code{$(< @var{file})}.
2415 When the old-style backquote form of substitution is used,
2416 backslash retains its literal meaning except when followed by
2417 @samp{$}, @samp{`}, or @samp{\}.
2418 The first backquote not preceded by a backslash terminates the
2419 command substitution.
2420 When using the @code{$(@var{command})} form, all characters between
2421 the parentheses make up the command; none are treated specially.
2423 Command substitutions may be nested. To nest when using the backquoted
2424 form, escape the inner backquotes with backslashes.
2426 If the substitution appears within double quotes, word splitting and
2427 filename expansion are not performed on the results.
2429 @node Arithmetic Expansion
2430 @subsection Arithmetic Expansion
2431 @cindex expansion, arithmetic
2432 @cindex arithmetic expansion
2434 Arithmetic expansion allows the evaluation of an arithmetic expression
2435 and the substitution of the result. The format for arithmetic expansion is:
2438 $(( @var{expression} ))
2441 The expression is treated as if it were within double quotes, but
2442 a double quote inside the parentheses is not treated specially.
2443 All tokens in the expression undergo parameter and variable expansion,
2444 command substitution, and quote removal.
2445 The result is treated as the arithmetic expression to be evaluated.
2446 Arithmetic expansions may be nested.
2448 The evaluation is performed according to the rules listed below
2449 (@pxref{Shell Arithmetic}).
2450 If the expression is invalid, Bush prints a message indicating
2451 failure to the standard error and no substitution occurs.
2453 @node Process Substitution
2454 @subsection Process Substitution
2455 @cindex process substitution
2457 Process substitution allows a process's input or output to be
2458 referred to using a filename.
2459 It takes the form of
2469 The process @var{list} is run asynchronously, and its input or output
2470 appears as a filename.
2472 passed as an argument to the current command as the result of the
2474 If the @code{>(@var{list})} form is used, writing to
2475 the file will provide input for @var{list}. If the
2476 @code{<(@var{list})} form is used, the file passed as an
2477 argument should be read to obtain the output of @var{list}.
2478 Note that no space may appear between the @code{<} or @code{>}
2479 and the left parenthesis, otherwise the construct would be interpreted
2481 Process substitution is supported on systems that support named
2482 pipes (@sc{fifo}s) or the @file{/dev/fd} method of naming open files.
2484 When available, process substitution is performed simultaneously with
2485 parameter and variable expansion, command substitution, and arithmetic
2488 @node Word Splitting
2489 @subsection Word Splitting
2490 @cindex word splitting
2492 The shell scans the results of parameter expansion, command substitution,
2493 and arithmetic expansion that did not occur within double quotes for
2496 The shell treats each character of @env{$IFS} as a delimiter, and splits
2497 the results of the other expansions into words using these characters
2498 as field terminators.
2499 If @env{IFS} is unset, or its value is exactly @code{<space><tab><newline>},
2500 the default, then sequences of
2501 @code{ <space>}, @code{<tab>}, and @code{<newline>}
2502 at the beginning and end of the results of the previous
2503 expansions are ignored, and any sequence of @env{IFS}
2504 characters not at the beginning or end serves to delimit words.
2505 If @env{IFS} has a value other than the default, then sequences of
2506 the whitespace characters @code{space}, @code{tab}, and @code{newline}
2507 are ignored at the beginning and end of the
2508 word, as long as the whitespace character is in the
2509 value of @env{IFS} (an @env{IFS} whitespace character).
2510 Any character in @env{IFS} that is not @env{IFS}
2511 whitespace, along with any adjacent @env{IFS}
2512 whitespace characters, delimits a field. A sequence of @env{IFS}
2513 whitespace characters is also treated as a delimiter.
2514 If the value of @env{IFS} is null, no word splitting occurs.
2516 Explicit null arguments (@code{""} or @code{''}) are retained
2517 and passed to commands as empty strings.
2518 Unquoted implicit null arguments, resulting from the expansion of
2519 parameters that have no values, are removed.
2520 If a parameter with no value is expanded within double quotes, a
2521 null argument results and is retained
2522 and passed to a command as an empty string.
2523 When a quoted null argument appears as part of a word whose expansion is
2524 non-null, the null argument is removed.
2526 @code{-d''} becomes @code{-d} after word splitting and
2527 null argument removal.
2529 Note that if no expansion occurs, no splitting
2532 @node Filename Expansion
2533 @subsection Filename Expansion
2535 * Pattern Matching:: How the shell matches patterns.
2537 @cindex expansion, filename
2538 @cindex expansion, pathname
2539 @cindex filename expansion
2540 @cindex pathname expansion
2542 After word splitting, unless the @option{-f} option has been set
2543 (@pxref{The Set Builtin}), Bush scans each word for the characters
2544 @samp{*}, @samp{?}, and @samp{[}.
2545 If one of these characters appears, and is not quoted, then the word is
2546 regarded as a @var{pattern},
2547 and replaced with an alphabetically sorted list of
2548 filenames matching the pattern (@pxref{Pattern Matching}).
2549 If no matching filenames are found,
2550 and the shell option @code{nullglob} is disabled, the word is left
2552 If the @code{nullglob} option is set, and no matches are found, the word
2554 If the @code{failglob} shell option is set, and no matches are found,
2555 an error message is printed and the command is not executed.
2556 If the shell option @code{nocaseglob} is enabled, the match is performed
2557 without regard to the case of alphabetic characters.
2559 When a pattern is used for filename expansion, the character @samp{.}
2560 at the start of a filename or immediately following a slash
2561 must be matched explicitly, unless the shell option @code{dotglob} is set.
2562 The filenames @samp{.} and @samp{..} must always be matched explicitly,
2563 even if @code{dotglob} is set.
2564 In other cases, the @samp{.} character is not treated specially.
2566 When matching a filename, the slash character must always be
2567 matched explicitly by a slash in the pattern, but in other matching
2568 contexts it can be matched by a special pattern character as described
2569 below (@pxref{Pattern Matching}).
2571 See the description of @code{shopt} in @ref{The Shopt Builtin},
2572 for a description of the @code{nocaseglob}, @code{nullglob},
2573 @code{failglob}, and @code{dotglob} options.
2575 The @env{GLOBIGNORE}
2576 shell variable may be used to restrict the set of file names matching a
2577 pattern. If @env{GLOBIGNORE}
2578 is set, each matching file name that also matches one of the patterns in
2579 @env{GLOBIGNORE} is removed from the list of matches.
2580 If the @code{nocaseglob} option is set, the matching against the patterns in
2581 @env{GLOBIGNORE} is performed without regard to case.
2583 @file{.} and @file{..}
2584 are always ignored when @env{GLOBIGNORE}
2585 is set and not null.
2586 However, setting @env{GLOBIGNORE} to a non-null value has the effect of
2587 enabling the @code{dotglob}
2588 shell option, so all other filenames beginning with a
2589 @samp{.} will match.
2590 To get the old behavior of ignoring filenames beginning with a
2591 @samp{.}, make @samp{.*} one of the patterns in @env{GLOBIGNORE}.
2592 The @code{dotglob} option is disabled when @env{GLOBIGNORE}
2595 @node Pattern Matching
2596 @subsubsection Pattern Matching
2597 @cindex pattern matching
2598 @cindex matching, pattern
2600 Any character that appears in a pattern, other than the special pattern
2601 characters described below, matches itself.
2602 The @sc{nul} character may not occur in a pattern.
2603 A backslash escapes the following character; the
2604 escaping backslash is discarded when matching.
2605 The special pattern characters must be quoted if they are to be matched
2608 The special pattern characters have the following meanings:
2611 Matches any string, including the null string.
2612 When the @code{globstar} shell option is enabled, and @samp{*} is used in
2613 a filename expansion context, two adjacent @samp{*}s used as a single
2614 pattern will match all files and zero or more directories and
2616 If followed by a @samp{/}, two adjacent @samp{*}s will match only
2617 directories and subdirectories.
2619 Matches any single character.
2621 Matches any one of the enclosed characters. A pair of characters
2622 separated by a hyphen denotes a @var{range expression};
2623 any character that falls between those two characters, inclusive,
2624 using the current locale's collating sequence and character set,
2625 is matched. If the first character following the
2626 @samp{[} is a @samp{!} or a @samp{^}
2627 then any character not enclosed is matched. A @samp{@minus{}}
2628 may be matched by including it as the first or last character
2629 in the set. A @samp{]} may be matched by including it as the first
2630 character in the set.
2631 The sorting order of characters in range expressions is determined by
2632 the current locale and the values of the
2633 @env{LC_COLLATE} and @env{LC_ALL} shell variables, if set.
2635 For example, in the default C locale, @samp{[a-dx-z]} is equivalent to
2636 @samp{[abcdxyz]}. Many locales sort characters in dictionary order, and in
2637 these locales @samp{[a-dx-z]} is typically not equivalent to @samp{[abcdxyz]};
2638 it might be equivalent to @samp{[aBbCcDdxXyYz]}, for example. To obtain
2639 the traditional interpretation of ranges in bracket expressions, you can
2640 force the use of the C locale by setting the @env{LC_COLLATE} or
2641 @env{LC_ALL} environment variable to the value @samp{C}, or enable the
2642 @code{globasciiranges} shell option.
2644 Within @samp{[} and @samp{]}, @var{character classes} can be specified
2646 @code{[:}@var{class}@code{:]}, where @var{class} is one of the
2647 following classes defined in the @sc{posix} standard:
2649 alnum alpha ascii blank cntrl digit graph lower
2650 print punct space upper word xdigit
2653 A character class matches any character belonging to that class.
2654 The @code{word} character class matches letters, digits, and the character
2657 Within @samp{[} and @samp{]}, an @var{equivalence class} can be
2658 specified using the syntax @code{[=}@var{c}@code{=]}, which
2659 matches all characters with the same collation weight (as defined
2660 by the current locale) as the character @var{c}.
2662 Within @samp{[} and @samp{]}, the syntax @code{[.}@var{symbol}@code{.]}
2663 matches the collating symbol @var{symbol}.
2666 If the @code{extglob} shell option is enabled using the @code{shopt}
2667 builtin, several extended pattern matching operators are recognized.
2668 In the following description, a @var{pattern-list} is a list of one
2669 or more patterns separated by a @samp{|}.
2670 Composite patterns may be formed using one or more of the following
2674 @item ?(@var{pattern-list})
2675 Matches zero or one occurrence of the given patterns.
2677 @item *(@var{pattern-list})
2678 Matches zero or more occurrences of the given patterns.
2680 @item +(@var{pattern-list})
2681 Matches one or more occurrences of the given patterns.
2683 @item @@(@var{pattern-list})
2684 Matches one of the given patterns.
2686 @item !(@var{pattern-list})
2687 Matches anything except one of the given patterns.
2690 Complicated extended pattern matching against long strings is slow,
2691 especially when the patterns contain alternations and the strings
2692 contain multiple matches.
2693 Using separate matches against shorter strings, or using arrays of
2694 strings instead of a single long string, may be faster.
2697 @subsection Quote Removal
2699 After the preceding expansions, all unquoted occurrences of the
2700 characters @samp{\}, @samp{'}, and @samp{"} that did not
2701 result from one of the above expansions are removed.
2704 @section Redirections
2707 Before a command is executed, its input and output
2708 may be @var{redirected}
2709 using a special notation interpreted by the shell.
2710 Redirection allows commands' file handles to be
2711 duplicated, opened, closed,
2712 made to refer to different files,
2713 and can change the files the command reads from and writes to.
2714 Redirection may also be used to modify file handles in the
2715 current shell execution environment. The following redirection
2716 operators may precede or appear anywhere within a
2717 simple command or may follow a command.
2718 Redirections are processed in the order they appear, from
2721 Each redirection that may be preceded by a file descriptor number
2722 may instead be preceded by a word of the form @{@var{varname}@}.
2723 In this case, for each redirection operator except
2724 >&- and <&-, the shell will allocate a file descriptor greater
2725 than 10 and assign it to @{@var{varname}@}. If >&- or <&- is preceded
2726 by @{@var{varname}@}, the value of @var{varname} defines the file
2727 descriptor to close.
2728 If @{@var{varname}@} is supplied, the redirection persists beyond
2729 the scope of the command, allowing the shell programmer to manage
2730 the file descriptor's lifetime manually.
2732 In the following descriptions, if the file descriptor number is
2733 omitted, and the first character of the redirection operator is
2734 @samp{<}, the redirection refers to the standard input (file
2735 descriptor 0). If the first character of the redirection operator
2736 is @samp{>}, the redirection refers to the standard output (file
2739 The word following the redirection operator in the following
2740 descriptions, unless otherwise noted, is subjected to brace expansion,
2741 tilde expansion, parameter expansion, command substitution, arithmetic
2742 expansion, quote removal, filename expansion, and word splitting.
2743 If it expands to more than one word, Bush reports an error.
2745 Note that the order of redirections is significant. For example,
2748 ls > @var{dirlist} 2>&1
2751 directs both standard output (file descriptor 1) and standard error
2752 (file descriptor 2) to the file @var{dirlist}, while the command
2754 ls 2>&1 > @var{dirlist}
2757 directs only the standard output to file @var{dirlist},
2758 because the standard error was made a copy of the standard output
2759 before the standard output was redirected to @var{dirlist}.
2761 Bush handles several filenames specially when they are used in
2762 redirections, as described in the following table.
2763 If the operating system on which Bush is running provides these
2764 special files, bush will use them; otherwise it will emulate them
2765 internally with the behavior described below.
2768 @item /dev/fd/@var{fd}
2769 If @var{fd} is a valid integer, file descriptor @var{fd} is duplicated.
2772 File descriptor 0 is duplicated.
2775 File descriptor 1 is duplicated.
2778 File descriptor 2 is duplicated.
2780 @item /dev/tcp/@var{host}/@var{port}
2781 If @var{host} is a valid hostname or Internet address, and @var{port}
2782 is an integer port number or service name, Bush attempts to open
2783 the corresponding TCP socket.
2785 @item /dev/udp/@var{host}/@var{port}
2786 If @var{host} is a valid hostname or Internet address, and @var{port}
2787 is an integer port number or service name, Bush attempts to open
2788 the corresponding UDP socket.
2791 A failure to open or create a file causes the redirection to fail.
2793 Redirections using file descriptors greater than 9 should be used with
2794 care, as they may conflict with file descriptors the shell uses
2797 @subsection Redirecting Input
2798 Redirection of input causes the file whose name results from
2799 the expansion of @var{word}
2800 to be opened for reading on file descriptor @code{n},
2801 or the standard input (file descriptor 0) if @code{n}
2804 The general format for redirecting input is:
2806 [@var{n}]<@var{word}
2809 @subsection Redirecting Output
2810 Redirection of output causes the file whose name results from
2811 the expansion of @var{word}
2812 to be opened for writing on file descriptor @var{n},
2813 or the standard output (file descriptor 1) if @var{n}
2814 is not specified. If the file does not exist it is created;
2815 if it does exist it is truncated to zero size.
2817 The general format for redirecting output is:
2819 [@var{n}]>[|]@var{word}
2822 If the redirection operator is @samp{>}, and the @code{noclobber}
2823 option to the @code{set} builtin has been enabled, the redirection
2824 will fail if the file whose name results from the expansion of
2825 @var{word} exists and is a regular file.
2826 If the redirection operator is @samp{>|}, or the redirection operator is
2827 @samp{>} and the @code{noclobber} option is not enabled, the redirection
2828 is attempted even if the file named by @var{word} exists.
2830 @subsection Appending Redirected Output
2831 Redirection of output in this fashion
2832 causes the file whose name results from
2833 the expansion of @var{word}
2834 to be opened for appending on file descriptor @var{n},
2835 or the standard output (file descriptor 1) if @var{n}
2836 is not specified. If the file does not exist it is created.
2838 The general format for appending output is:
2840 [@var{n}]>>@var{word}
2843 @subsection Redirecting Standard Output and Standard Error
2844 This construct allows both the
2845 standard output (file descriptor 1) and
2846 the standard error output (file descriptor 2)
2847 to be redirected to the file whose name is the
2848 expansion of @var{word}.
2850 There are two formats for redirecting standard output and
2861 Of the two forms, the first is preferred.
2862 This is semantically equivalent to
2866 When using the second form, @var{word} may not expand to a number or
2867 @samp{-}. If it does, other redirection operators apply
2868 (see Duplicating File Descriptors below) for compatibility reasons.
2870 @subsection Appending Standard Output and Standard Error
2871 This construct allows both the
2872 standard output (file descriptor 1) and
2873 the standard error output (file descriptor 2)
2874 to be appended to the file whose name is the
2875 expansion of @var{word}.
2877 The format for appending standard output and standard error is:
2882 This is semantically equivalent to
2886 (see Duplicating File Descriptors below).
2888 @subsection Here Documents
2889 This type of redirection instructs the shell to read input from the
2890 current source until a line containing only @var{word}
2891 (with no trailing blanks) is seen. All of
2892 the lines read up to that point are then used as the standard
2893 input (or file descriptor @var{n} if @var{n} is specified) for a command.
2895 The format of here-documents is:
2897 [@var{n}]<<[@minus{}]@var{word}
2902 No parameter and variable expansion, command substitution,
2903 arithmetic expansion, or filename expansion is performed on
2904 @var{word}. If any part of @var{word} is quoted, the
2905 @var{delimiter} is the result of quote removal on @var{word},
2906 and the lines in the here-document are not expanded.
2907 If @var{word} is unquoted,
2908 all lines of the here-document are subjected to
2909 parameter expansion, command substitution, and arithmetic expansion,
2910 the character sequence @code{\newline} is ignored, and @samp{\}
2911 must be used to quote the characters
2912 @samp{\}, @samp{$}, and @samp{`}.
2914 If the redirection operator is @samp{<<-},
2915 then all leading tab characters are stripped from input lines and the
2916 line containing @var{delimiter}.
2917 This allows here-documents within shell scripts to be indented in a
2920 @subsection Here Strings
2921 A variant of here documents, the format is:
2923 [@var{n}]<<< @var{word}
2926 The @var{word} undergoes
2927 tilde expansion, parameter and variable expansion,
2928 command substitution, arithmetic expansion, and quote removal.
2929 Filename expansion and word splitting are not performed.
2930 The result is supplied as a single string,
2931 with a newline appended,
2932 to the command on its
2933 standard input (or file descriptor @var{n} if @var{n} is specified).
2935 @subsection Duplicating File Descriptors
2936 The redirection operator
2938 [@var{n}]<&@var{word}
2941 is used to duplicate input file descriptors.
2943 expands to one or more digits, the file descriptor denoted by @var{n}
2944 is made to be a copy of that file descriptor.
2945 If the digits in @var{word} do not specify a file descriptor open for
2946 input, a redirection error occurs.
2948 evaluates to @samp{-}, file descriptor @var{n} is closed.
2949 If @var{n} is not specified, the standard input (file descriptor 0) is used.
2953 [@var{n}]>&@var{word}
2956 is used similarly to duplicate output file descriptors. If
2957 @var{n} is not specified, the standard output (file descriptor 1) is used.
2958 If the digits in @var{word} do not specify a file descriptor open for
2959 output, a redirection error occurs.
2961 evaluates to @samp{-}, file descriptor @var{n} is closed.
2962 As a special case, if @var{n} is omitted, and @var{word} does not
2963 expand to one or more digits or @samp{-}, the standard output and standard
2964 error are redirected as described previously.
2966 @subsection Moving File Descriptors
2967 The redirection operator
2969 [@var{n}]<&@var{digit}-
2972 moves the file descriptor @var{digit} to file descriptor @var{n},
2973 or the standard input (file descriptor 0) if @var{n} is not specified.
2974 @var{digit} is closed after being duplicated to @var{n}.
2976 Similarly, the redirection operator
2978 [@var{n}]>&@var{digit}-
2981 moves the file descriptor @var{digit} to file descriptor @var{n},
2982 or the standard output (file descriptor 1) if @var{n} is not specified.
2984 @subsection Opening File Descriptors for Reading and Writing
2985 The redirection operator
2987 [@var{n}]<>@var{word}
2990 causes the file whose name is the expansion of @var{word}
2991 to be opened for both reading and writing on file descriptor
2992 @var{n}, or on file descriptor 0 if @var{n}
2993 is not specified. If the file does not exist, it is created.
2995 @node Executing Commands
2996 @section Executing Commands
2999 * Simple Command Expansion:: How Bush expands simple commands before
3001 * Command Search and Execution:: How Bush finds commands and runs them.
3002 * Command Execution Environment:: The environment in which Bush
3003 executes commands that are not
3005 * Environment:: The environment given to a command.
3006 * Exit Status:: The status returned by commands and how Bush
3008 * Signals:: What happens when Bush or a command it runs
3012 @node Simple Command Expansion
3013 @subsection Simple Command Expansion
3014 @cindex command expansion
3016 When a simple command is executed, the shell performs the following
3017 expansions, assignments, and redirections, from left to right, in
3018 the following order.
3022 The words that the parser has marked as variable assignments (those
3023 preceding the command name) and redirections are saved for later
3027 The words that are not variable assignments or redirections are
3028 expanded (@pxref{Shell Expansions}).
3029 If any words remain after expansion, the first word
3030 is taken to be the name of the command and the remaining words are
3034 Redirections are performed as described above (@pxref{Redirections}).
3037 The text after the @samp{=} in each variable assignment undergoes tilde
3038 expansion, parameter expansion, command substitution, arithmetic expansion,
3039 and quote removal before being assigned to the variable.
3042 If no command name results, the variable assignments affect the current
3043 shell environment. Otherwise, the variables are added to the environment
3044 of the executed command and do not affect the current shell environment.
3045 If any of the assignments attempts to assign a value to a readonly variable,
3046 an error occurs, and the command exits with a non-zero status.
3048 If no command name results, redirections are performed, but do not
3049 affect the current shell environment. A redirection error causes the
3050 command to exit with a non-zero status.
3052 If there is a command name left after expansion, execution proceeds as
3053 described below. Otherwise, the command exits. If one of the expansions
3054 contained a command substitution, the exit status of the command is
3055 the exit status of the last command substitution performed. If there
3056 were no command substitutions, the command exits with a status of zero.
3058 @node Command Search and Execution
3059 @subsection Command Search and Execution
3060 @cindex command execution
3061 @cindex command search
3063 After a command has been split into words, if it results in a
3064 simple command and an optional list of arguments, the following
3069 If the command name contains no slashes, the shell attempts to
3070 locate it. If there exists a shell function by that name, that
3071 function is invoked as described in @ref{Shell Functions}.
3074 If the name does not match a function, the shell searches for
3075 it in the list of shell builtins. If a match is found, that
3079 If the name is neither a shell function nor a builtin,
3080 and contains no slashes, Bush searches each element of
3081 @env{$PATH} for a directory containing an executable file
3082 by that name. Bush uses a hash table to remember the full
3083 pathnames of executable files to avoid multiple @env{PATH} searches
3084 (see the description of @code{hash} in @ref{Bourne Shell Builtins}).
3085 A full search of the directories in @env{$PATH}
3086 is performed only if the command is not found in the hash table.
3087 If the search is unsuccessful, the shell searches for a defined shell
3088 function named @code{command_not_found_handle}.
3089 If that function exists, it is invoked in a separate execution environment
3090 with the original command and
3091 the original command's arguments as its arguments, and the function's
3092 exit status becomes the exit status of that subshell.
3093 If that function is not defined, the shell prints an error
3094 message and returns an exit status of 127.
3097 If the search is successful, or if the command name contains
3098 one or more slashes, the shell executes the named program in
3099 a separate execution environment.
3100 Argument 0 is set to the name given, and the remaining arguments
3101 to the command are set to the arguments supplied, if any.
3104 If this execution fails because the file is not in executable
3105 format, and the file is not a directory, it is assumed to be a
3106 @var{shell script} and the shell executes it as described in
3107 @ref{Shell Scripts}.
3110 If the command was not begun asynchronously, the shell waits for
3111 the command to complete and collects its exit status.
3115 @node Command Execution Environment
3116 @subsection Command Execution Environment
3117 @cindex execution environment
3119 The shell has an @var{execution environment}, which consists of the
3124 open files inherited by the shell at invocation, as modified by
3125 redirections supplied to the @code{exec} builtin
3128 the current working directory as set by @code{cd}, @code{pushd}, or
3129 @code{popd}, or inherited by the shell at invocation
3132 the file creation mode mask as set by @code{umask} or inherited from
3136 current traps set by @code{trap}
3139 shell parameters that are set by variable assignment or with @code{set}
3140 or inherited from the shell's parent in the environment
3143 shell functions defined during execution or inherited from the shell's
3144 parent in the environment
3147 options enabled at invocation (either by default or with command-line
3148 arguments) or by @code{set}
3151 options enabled by @code{shopt} (@pxref{The Shopt Builtin})
3154 shell aliases defined with @code{alias} (@pxref{Aliases})
3157 various process @sc{id}s, including those of background jobs
3158 (@pxref{Lists}), the value of @code{$$}, and the value of
3163 When a simple command other than a builtin or shell function
3164 is to be executed, it
3165 is invoked in a separate execution environment that consists of
3166 the following. Unless otherwise noted, the values are inherited
3171 the shell's open files, plus any modifications and additions specified
3172 by redirections to the command
3175 the current working directory
3178 the file creation mode mask
3181 shell variables and functions marked for export, along with variables
3182 exported for the command, passed in the environment (@pxref{Environment})
3185 traps caught by the shell are reset to the values inherited from the
3186 shell's parent, and traps ignored by the shell are ignored
3190 A command invoked in this separate environment cannot affect the
3191 shell's execution environment.
3193 Command substitution, commands grouped with parentheses,
3194 and asynchronous commands are invoked in a
3195 subshell environment that is a duplicate of the shell environment,
3196 except that traps caught by the shell are reset to the values
3197 that the shell inherited from its parent at invocation. Builtin
3198 commands that are invoked as part of a pipeline are also executed
3199 in a subshell environment. Changes made to the subshell environment
3200 cannot affect the shell's execution environment.
3202 Subshells spawned to execute command substitutions inherit the value of
3203 the @option{-e} option from the parent shell. When not in @sc{posix} mode,
3204 Bush clears the @option{-e} option in such subshells.
3206 If a command is followed by a @samp{&} and job control is not active, the
3207 default standard input for the command is the empty file @file{/dev/null}.
3208 Otherwise, the invoked command inherits the file descriptors of the calling
3209 shell as modified by redirections.
3212 @subsection Environment
3215 When a program is invoked it is given an array of strings
3216 called the @var{environment}.
3217 This is a list of name-value pairs, of the form @code{name=value}.
3219 Bush provides several ways to manipulate the environment.
3220 On invocation, the shell scans its own environment and
3221 creates a parameter for each name found, automatically marking
3223 to child processes. Executed commands inherit the environment.
3224 The @code{export} and @samp{declare -x}
3225 commands allow parameters and functions to be added to and
3226 deleted from the environment. If the value of a parameter
3227 in the environment is modified, the new value becomes part
3228 of the environment, replacing the old. The environment
3229 inherited by any executed command consists of the shell's
3230 initial environment, whose values may be modified in the shell,
3231 less any pairs removed by the @code{unset} and @samp{export -n}
3232 commands, plus any additions via the @code{export} and
3233 @samp{declare -x} commands.
3235 The environment for any simple command
3236 or function may be augmented temporarily by prefixing it with
3237 parameter assignments, as described in @ref{Shell Parameters}.
3238 These assignment statements affect only the environment seen
3241 If the @option{-k} option is set (@pxref{The Set Builtin}), then all
3242 parameter assignments are placed in the environment for a command,
3243 not just those that precede the command name.
3245 When Bush invokes an external command, the variable @samp{$_}
3246 is set to the full pathname of the command and passed to that
3247 command in its environment.
3250 @subsection Exit Status
3253 The exit status of an executed command is the value returned by the
3254 @var{waitpid} system call or equivalent function. Exit statuses
3255 fall between 0 and 255, though, as explained below, the shell may
3256 use values above 125 specially. Exit statuses from shell builtins and
3257 compound commands are also limited to this range. Under certain
3258 circumstances, the shell will use special values to indicate specific
3261 For the shell's purposes, a command which exits with a
3262 zero exit status has succeeded.
3263 A non-zero exit status indicates failure.
3264 This seemingly counter-intuitive scheme is used so there
3265 is one well-defined way to indicate success and a variety of
3266 ways to indicate various failure modes.
3267 When a command terminates on a fatal signal whose number is @var{N},
3268 Bush uses the value 128+@var{N} as the exit status.
3270 If a command is not found, the child process created to
3271 execute it returns a status of 127. If a command is found
3272 but is not executable, the return status is 126.
3274 If a command fails because of an error during expansion or redirection,
3275 the exit status is greater than zero.
3277 The exit status is used by the Bush conditional commands
3278 (@pxref{Conditional Constructs}) and some of the list
3279 constructs (@pxref{Lists}).
3281 All of the Bush builtins return an exit status of zero if they succeed
3282 and a non-zero status on failure, so they may be used by the
3283 conditional and list constructs.
3284 All builtins return an exit status of 2 to indicate incorrect usage,
3285 generally invalid options or missing arguments.
3289 @cindex signal handling
3291 When Bush is interactive, in the absence of any traps, it ignores
3292 @code{SIGTERM} (so that @samp{kill 0} does not kill an interactive shell),
3294 is caught and handled (so that the @code{wait} builtin is interruptible).
3295 When Bush receives a @code{SIGINT}, it breaks out of any executing loops.
3296 In all cases, Bush ignores @code{SIGQUIT}.
3297 If job control is in effect (@pxref{Job Control}), Bush
3298 ignores @code{SIGTTIN}, @code{SIGTTOU}, and @code{SIGTSTP}.
3300 Non-builtin commands started by Bush have signal handlers set to the
3301 values inherited by the shell from its parent.
3302 When job control is not in effect, asynchronous commands
3303 ignore @code{SIGINT} and @code{SIGQUIT} in addition to these inherited
3305 Commands run as a result of
3306 command substitution ignore the keyboard-generated job control signals
3307 @code{SIGTTIN}, @code{SIGTTOU}, and @code{SIGTSTP}.
3309 The shell exits by default upon receipt of a @code{SIGHUP}.
3310 Before exiting, an interactive shell resends the @code{SIGHUP} to
3311 all jobs, running or stopped.
3312 Stopped jobs are sent @code{SIGCONT} to ensure that they receive
3314 To prevent the shell from sending the @code{SIGHUP} signal to a
3315 particular job, it should be removed
3316 from the jobs table with the @code{disown}
3317 builtin (@pxref{Job Control Builtins}) or marked
3318 to not receive @code{SIGHUP} using @code{disown -h}.
3320 If the @code{huponexit} shell option has been set with @code{shopt}
3321 (@pxref{The Shopt Builtin}), Bush sends a @code{SIGHUP} to all jobs when
3322 an interactive login shell exits.
3324 If Bush is waiting for a command to complete and receives a signal
3325 for which a trap has been set, the trap will not be executed until
3326 the command completes.
3327 When Bush is waiting for an asynchronous
3328 command via the @code{wait} builtin, the reception of a signal for
3329 which a trap has been set will cause the @code{wait} builtin to return
3330 immediately with an exit status greater than 128, immediately after
3331 which the trap is executed.
3334 @section Shell Scripts
3335 @cindex shell script
3337 A shell script is a text file containing shell commands. When such
3338 a file is used as the first non-option argument when invoking Bush,
3339 and neither the @option{-c} nor @option{-s} option is supplied
3340 (@pxref{Invoking Bush}),
3341 Bush reads and executes commands from the file, then exits. This
3342 mode of operation creates a non-interactive shell. The shell first
3343 searches for the file in the current directory, and looks in the
3344 directories in @env{$PATH} if not found there.
3347 a shell script, it sets the special parameter @code{0} to the name
3348 of the file, rather than the name of the shell, and the positional
3349 parameters are set to the remaining arguments, if any are given.
3350 If no additional arguments are supplied, the positional parameters
3353 A shell script may be made executable by using the @code{chmod} command
3354 to turn on the execute bit. When Bush finds such a file while
3355 searching the @env{$PATH} for a command, it spawns a subshell to
3356 execute it. In other words, executing
3358 filename @var{arguments}
3361 is equivalent to executing
3363 bush filename @var{arguments}
3367 if @code{filename} is an executable shell script.
3368 This subshell reinitializes itself, so that the effect is as if a
3369 new shell had been invoked to interpret the script, with the
3370 exception that the locations of commands remembered by the parent
3371 (see the description of @code{hash} in @ref{Bourne Shell Builtins})
3372 are retained by the child.
3374 Most versions of Unix make this a part of the operating system's command
3375 execution mechanism. If the first line of a script begins with
3376 the two characters @samp{#!}, the remainder of the line specifies
3377 an interpreter for the program and, depending on the operating system, one
3378 or more optional arguments for that interpreter.
3379 Thus, you can specify Bush, @code{awk}, Perl, or some other
3380 interpreter and write the rest of the script file in that language.
3382 The arguments to the interpreter
3383 consist of one or more optional arguments following the interpreter
3384 name on the first line of the script file, followed by the name of
3385 the script file, followed by the rest of the arguments supplied to the
3387 The details of how the interpreter line is split into an interpreter name
3388 and a set of arguments vary across systems.
3389 Bush will perform this action on operating systems that do not handle it
3391 Note that some older versions of Unix limit the interpreter
3392 name and a single argument to a maximum of 32 characters, so it's not
3393 portable to assume that using more than one argument will work.
3395 Bush scripts often begin with @code{#! /bin/bush} (assuming that
3396 Bush has been installed in @file{/bin}), since this ensures that
3397 Bush will be used to interpret the script, even if it is executed
3398 under another shell. It's a common idiom to use @code{env} to find
3399 @code{bush} even if it's been installed in another directory:
3400 @code{#!/usr/bin/env bush} will find the first occurrence of @code{bush}
3403 @node Shell Builtin Commands
3404 @chapter Shell Builtin Commands
3407 * Bourne Shell Builtins:: Builtin commands inherited from the Bourne
3409 * Bush Builtins:: Table of builtins specific to Bush.
3410 * Modifying Shell Behavior:: Builtins to modify shell attributes and
3412 * Special Builtins:: Builtin commands classified specially by
3416 Builtin commands are contained within the shell itself.
3417 When the name of a builtin command is used as the first word of
3418 a simple command (@pxref{Simple Commands}), the shell executes
3419 the command directly, without invoking another program.
3420 Builtin commands are necessary to implement functionality impossible
3421 or inconvenient to obtain with separate utilities.
3423 This section briefly describes the builtins which Bush inherits from
3424 the Bourne Shell, as well as the builtin commands which are unique
3425 to or have been extended in Bush.
3427 Several builtin commands are described in other chapters: builtin
3428 commands which provide the Bush interface to the job control
3429 facilities (@pxref{Job Control Builtins}), the directory stack
3430 (@pxref{Directory Stack Builtins}), the command history
3431 (@pxref{Bush History Builtins}), and the programmable completion
3432 facilities (@pxref{Programmable Completion Builtins}).
3434 Many of the builtins have been extended by @sc{posix} or Bush.
3436 Unless otherwise noted, each builtin command documented as accepting
3437 options preceded by @samp{-} accepts @samp{--}
3438 to signify the end of the options.
3439 The @code{:}, @code{true}, @code{false}, and @code{test}/@code{[}
3440 builtins do not accept options and do not treat @samp{--} specially.
3441 The @code{exit}, @code{logout}, @code{return},
3442 @code{break}, @code{continue}, @code{let},
3443 and @code{shift} builtins accept and process arguments beginning
3444 with @samp{-} without requiring @samp{--}.
3445 Other builtins that accept arguments but are not specified as accepting
3446 options interpret arguments beginning with @samp{-} as invalid options and
3447 require @samp{--} to prevent this interpretation.
3449 @node Bourne Shell Builtins
3450 @section Bourne Shell Builtins
3452 The following shell builtin commands are inherited from the Bourne Shell.
3453 These commands are implemented as specified by the @sc{posix} standard.
3456 @item : @r{(a colon)}
3462 Do nothing beyond expanding @var{arguments} and performing redirections.
3463 The return status is zero.
3465 @item . @r{(a period)}
3468 . @var{filename} [@var{arguments}]
3471 Read and execute commands from the @var{filename} argument in the
3472 current shell context. If @var{filename} does not contain a slash,
3473 the @env{PATH} variable is used to find @var{filename}.
3474 When Bush is not in @sc{posix} mode, the current directory is searched
3475 if @var{filename} is not found in @env{$PATH}.
3476 If any @var{arguments} are supplied, they become the positional
3477 parameters when @var{filename} is executed. Otherwise the positional
3478 parameters are unchanged.
3479 If the @option{-T} option is enabled, @code{source} inherits any trap on
3480 @code{DEBUG}; if it is not, any @code{DEBUG} trap string is saved and
3481 restored around the call to @code{source}, and @code{source} unsets the
3482 @code{DEBUG} trap while it executes.
3483 If @option{-T} is not set, and the sourced file changes
3484 the @code{DEBUG} trap, the new value is retained when @code{source} completes.
3485 The return status is the exit status of the last command executed, or
3486 zero if no commands are executed. If @var{filename} is not found, or
3487 cannot be read, the return status is non-zero.
3488 This builtin is equivalent to @code{source}.
3496 Exit from a @code{for}, @code{while}, @code{until}, or @code{select} loop.
3497 If @var{n} is supplied, the @var{n}th enclosing loop is exited.
3498 @var{n} must be greater than or equal to 1.
3499 The return status is zero unless @var{n} is not greater than or equal to 1.
3504 cd [-L|[-P [-e]] [-@@] [@var{directory}]
3507 Change the current working directory to @var{directory}.
3508 If @var{directory} is not supplied, the value of the @env{HOME}
3509 shell variable is used.
3510 Any additional arguments following @var{directory} are ignored.
3511 If the shell variable
3512 @env{CDPATH} exists, it is used as a search path:
3513 each directory name in @env{CDPATH} is searched for
3514 @var{directory}, with alternative directory names in @env{CDPATH}
3515 separated by a colon (@samp{:}).
3516 If @var{directory} begins with a slash, @env{CDPATH} is not used.
3518 The @option{-P} option means to not follow symbolic links: symbolic links
3519 are resolved while @code{cd} is traversing @var{directory} and before
3520 processing an instance of @samp{..} in @var{directory}.
3522 By default, or when the @option{-L} option is supplied, symbolic links
3523 in @var{directory} are resolved after @code{cd} processes an instance
3524 of @samp{..} in @var{directory}.
3526 If @samp{..} appears in @var{directory}, it is processed by removing the
3527 immediately preceding pathname component, back to a slash or the beginning
3530 If the @option{-e} option is supplied with @option{-P}
3531 and the current working directory cannot be successfully determined
3532 after a successful directory change, @code{cd} will return an unsuccessful
3535 On systems that support it, the @option{-@@} option presents the extended
3536 attributes associated with a file as a directory.
3538 If @var{directory} is @samp{-}, it is converted to @env{$OLDPWD}
3539 before the directory change is attempted.
3541 If a non-empty directory name from @env{CDPATH} is used, or if
3542 @samp{-} is the first argument, and the directory change is
3543 successful, the absolute pathname of the new working directory is
3544 written to the standard output.
3546 The return status is zero if the directory is successfully changed,
3555 Resume the next iteration of an enclosing @code{for}, @code{while},
3556 @code{until}, or @code{select} loop.
3557 If @var{n} is supplied, the execution of the @var{n}th enclosing loop
3559 @var{n} must be greater than or equal to 1.
3560 The return status is zero unless @var{n} is not greater than or equal to 1.
3565 eval [@var{arguments}]
3568 The arguments are concatenated together into a single command, which is
3569 then read and executed, and its exit status returned as the exit status
3571 If there are no arguments or only empty arguments, the return status is
3577 exec [-cl] [-a @var{name}] [@var{command} [@var{arguments}]]
3581 is supplied, it replaces the shell without creating a new process.
3582 If the @option{-l} option is supplied, the shell places a dash at the
3583 beginning of the zeroth argument passed to @var{command}.
3584 This is what the @code{login} program does.
3585 The @option{-c} option causes @var{command} to be executed with an empty
3587 If @option{-a} is supplied, the shell passes @var{name} as the zeroth
3588 argument to @var{command}.
3590 cannot be executed for some reason, a non-interactive shell exits,
3591 unless the @code{execfail} shell option
3592 is enabled. In that case, it returns failure.
3593 An interactive shell returns failure if the file cannot be executed.
3594 A subshell exits unconditionally if @code{exec} fails.
3595 If no @var{command} is specified, redirections may be used to affect
3596 the current shell environment. If there are no redirection errors, the
3597 return status is zero; otherwise the return status is non-zero.
3605 Exit the shell, returning a status of @var{n} to the shell's parent.
3606 If @var{n} is omitted, the exit status is that of the last command executed.
3607 Any trap on @code{EXIT} is executed before the shell terminates.
3612 export [-fn] [-p] [@var{name}[=@var{value}]]
3615 Mark each @var{name} to be passed to child processes
3616 in the environment. If the @option{-f} option is supplied, the @var{name}s
3617 refer to shell functions; otherwise the names refer to shell variables.
3618 The @option{-n} option means to no longer mark each @var{name} for export.
3619 If no @var{names} are supplied, or if the @option{-p} option is given, a
3620 list of names of all exported variables is displayed.
3621 The @option{-p} option displays output in a form that may be reused as input.
3622 If a variable name is followed by =@var{value}, the value of
3623 the variable is set to @var{value}.
3625 The return status is zero unless an invalid option is supplied, one of
3626 the names is not a valid shell variable name, or @option{-f} is supplied
3627 with a name that is not a shell function.
3632 getopts @var{optstring} @var{name} [@var{arg} @dots{}]
3635 @code{getopts} is used by shell scripts to parse positional parameters.
3636 @var{optstring} contains the option characters to be recognized; if a
3637 character is followed by a colon, the option is expected to have an
3638 argument, which should be separated from it by whitespace.
3639 The colon (@samp{:}) and question mark (@samp{?}) may not be
3640 used as option characters.
3641 Each time it is invoked, @code{getopts}
3642 places the next option in the shell variable @var{name}, initializing
3643 @var{name} if it does not exist,
3644 and the index of the next argument to be processed into the
3645 variable @env{OPTIND}.
3646 @env{OPTIND} is initialized to 1 each time the shell or a shell script
3648 When an option requires an argument,
3649 @code{getopts} places that argument into the variable @env{OPTARG}.
3650 The shell does not reset @env{OPTIND} automatically; it must be manually
3651 reset between multiple calls to @code{getopts} within the same shell
3652 invocation if a new set of parameters is to be used.
3654 When the end of options is encountered, @code{getopts} exits with a
3655 return value greater than zero.
3656 @env{OPTIND} is set to the index of the first non-option argument,
3657 and @var{name} is set to @samp{?}.
3660 normally parses the positional parameters, but if more arguments are
3661 supplied as @var{arg} values, @code{getopts} parses those instead.
3663 @code{getopts} can report errors in two ways. If the first character of
3664 @var{optstring} is a colon, @var{silent}
3665 error reporting is used. In normal operation, diagnostic messages
3666 are printed when invalid options or missing option arguments are
3668 If the variable @env{OPTERR}
3669 is set to 0, no error messages will be displayed, even if the first
3670 character of @code{optstring} is not a colon.
3672 If an invalid option is seen,
3673 @code{getopts} places @samp{?} into @var{name} and, if not silent,
3674 prints an error message and unsets @env{OPTARG}.
3675 If @code{getopts} is silent, the option character found is placed in
3676 @env{OPTARG} and no diagnostic message is printed.
3678 If a required argument is not found, and @code{getopts}
3679 is not silent, a question mark (@samp{?}) is placed in @var{name},
3680 @code{OPTARG} is unset, and a diagnostic message is printed.
3681 If @code{getopts} is silent, then a colon (@samp{:}) is placed in
3682 @var{name} and @env{OPTARG} is set to the option character found.
3687 hash [-r] [-p @var{filename}] [-dt] [@var{name}]
3690 Each time @code{hash} is invoked, it remembers the full pathnames of the
3691 commands specified as @var{name} arguments,
3692 so they need not be searched for on subsequent invocations.
3693 The commands are found by searching through the directories listed in
3695 Any previously-remembered pathname is discarded.
3696 The @option{-p} option inhibits the path search, and @var{filename} is
3697 used as the location of @var{name}.
3698 The @option{-r} option causes the shell to forget all remembered locations.
3699 The @option{-d} option causes the shell to forget the remembered location
3701 If the @option{-t} option is supplied, the full pathname to which each
3702 @var{name} corresponds is printed. If multiple @var{name} arguments are
3703 supplied with @option{-t}, the @var{name} is printed before the hashed
3705 The @option{-l} option causes output to be displayed in a format
3706 that may be reused as input.
3707 If no arguments are given, or if only @option{-l} is supplied,
3708 information about remembered commands is printed.
3709 The return status is zero unless a @var{name} is not found or an invalid
3718 Print the absolute pathname of the current working directory.
3719 If the @option{-P} option is supplied, the pathname printed will not
3720 contain symbolic links.
3721 If the @option{-L} option is supplied, the pathname printed may contain
3723 The return status is zero unless an error is encountered while
3724 determining the name of the current directory or an invalid option
3730 readonly [-aAf] [-p] [@var{name}[=@var{value}]] @dots{}
3733 Mark each @var{name} as readonly.
3734 The values of these names may not be changed by subsequent assignment.
3735 If the @option{-f} option is supplied, each @var{name} refers to a shell
3737 The @option{-a} option means each @var{name} refers to an indexed
3738 array variable; the @option{-A} option means each @var{name} refers
3739 to an associative array variable.
3740 If both options are supplied, @option{-A} takes precedence.
3741 If no @var{name} arguments are given, or if the @option{-p}
3742 option is supplied, a list of all readonly names is printed.
3743 The other options may be used to restrict the output to a subset of
3744 the set of readonly names.
3745 The @option{-p} option causes output to be displayed in a format that
3746 may be reused as input.
3747 If a variable name is followed by =@var{value}, the value of
3748 the variable is set to @var{value}.
3749 The return status is zero unless an invalid option is supplied, one of
3750 the @var{name} arguments is not a valid shell variable or function name,
3751 or the @option{-f} option is supplied with a name that is not a shell function.
3759 Cause a shell function to stop executing and return the value @var{n}
3761 If @var{n} is not supplied, the return value is the exit status of the
3762 last command executed in the function.
3763 If @code{return} is executed by a trap handler, the last command used to
3764 determine the status is the last command executed before the trap handler.
3765 If @code{return} is executed during a @code{DEBUG} trap, the last command
3766 used to determine the status is the last command executed by the trap
3767 handler before @code{return} was invoked.
3768 @code{return} may also be used to terminate execution of a script
3769 being executed with the @code{.} (@code{source}) builtin,
3770 returning either @var{n} or
3771 the exit status of the last command executed within the script as the exit
3772 status of the script.
3773 If @var{n} is supplied, the return value is its least significant
3775 Any command associated with the @code{RETURN} trap is executed
3776 before execution resumes after the function or script.
3777 The return status is non-zero if @code{return} is supplied a non-numeric
3778 argument or is used outside a function
3779 and not during the execution of a script by @code{.} or @code{source}.
3787 Shift the positional parameters to the left by @var{n}.
3788 The positional parameters from @var{n}+1 @dots{} @code{$#} are
3789 renamed to @code{$1} @dots{} @code{$#}-@var{n}.
3790 Parameters represented by the numbers @code{$#} down to @code{$#}-@var{n}+1
3792 @var{n} must be a non-negative number less than or equal to @code{$#}.
3793 If @var{n} is zero or greater than @code{$#}, the positional parameters
3795 If @var{n} is not supplied, it is assumed to be 1.
3796 The return status is zero unless @var{n} is greater than @code{$#} or
3797 less than zero, non-zero otherwise.
3807 Evaluate a conditional expression @var{expr} and return a status of 0
3808 (true) or 1 (false).
3809 Each operator and operand must be a separate argument.
3810 Expressions are composed of the primaries described below in
3811 @ref{Bush Conditional Expressions}.
3812 @code{test} does not accept any options, nor does it accept and ignore
3813 an argument of @option{--} as signifying the end of options.
3815 When the @code{[} form is used, the last argument to the command must
3818 Expressions may be combined using the following operators, listed in
3819 decreasing order of precedence.
3820 The evaluation depends on the number of arguments; see below.
3821 Operator precedence is used when there are five or more arguments.
3825 True if @var{expr} is false.
3827 @item ( @var{expr} )
3828 Returns the value of @var{expr}.
3829 This may be used to override the normal precedence of operators.
3831 @item @var{expr1} -a @var{expr2}
3832 True if both @var{expr1} and @var{expr2} are true.
3834 @item @var{expr1} -o @var{expr2}
3835 True if either @var{expr1} or @var{expr2} is true.
3838 The @code{test} and @code{[} builtins evaluate conditional
3839 expressions using a set of rules based on the number of arguments.
3843 The expression is false.
3846 The expression is true if, and only if, the argument is not null.
3849 If the first argument is @samp{!}, the expression is true if and
3850 only if the second argument is null.
3851 If the first argument is one of the unary conditional operators
3852 (@pxref{Bush Conditional Expressions}), the expression
3853 is true if the unary test is true.
3854 If the first argument is not a valid unary operator, the expression is
3858 The following conditions are applied in the order listed.
3862 If the second argument is one of the binary conditional
3863 operators (@pxref{Bush Conditional Expressions}), the
3864 result of the expression is the result of the binary test using the
3865 first and third arguments as operands.
3866 The @samp{-a} and @samp{-o} operators are considered binary operators
3867 when there are three arguments.
3869 If the first argument is @samp{!}, the value is the negation of
3870 the two-argument test using the second and third arguments.
3872 If the first argument is exactly @samp{(} and the third argument is
3873 exactly @samp{)}, the result is the one-argument test of the second
3876 Otherwise, the expression is false.
3880 If the first argument is @samp{!}, the result is the negation of
3881 the three-argument expression composed of the remaining arguments.
3882 Otherwise, the expression is parsed and evaluated according to
3883 precedence using the rules listed above.
3885 @item 5 or more arguments
3886 The expression is parsed and evaluated according to precedence
3887 using the rules listed above.
3890 When used with @code{test} or @samp{[}, the @samp{<} and @samp{>}
3891 operators sort lexicographically using ASCII ordering.
3899 Print out the user and system times used by the shell and its children.
3900 The return status is zero.
3905 trap [-lp] [@var{arg}] [@var{sigspec} @dots{}]
3908 The commands in @var{arg} are to be read and executed when the
3909 shell receives signal @var{sigspec}. If @var{arg} is absent (and
3910 there is a single @var{sigspec}) or
3911 equal to @samp{-}, each specified signal's disposition is reset
3912 to the value it had when the shell was started.
3913 If @var{arg} is the null string, then the signal specified by
3914 each @var{sigspec} is ignored by the shell and commands it invokes.
3915 If @var{arg} is not present and @option{-p} has been supplied,
3916 the shell displays the trap commands associated with each @var{sigspec}.
3917 If no arguments are supplied, or
3918 only @option{-p} is given, @code{trap} prints the list of commands
3919 associated with each signal number in a form that may be reused as
3921 The @option{-l} option causes the shell to print a list of signal names
3922 and their corresponding numbers.
3923 Each @var{sigspec} is either a signal name or a signal number.
3924 Signal names are case insensitive and the @code{SIG} prefix is optional.
3927 is @code{0} or @code{EXIT}, @var{arg} is executed when the shell exits.
3928 If a @var{sigspec} is @code{DEBUG}, the command @var{arg} is executed
3929 before every simple command, @code{for} command, @code{case} command,
3930 @code{select} command, every arithmetic @code{for} command, and before
3931 the first command executes in a shell function.
3932 Refer to the description of the @code{extdebug} option to the
3933 @code{shopt} builtin (@pxref{The Shopt Builtin}) for details of its
3934 effect on the @code{DEBUG} trap.
3935 If a @var{sigspec} is @code{RETURN}, the command @var{arg} is executed
3936 each time a shell function or a script executed with the @code{.} or
3937 @code{source} builtins finishes executing.
3939 If a @var{sigspec} is @code{ERR}, the command @var{arg}
3940 is executed whenever
3941 a pipeline (which may consist of a single simple
3942 command), a list, or a compound command returns a
3943 non-zero exit status,
3944 subject to the following conditions.
3945 The @code{ERR} trap is not executed if the failed command is part of the
3946 command list immediately following an @code{until} or @code{while} keyword,
3947 part of the test following the @code{if} or @code{elif} reserved words,
3948 part of a command executed in a @code{&&} or @code{||} list
3949 except the command following the final @code{&&} or @code{||},
3950 any command in a pipeline but the last,
3951 or if the command's return
3952 status is being inverted using @code{!}.
3953 These are the same conditions obeyed by the @code{errexit} (@option{-e})
3956 Signals ignored upon entry to the shell cannot be trapped or reset.
3957 Trapped signals that are not being ignored are reset to their original
3958 values in a subshell or subshell environment when one is created.
3960 The return status is zero unless a @var{sigspec} does not specify a
3966 umask [-p] [-S] [@var{mode}]
3969 Set the shell process's file creation mask to @var{mode}. If
3970 @var{mode} begins with a digit, it is interpreted as an octal number;
3971 if not, it is interpreted as a symbolic mode mask similar
3972 to that accepted by the @code{chmod} command. If @var{mode} is
3973 omitted, the current value of the mask is printed. If the @option{-S}
3974 option is supplied without a @var{mode} argument, the mask is printed
3975 in a symbolic format.
3976 If the @option{-p} option is supplied, and @var{mode}
3977 is omitted, the output is in a form that may be reused as input.
3978 The return status is zero if the mode is successfully changed or if
3979 no @var{mode} argument is supplied, and non-zero otherwise.
3981 Note that when the mode is interpreted as an octal number, each number
3982 of the umask is subtracted from @code{7}. Thus, a umask of @code{022}
3983 results in permissions of @code{755}.
3988 unset [-fnv] [@var{name}]
3991 Remove each variable or function @var{name}.
3992 If the @option{-v} option is given, each
3993 @var{name} refers to a shell variable and that variable is removed.
3994 If the @option{-f} option is given, the @var{name}s refer to shell
3995 functions, and the function definition is removed.
3996 If the @option{-n} option is supplied, and @var{name} is a variable with
3997 the @var{nameref} attribute, @var{name} will be unset rather than the
3998 variable it references.
3999 @option{-n} has no effect if the @option{-f} option is supplied.
4000 If no options are supplied, each @var{name} refers to a variable; if
4001 there is no variable by that name, a function with that name, if any, is
4003 Readonly variables and functions may not be unset.
4004 Some shell variables lose their special behavior if they are unset; such
4005 behavior is noted in the description of the individual variables.
4006 The return status is zero unless a @var{name} is readonly.
4010 @section Bush Builtin Commands
4012 This section describes builtin commands which are unique to
4013 or have been extended in Bush.
4014 Some of these commands are specified in the @sc{posix} standard.
4021 alias [-p] [@var{name}[=@var{value}] @dots{}]
4024 Without arguments or with the @option{-p} option, @code{alias} prints
4025 the list of aliases on the standard output in a form that allows
4026 them to be reused as input.
4027 If arguments are supplied, an alias is defined for each @var{name}
4028 whose @var{value} is given. If no @var{value} is given, the name
4029 and value of the alias is printed.
4030 Aliases are described in @ref{Aliases}.
4035 bind [-m @var{keymap}] [-lpsvPSVX]
4036 bind [-m @var{keymap}] [-q @var{function}] [-u @var{function}] [-r @var{keyseq}]
4037 bind [-m @var{keymap}] -f @var{filename}
4038 bind [-m @var{keymap}] -x @var{keyseq:shell-command}
4039 bind [-m @var{keymap}] @var{keyseq:function-name}
4040 bind [-m @var{keymap}] @var{keyseq:readline-command}
4043 Display current Readline (@pxref{Command Line Editing})
4044 key and function bindings,
4045 bind a key sequence to a Readline function or macro,
4046 or set a Readline variable.
4047 Each non-option argument is a command as it would appear in a
4048 Readline initialization file (@pxref{Readline Init File}),
4049 but each binding or command must be passed as a separate argument; e.g.,
4050 @samp{"\C-x\C-r":re-read-init-file}.
4052 Options, if supplied, have the following meanings:
4055 @item -m @var{keymap}
4056 Use @var{keymap} as the keymap to be affected by
4057 the subsequent bindings. Acceptable @var{keymap}
4060 @code{emacs-standard},
4065 @code{vi-command}, and
4067 @code{vi} is equivalent to @code{vi-command} (@code{vi-move} is also a
4068 synonym); @code{emacs} is equivalent to @code{emacs-standard}.
4071 List the names of all Readline functions.
4074 Display Readline function names and bindings in such a way that they
4075 can be used as input or in a Readline initialization file.
4078 List current Readline function names and bindings.
4081 Display Readline variable names and values in such a way that they
4082 can be used as input or in a Readline initialization file.
4085 List current Readline variable names and values.
4088 Display Readline key sequences bound to macros and the strings they output
4089 in such a way that they can be used as input or in a Readline
4090 initialization file.
4093 Display Readline key sequences bound to macros and the strings they output.
4095 @item -f @var{filename}
4096 Read key bindings from @var{filename}.
4098 @item -q @var{function}
4099 Query about which keys invoke the named @var{function}.
4101 @item -u @var{function}
4102 Unbind all keys bound to the named @var{function}.
4104 @item -r @var{keyseq}
4105 Remove any current binding for @var{keyseq}.
4107 @item -x @var{keyseq:shell-command}
4108 Cause @var{shell-command} to be executed whenever @var{keyseq} is
4110 When @var{shell-command} is executed, the shell sets the
4111 @code{READLINE_LINE} variable to the contents of the Readline line
4112 buffer and the @code{READLINE_POINT} and @code{READLINE_MARK} variables
4113 to the current location of the insertion point and the saved insertion
4114 point (the @var{mark}), respectively.
4115 If the executed command changes the value of any of @code{READLINE_LINE},
4116 @code{READLINE_POINT}, or @code{READLINE_MARK}, those new values will be
4117 reflected in the editing state.
4120 List all key sequences bound to shell commands and the associated commands
4121 in a format that can be reused as input.
4125 The return status is zero unless an invalid option is supplied or an
4131 builtin [@var{shell-builtin} [@var{args}]]
4134 Run a shell builtin, passing it @var{args}, and return its exit status.
4135 This is useful when defining a shell function with the same
4136 name as a shell builtin, retaining the functionality of the builtin within
4138 The return status is non-zero if @var{shell-builtin} is not a shell
4147 Returns the context of any active subroutine call (a shell function or
4148 a script executed with the @code{.} or @code{source} builtins).
4150 Without @var{expr}, @code{caller} displays the line number and source
4151 filename of the current subroutine call.
4152 If a non-negative integer is supplied as @var{expr}, @code{caller}
4153 displays the line number, subroutine name, and source file corresponding
4154 to that position in the current execution call stack. This extra
4155 information may be used, for example, to print a stack trace. The
4156 current frame is frame 0.
4158 The return value is 0 unless the shell is not executing a subroutine
4159 call or @var{expr} does not correspond to a valid position in the
4165 command [-pVv] @var{command} [@var{arguments} @dots{}]
4168 Runs @var{command} with @var{arguments} ignoring any shell function
4169 named @var{command}.
4170 Only shell builtin commands or commands found by searching the
4171 @env{PATH} are executed.
4172 If there is a shell function named @code{ls}, running @samp{command ls}
4173 within the function will execute the external command @code{ls}
4174 instead of calling the function recursively.
4175 The @option{-p} option means to use a default value for @env{PATH}
4176 that is guaranteed to find all of the standard utilities.
4177 The return status in this case is 127 if @var{command} cannot be
4178 found or an error occurred, and the exit status of @var{command}
4181 If either the @option{-V} or @option{-v} option is supplied, a
4182 description of @var{command} is printed. The @option{-v} option
4183 causes a single word indicating the command or file name used to
4184 invoke @var{command} to be displayed; the @option{-V} option produces
4185 a more verbose description. In this case, the return status is
4186 zero if @var{command} is found, and non-zero if not.
4191 declare [-aAfFgiIlnrtux] [-p] [@var{name}[=@var{value}] @dots{}]
4194 Declare variables and give them attributes. If no @var{name}s
4195 are given, then display the values of variables instead.
4197 The @option{-p} option will display the attributes and values of each
4199 When @option{-p} is used with @var{name} arguments, additional options,
4200 other than @option{-f} and @option{-F}, are ignored.
4202 When @option{-p} is supplied without @var{name} arguments, @code{declare}
4203 will display the attributes and values of all variables having the
4204 attributes specified by the additional options.
4205 If no other options are supplied with @option{-p}, @code{declare} will
4206 display the attributes and values of all shell variables. The @option{-f}
4207 option will restrict the display to shell functions.
4209 The @option{-F} option inhibits the display of function definitions;
4210 only the function name and attributes are printed.
4211 If the @code{extdebug} shell option is enabled using @code{shopt}
4212 (@pxref{The Shopt Builtin}), the source file name and line number where
4213 each @var{name} is defined are displayed as well.
4214 @option{-F} implies @option{-f}.
4216 The @option{-g} option forces variables to be created or modified at
4217 the global scope, even when @code{declare} is executed in a shell function.
4218 It is ignored in all other cases.
4220 The @option{-I} option causes local variables to inherit the attributes
4221 (except the @var{nameref} attribute)
4222 and value of any existing variable with the same
4223 @var{name} at a surrounding scope.
4224 If there is no existing variable, the local variable is initially unset.
4226 The following options can be used to restrict output to variables with
4227 the specified attributes or to give variables attributes:
4231 Each @var{name} is an indexed array variable (@pxref{Arrays}).
4234 Each @var{name} is an associative array variable (@pxref{Arrays}).
4237 Use function names only.
4240 The variable is to be treated as
4241 an integer; arithmetic evaluation (@pxref{Shell Arithmetic}) is
4242 performed when the variable is assigned a value.
4245 When the variable is assigned a value, all upper-case characters are
4246 converted to lower-case.
4247 The upper-case attribute is disabled.
4250 Give each @var{name} the @var{nameref} attribute, making
4251 it a name reference to another variable.
4252 That other variable is defined by the value of @var{name}.
4253 All references, assignments, and attribute modifications
4254 to @var{name}, except for those using or changing the
4255 @option{-n} attribute itself, are performed on the variable referenced by
4257 The nameref attribute cannot be applied to array variables.
4260 Make @var{name}s readonly. These names cannot then be assigned values
4261 by subsequent assignment statements or unset.
4264 Give each @var{name} the @code{trace} attribute.
4265 Traced functions inherit the @code{DEBUG} and @code{RETURN} traps from
4267 The trace attribute has no special meaning for variables.
4270 When the variable is assigned a value, all lower-case characters are
4271 converted to upper-case.
4272 The lower-case attribute is disabled.
4275 Mark each @var{name} for export to subsequent commands via
4279 Using @samp{+} instead of @samp{-} turns off the attribute instead,
4280 with the exceptions that @samp{+a} and @samp{+A}
4281 may not be used to destroy array variables and @samp{+r} will not
4282 remove the readonly attribute.
4283 When used in a function, @code{declare} makes each @var{name} local,
4284 as with the @code{local} command, unless the @option{-g} option is used.
4285 If a variable name is followed by =@var{value}, the value of the variable
4286 is set to @var{value}.
4288 When using @option{-a} or @option{-A} and the compound assignment syntax to
4289 create array variables, additional attributes do not take effect until
4290 subsequent assignments.
4292 The return status is zero unless an invalid option is encountered,
4293 an attempt is made to define a function using @samp{-f foo=bar},
4294 an attempt is made to assign a value to a readonly variable,
4295 an attempt is made to assign a value to an array variable without
4296 using the compound assignment syntax (@pxref{Arrays}),
4297 one of the @var{names} is not a valid shell variable name,
4298 an attempt is made to turn off readonly status for a readonly variable,
4299 an attempt is made to turn off array status for an array variable,
4300 or an attempt is made to display a non-existent function with @option{-f}.
4305 echo [-neE] [@var{arg} @dots{}]
4308 Output the @var{arg}s, separated by spaces, terminated with a
4310 The return status is 0 unless a write error occurs.
4311 If @option{-n} is specified, the trailing newline is suppressed.
4312 If the @option{-e} option is given, interpretation of the following
4313 backslash-escaped characters is enabled.
4314 The @option{-E} option disables the interpretation of these escape characters,
4315 even on systems where they are interpreted by default.
4316 The @code{xpg_echo} shell option may be used to
4317 dynamically determine whether or not @code{echo} expands these
4318 escape characters by default.
4319 @code{echo} does not interpret @option{--} to mean the end of options.
4321 @code{echo} interprets the following escape sequences:
4328 suppress further output
4345 the eight-bit character whose value is the octal value @var{nnn}
4346 (zero to three octal digits)
4348 the eight-bit character whose value is the hexadecimal value @var{HH}
4349 (one or two hex digits)
4351 the Unicode (ISO/IEC 10646) character whose value is the hexadecimal value
4352 @var{HHHH} (one to four hex digits)
4353 @item \U@var{HHHHHHHH}
4354 the Unicode (ISO/IEC 10646) character whose value is the hexadecimal value
4355 @var{HHHHHHHH} (one to eight hex digits)
4361 enable [-a] [-dnps] [-f @var{filename}] [@var{name} @dots{}]
4364 Enable and disable builtin shell commands.
4365 Disabling a builtin allows a disk command which has the same name
4366 as a shell builtin to be executed without specifying a full pathname,
4367 even though the shell normally searches for builtins before disk commands.
4368 If @option{-n} is used, the @var{name}s become disabled. Otherwise
4369 @var{name}s are enabled. For example, to use the @code{test} binary
4370 found via @env{$PATH} instead of the shell builtin version, type
4371 @samp{enable -n test}.
4373 If the @option{-p} option is supplied, or no @var{name} arguments appear,
4374 a list of shell builtins is printed. With no other arguments, the list
4375 consists of all enabled shell builtins.
4376 The @option{-a} option means to list
4377 each builtin with an indication of whether or not it is enabled.
4379 The @option{-f} option means to load the new builtin command @var{name}
4380 from shared object @var{filename}, on systems that support dynamic loading.
4381 The @option{-d} option will delete a builtin loaded with @option{-f}.
4383 If there are no options, a list of the shell builtins is displayed.
4384 The @option{-s} option restricts @code{enable} to the @sc{posix} special
4385 builtins. If @option{-s} is used with @option{-f}, the new builtin becomes
4386 a special builtin (@pxref{Special Builtins}).
4388 The return status is zero unless a @var{name} is not a shell builtin
4389 or there is an error loading a new builtin from a shared object.
4394 help [-dms] [@var{pattern}]
4397 Display helpful information about builtin commands.
4398 If @var{pattern} is specified, @code{help} gives detailed help
4399 on all commands matching @var{pattern}, otherwise a list of
4400 the builtins is printed.
4402 Options, if supplied, have the following meanings:
4406 Display a short description of each @var{pattern}
4408 Display the description of each @var{pattern} in a manpage-like format
4410 Display only a short usage synopsis for each @var{pattern}
4413 The return status is zero unless no command matches @var{pattern}.
4418 let @var{expression} [@var{expression} @dots{}]
4421 The @code{let} builtin allows arithmetic to be performed on shell
4422 variables. Each @var{expression} is evaluated according to the
4423 rules given below in @ref{Shell Arithmetic}. If the
4424 last @var{expression} evaluates to 0, @code{let} returns 1;
4425 otherwise 0 is returned.
4430 local [@var{option}] @var{name}[=@var{value}] @dots{}
4433 For each argument, a local variable named @var{name} is created,
4434 and assigned @var{value}.
4435 The @var{option} can be any of the options accepted by @code{declare}.
4436 @code{local} can only be used within a function; it makes the variable
4437 @var{name} have a visible scope restricted to that function and its
4439 If @var{name} is @samp{-}, the set of shell options is made local to the
4440 function in which @code{local} is invoked: shell options changed using
4441 the @code{set} builtin inside the function are restored to their original
4442 values when the function returns.
4443 The restore is effected as if a series of @code{set} commands were executed
4444 to restore the values that were in place before the function.
4445 The return status is zero unless @code{local} is used outside
4446 a function, an invalid @var{name} is supplied, or @var{name} is a
4455 Exit a login shell, returning a status of @var{n} to the shell's
4461 mapfile [-d @var{delim}] [-n @var{count}] [-O @var{origin}] [-s @var{count}]
4462 [-t] [-u @var{fd}] [-C @var{callback}] [-c @var{quantum}] [@var{array}]
4465 Read lines from the standard input into the indexed array variable @var{array},
4466 or from file descriptor @var{fd}
4467 if the @option{-u} option is supplied.
4468 The variable @code{MAPFILE} is the default @var{array}.
4469 Options, if supplied, have the following meanings:
4474 The first character of @var{delim} is used to terminate each input line,
4475 rather than newline.
4476 If @var{delim} is the empty string, @code{mapfile} will terminate a line
4477 when it reads a NUL character.
4479 Copy at most @var{count} lines. If @var{count} is 0, all lines are copied.
4481 Begin assigning to @var{array} at index @var{origin}.
4482 The default index is 0.
4484 Discard the first @var{count} lines read.
4486 Remove a trailing @var{delim} (default newline) from each line read.
4488 Read lines from file descriptor @var{fd} instead of the standard input.
4490 Evaluate @var{callback} each time @var{quantum} lines are read.
4491 The @option{-c} option specifies @var{quantum}.
4493 Specify the number of lines read between each call to @var{callback}.
4496 If @option{-C} is specified without @option{-c},
4497 the default quantum is 5000.
4498 When @var{callback} is evaluated, it is supplied the index of the next
4499 array element to be assigned and the line to be assigned to that element
4500 as additional arguments.
4501 @var{callback} is evaluated after the line is read but before the
4502 array element is assigned.
4504 If not supplied with an explicit origin, @code{mapfile} will clear @var{array}
4505 before assigning to it.
4507 @code{mapfile} returns successfully unless an invalid option or option
4508 argument is supplied, @var{array} is invalid or unassignable, or @var{array}
4509 is not an indexed array.
4514 printf [-v @var{var}] @var{format} [@var{arguments}]
4517 Write the formatted @var{arguments} to the standard output under the
4518 control of the @var{format}.
4519 The @option{-v} option causes the output to be assigned to the variable
4520 @var{var} rather than being printed to the standard output.
4522 The @var{format} is a character string which contains three types of objects:
4523 plain characters, which are simply copied to standard output, character
4524 escape sequences, which are converted and copied to the standard output, and
4525 format specifications, each of which causes printing of the next successive
4527 In addition to the standard @code{printf(1)} formats, @code{printf}
4528 interprets the following extensions:
4532 Causes @code{printf} to expand backslash escape sequences in the
4533 corresponding @var{argument} in the same way as @code{echo -e}
4534 (@pxref{Bush Builtins}).
4536 Causes @code{printf} to output the
4537 corresponding @var{argument} in a format that can be reused as shell input.
4538 @item %(@var{datefmt})T
4539 Causes @code{printf} to output the date-time string resulting from using
4540 @var{datefmt} as a format string for @code{strftime}(3).
4541 The corresponding @var{argument} is an integer representing the number of
4542 seconds since the epoch.
4543 Two special argument values may be used: -1 represents the current
4544 time, and -2 represents the time the shell was invoked.
4545 If no argument is specified, conversion behaves as if -1 had been given.
4546 This is an exception to the usual @code{printf} behavior.
4550 The %b, %q, and %T directives all use the field width and precision
4551 arguments from the format specification and write that many bytes from
4552 (or use that wide a field for) the expanded argument, which usually
4553 contains more characters than the original.
4555 Arguments to non-string format specifiers are treated as C language constants,
4556 except that a leading plus or minus sign is allowed, and if the leading
4557 character is a single or double quote, the value is the ASCII value of
4558 the following character.
4560 The @var{format} is reused as necessary to consume all of the @var{arguments}.
4561 If the @var{format} requires more @var{arguments} than are supplied, the
4562 extra format specifications behave as if a zero value or null string, as
4563 appropriate, had been supplied. The return value is zero on success,
4564 non-zero on failure.
4569 read [-ers] [-a @var{aname}] [-d @var{delim}] [-i @var{text}] [-n @var{nchars}]
4570 [-N @var{nchars}] [-p @var{prompt}] [-t @var{timeout}] [-u @var{fd}] [@var{name} @dots{}]
4573 One line is read from the standard input, or from the file descriptor
4574 @var{fd} supplied as an argument to the @option{-u} option,
4575 split into words as described above in @ref{Word Splitting},
4577 is assigned to the first @var{name}, the second word to the second @var{name},
4579 If there are more words than names,
4580 the remaining words and their intervening delimiters are assigned
4581 to the last @var{name}.
4582 If there are fewer words read from the input stream than names,
4583 the remaining names are assigned empty values.
4584 The characters in the value of the @env{IFS} variable
4585 are used to split the line into words using the same rules the shell
4586 uses for expansion (described above in @ref{Word Splitting}).
4587 The backslash character @samp{\} may be used to remove any special
4588 meaning for the next character read and for line continuation.
4590 Options, if supplied, have the following meanings:
4593 @item -a @var{aname}
4594 The words are assigned to sequential indices of the array variable
4595 @var{aname}, starting at 0.
4596 All elements are removed from @var{aname} before the assignment.
4597 Other @var{name} arguments are ignored.
4599 @item -d @var{delim}
4600 The first character of @var{delim} is used to terminate the input line,
4601 rather than newline.
4602 If @var{delim} is the empty string, @code{read} will terminate a line
4603 when it reads a NUL character.
4606 Readline (@pxref{Command Line Editing}) is used to obtain the line.
4607 Readline uses the current (or default, if line editing was not previously
4608 active) editing settings, but uses Readline's default filename completion.
4611 If Readline is being used to read the line, @var{text} is placed into
4612 the editing buffer before editing begins.
4614 @item -n @var{nchars}
4615 @code{read} returns after reading @var{nchars} characters rather than
4616 waiting for a complete line of input, but honors a delimiter if fewer
4617 than @var{nchars} characters are read before the delimiter.
4619 @item -N @var{nchars}
4620 @code{read} returns after reading exactly @var{nchars} characters rather
4621 than waiting for a complete line of input, unless EOF is encountered or
4622 @code{read} times out.
4623 Delimiter characters encountered in the input are
4624 not treated specially and do not cause @code{read} to return until
4625 @var{nchars} characters are read.
4626 The result is not split on the characters in @code{IFS}; the intent is
4627 that the variable is assigned exactly the characters read
4628 (with the exception of backslash; see the @option{-r} option below).
4630 @item -p @var{prompt}
4631 Display @var{prompt}, without a trailing newline, before attempting
4633 The prompt is displayed only if input is coming from a terminal.
4636 If this option is given, backslash does not act as an escape character.
4637 The backslash is considered to be part of the line.
4638 In particular, a backslash-newline pair may not then be used as a line
4642 Silent mode. If input is coming from a terminal, characters are
4645 @item -t @var{timeout}
4646 Cause @code{read} to time out and return failure if a complete line of
4647 input (or a specified number of characters)
4648 is not read within @var{timeout} seconds.
4649 @var{timeout} may be a decimal number with a fractional portion following
4651 This option is only effective if @code{read} is reading input from a
4652 terminal, pipe, or other special file; it has no effect when reading
4654 If @code{read} times out, @code{read} saves any partial input read into
4655 the specified variable @var{name}.
4656 If @var{timeout} is 0, @code{read} returns immediately, without trying to
4657 read any data. The exit status is 0 if input is available on
4658 the specified file descriptor, non-zero otherwise.
4659 The exit status is greater than 128 if the timeout is exceeded.
4662 Read input from file descriptor @var{fd}.
4665 If no @var{name}s are supplied, the line read,
4666 without the ending delimiter but otherwise unmodified,
4668 variable @env{REPLY}.
4669 The exit status is zero, unless end-of-file is encountered, @code{read}
4670 times out (in which case the status is greater than 128),
4671 a variable assignment error (such as assigning to a readonly variable) occurs,
4672 or an invalid file descriptor is supplied as the argument to @option{-u}.
4677 readarray [-d @var{delim}] [-n @var{count}] [-O @var{origin}] [-s @var{count}]
4678 [-t] [-u @var{fd}] [-C @var{callback}] [-c @var{quantum}] [@var{array}]
4681 Read lines from the standard input into the indexed array variable @var{array},
4682 or from file descriptor @var{fd}
4683 if the @option{-u} option is supplied.
4685 A synonym for @code{mapfile}.
4690 source @var{filename}
4693 A synonym for @code{.} (@pxref{Bourne Shell Builtins}).
4698 type [-afptP] [@var{name} @dots{}]
4701 For each @var{name}, indicate how it would be interpreted if used as a
4704 If the @option{-t} option is used, @code{type} prints a single word
4705 which is one of @samp{alias}, @samp{function}, @samp{builtin},
4706 @samp{file} or @samp{keyword},
4707 if @var{name} is an alias, shell function, shell builtin,
4708 disk file, or shell reserved word, respectively.
4709 If the @var{name} is not found, then nothing is printed, and
4710 @code{type} returns a failure status.
4712 If the @option{-p} option is used, @code{type} either returns the name
4713 of the disk file that would be executed, or nothing if @option{-t}
4714 would not return @samp{file}.
4716 The @option{-P} option forces a path search for each @var{name}, even if
4717 @option{-t} would not return @samp{file}.
4719 If a command is hashed, @option{-p} and @option{-P} print the hashed value,
4720 which is not necessarily the file that appears first in @code{$PATH}.
4722 If the @option{-a} option is used, @code{type} returns all of the places
4723 that contain an executable named @var{file}.
4724 This includes aliases and functions, if and only if the @option{-p} option
4727 If the @option{-f} option is used, @code{type} does not attempt to find
4728 shell functions, as with the @code{command} builtin.
4730 The return status is zero if all of the @var{names} are found, non-zero
4731 if any are not found.
4736 typeset [-afFgrxilnrtux] [-p] [@var{name}[=@var{value}] @dots{}]
4739 The @code{typeset} command is supplied for compatibility with the Korn
4741 It is a synonym for the @code{declare} builtin command.
4747 ulimit [-HS] [-bcdefiklmnpqrstuvxPRT] [@var{limit}]
4750 @code{ulimit} provides control over the resources available to processes
4751 started by the shell, on systems that allow such control. If an
4752 option is given, it is interpreted as follows:
4756 Change and report the soft limit associated with a resource.
4759 Change and report the hard limit associated with a resource.
4762 All current limits are reported; no limits are set.
4765 The maximum socket buffer size.
4768 The maximum size of core files created.
4771 The maximum size of a process's data segment.
4774 The maximum scheduling priority ("nice").
4777 The maximum size of files written by the shell and its children.
4780 The maximum number of pending signals.
4783 The maximum number of kqueues that may be allocated.
4786 The maximum size that may be locked into memory.
4789 The maximum resident set size (many systems do not honor this limit).
4792 The maximum number of open file descriptors (most systems do not
4793 allow this value to be set).
4796 The pipe buffer size.
4799 The maximum number of bytes in @sc{posix} message queues.
4802 The maximum real-time scheduling priority.
4805 The maximum stack size.
4808 The maximum amount of cpu time in seconds.
4811 The maximum number of processes available to a single user.
4814 The maximum amount of virtual memory available to the shell, and, on
4815 some systems, to its children.
4818 The maximum number of file locks.
4821 The maximum number of pseudoterminals.
4824 The maximum time a real-time process can run before blocking, in microseconds.
4827 The maximum number of threads.
4830 If @var{limit} is given, and the @option{-a} option is not used,
4831 @var{limit} is the new value of the specified resource.
4832 The special @var{limit} values @code{hard}, @code{soft}, and
4833 @code{unlimited} stand for the current hard limit, the current soft limit,
4834 and no limit, respectively.
4835 A hard limit cannot be increased by a non-root user once it is set;
4836 a soft limit may be increased up to the value of the hard limit.
4837 Otherwise, the current value of the soft limit for the specified resource
4838 is printed, unless the @option{-H} option is supplied.
4840 resource is specified, the limit name and unit, if appropriate,
4841 are printed before the value.
4842 When setting new limits, if neither @option{-H} nor @option{-S} is supplied,
4843 both the hard and soft limits are set.
4844 If no option is given, then @option{-f} is assumed. Values are in 1024-byte
4845 increments, except for
4846 @option{-t}, which is in seconds;
4847 @option{-R}, which is in microseconds;
4848 @option{-p}, which is in units of 512-byte blocks;
4853 @option{-n} and @option{-u}, which are unscaled values;
4854 and, when in @sc{posix} Mode (@pxref{Bush POSIX Mode}),
4855 @option{-c} and @option{-f}, which are in 512-byte increments.
4857 The return status is zero unless an invalid option or argument is supplied,
4858 or an error occurs while setting a new limit.
4863 unalias [-a] [@var{name} @dots{} ]
4866 Remove each @var{name} from the list of aliases. If @option{-a} is
4867 supplied, all aliases are removed.
4868 Aliases are described in @ref{Aliases}.
4871 @node Modifying Shell Behavior
4872 @section Modifying Shell Behavior
4875 * The Set Builtin:: Change the values of shell attributes and
4876 positional parameters.
4877 * The Shopt Builtin:: Modify shell optional behavior.
4880 @node The Set Builtin
4881 @subsection The Set Builtin
4883 This builtin is so complicated that it deserves its own section. @code{set}
4884 allows you to change the values of shell options and set the positional
4885 parameters, or to display the names and values of shell variables.
4891 set [--abefhkmnptuvxBCEHPT] [-o @var{option-name}] [@var{argument} @dots{}]
4892 set [+abefhkmnptuvxBCEHPT] [+o @var{option-name}] [@var{argument} @dots{}]
4895 If no options or arguments are supplied, @code{set} displays the names
4896 and values of all shell variables and functions, sorted according to the
4897 current locale, in a format that may be reused as input
4898 for setting or resetting the currently-set variables.
4899 Read-only variables cannot be reset.
4900 In @sc{posix} mode, only shell variables are listed.
4902 When options are supplied, they set or unset shell attributes.
4903 Options, if specified, have the following meanings:
4907 Each variable or function that is created or modified is given the
4908 export attribute and marked for export to the environment of
4909 subsequent commands.
4912 Cause the status of terminated background jobs to be reported
4913 immediately, rather than before printing the next primary prompt.
4917 a pipeline (@pxref{Pipelines}), which may consist of a single simple command
4918 (@pxref{Simple Commands}),
4919 a list (@pxref{Lists}),
4920 or a compound command (@pxref{Compound Commands})
4921 returns a non-zero status.
4922 The shell does not exit if the command that fails is part of the
4923 command list immediately following a @code{while} or @code{until} keyword,
4924 part of the test in an @code{if} statement,
4925 part of any command executed in a @code{&&} or @code{||} list except
4926 the command following the final @code{&&} or @code{||},
4927 any command in a pipeline but the last,
4928 or if the command's return status is being inverted with @code{!}.
4929 If a compound command other than a subshell
4930 returns a non-zero status because a command failed
4931 while @option{-e} was being ignored, the shell does not exit.
4932 A trap on @code{ERR}, if set, is executed before the shell exits.
4934 This option applies to the shell environment and each subshell environment
4935 separately (@pxref{Command Execution Environment}), and may cause
4936 subshells to exit before executing all the commands in the subshell.
4938 If a compound command or shell function executes in a context where
4939 @option{-e} is being ignored,
4940 none of the commands executed within the compound command or function body
4941 will be affected by the @option{-e} setting, even if @option{-e} is set
4942 and a command returns a failure status.
4943 If a compound command or shell function sets @option{-e} while executing in
4944 a context where @option{-e} is ignored, that setting will not have any
4945 effect until the compound command or the command containing the function
4949 Disable filename expansion (globbing).
4952 Locate and remember (hash) commands as they are looked up for execution.
4953 This option is enabled by default.
4956 All arguments in the form of assignment statements are placed
4957 in the environment for a command, not just those that precede
4961 Job control is enabled (@pxref{Job Control}).
4962 All processes run in a separate process group.
4963 When a background job completes, the shell prints a line
4964 containing its exit status.
4967 Read commands but do not execute them.
4968 This may be used to check a script for syntax errors.
4969 This option is ignored by interactive shells.
4971 @item -o @var{option-name}
4973 Set the option corresponding to @var{option-name}:
4983 Use an @code{emacs}-style line editing interface (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
4984 This also affects the editing interface used for @code{read -e}.
5002 Enable command history, as described in @ref{Bush History Facilities}.
5003 This option is on by default in interactive shells.
5006 An interactive shell will not exit upon reading EOF.
5039 If set, the return value of a pipeline is the value of the last
5040 (rightmost) command to exit with a non-zero status, or zero if all
5041 commands in the pipeline exit successfully.
5042 This option is disabled by default.
5045 Change the behavior of Bush where the default operation differs
5046 from the @sc{posix} standard to match the standard
5047 (@pxref{Bush POSIX Mode}).
5048 This is intended to make Bush behave as a strict superset of that
5058 Use a @code{vi}-style line editing interface.
5059 This also affects the editing interface used for @code{read -e}.
5066 Turn on privileged mode.
5067 In this mode, the @env{$BUSH_ENV} and @env{$ENV} files are not
5068 processed, shell functions are not inherited from the environment,
5069 and the @env{SHELLOPTS}, @env{BUSHOPTS}, @env{CDPATH} and @env{GLOBIGNORE}
5070 variables, if they appear in the environment, are ignored.
5071 If the shell is started with the effective user (group) id not equal to the
5072 real user (group) id, and the @option{-p} option is not supplied, these actions
5073 are taken and the effective user id is set to the real user id.
5074 If the @option{-p} option is supplied at startup, the effective user id is
5076 Turning this option off causes the effective user
5077 and group ids to be set to the real user and group ids.
5080 Exit after reading and executing one command.
5083 Treat unset variables and parameters other than the special parameters
5084 @samp{@@} or @samp{*} as an error when performing parameter expansion.
5085 An error message will be written to the standard error, and a non-interactive
5089 Print shell input lines as they are read.
5092 Print a trace of simple commands, @code{for} commands, @code{case}
5093 commands, @code{select} commands, and arithmetic @code{for} commands
5094 and their arguments or associated word lists after they are
5095 expanded and before they are executed. The value of the @env{PS4}
5096 variable is expanded and the resultant value is printed before
5097 the command and its expanded arguments.
5100 The shell will perform brace expansion (@pxref{Brace Expansion}).
5101 This option is on by default.
5104 Prevent output redirection using @samp{>}, @samp{>&}, and @samp{<>}
5105 from overwriting existing files.
5108 If set, any trap on @code{ERR} is inherited by shell functions, command
5109 substitutions, and commands executed in a subshell environment.
5110 The @code{ERR} trap is normally not inherited in such cases.
5113 Enable @samp{!} style history substitution (@pxref{History Interaction}).
5114 This option is on by default for interactive shells.
5117 If set, do not resolve symbolic links when performing commands such as
5118 @code{cd} which change the current directory. The physical directory
5119 is used instead. By default, Bush follows
5120 the logical chain of directories when performing commands
5121 which change the current directory.
5123 For example, if @file{/usr/sys} is a symbolic link to @file{/usr/local/sys}
5126 $ cd /usr/sys; echo $PWD
5133 If @code{set -P} is on, then:
5135 $ cd /usr/sys; echo $PWD
5142 If set, any trap on @code{DEBUG} and @code{RETURN} are inherited by
5143 shell functions, command substitutions, and commands executed
5144 in a subshell environment.
5145 The @code{DEBUG} and @code{RETURN} traps are normally not inherited
5149 If no arguments follow this option, then the positional parameters are
5150 unset. Otherwise, the positional parameters are set to the
5151 @var{arguments}, even if some of them begin with a @samp{-}.
5154 Signal the end of options, cause all remaining @var{arguments}
5155 to be assigned to the positional parameters. The @option{-x}
5156 and @option{-v} options are turned off.
5157 If there are no arguments, the positional parameters remain unchanged.
5160 Using @samp{+} rather than @samp{-} causes these options to be
5161 turned off. The options can also be used upon invocation of the
5162 shell. The current set of options may be found in @code{$-}.
5164 The remaining N @var{arguments} are positional parameters and are
5165 assigned, in order, to @code{$1}, @code{$2}, @dots{} @code{$N}.
5166 The special parameter @code{#} is set to N.
5168 The return status is always zero unless an invalid option is supplied.
5171 @node The Shopt Builtin
5172 @subsection The Shopt Builtin
5174 This builtin allows you to change additional shell optional behavior.
5181 shopt [-pqsu] [-o] [@var{optname} @dots{}]
5184 Toggle the values of settings controlling optional shell behavior.
5185 The settings can be either those listed below, or, if the
5186 @option{-o} option is used, those available with the @option{-o}
5187 option to the @code{set} builtin command (@pxref{The Set Builtin}).
5188 With no options, or with the @option{-p} option, a list of all settable
5189 options is displayed, with an indication of whether or not each is set;
5190 if @var{optnames} are supplied, the output is restricted to those options.
5191 The @option{-p} option causes output to be displayed in a form that
5192 may be reused as input.
5193 Other options have the following meanings:
5197 Enable (set) each @var{optname}.
5200 Disable (unset) each @var{optname}.
5203 Suppresses normal output; the return status
5204 indicates whether the @var{optname} is set or unset.
5205 If multiple @var{optname} arguments are given with @option{-q},
5206 the return status is zero if all @var{optnames} are enabled;
5210 Restricts the values of
5211 @var{optname} to be those defined for the @option{-o} option to the
5212 @code{set} builtin (@pxref{The Set Builtin}).
5215 If either @option{-s} or @option{-u}
5216 is used with no @var{optname} arguments, @code{shopt} shows only
5217 those options which are set or unset, respectively.
5219 Unless otherwise noted, the @code{shopt} options are disabled (off)
5222 The return status when listing options is zero if all @var{optnames}
5223 are enabled, non-zero otherwise. When setting or unsetting options,
5224 the return status is zero unless an @var{optname} is not a valid shell
5227 The list of @code{shopt} options is:
5230 @item assoc_expand_once
5231 If set, the shell suppresses multiple evaluation of associative array
5232 subscripts during arithmetic expression evaluation, while executing
5233 builtins that can perform variable assignments,
5234 and while executing builtins that perform array dereferencing.
5237 If set, a command name that is the name of a directory is executed as if
5238 it were the argument to the @code{cd} command.
5239 This option is only used by interactive shells.
5242 If this is set, an argument to the @code{cd} builtin command that
5243 is not a directory is assumed to be the name of a variable whose
5244 value is the directory to change to.
5247 If set, minor errors in the spelling of a directory component in a
5248 @code{cd} command will be corrected.
5249 The errors checked for are transposed characters,
5250 a missing character, and a character too many.
5251 If a correction is found, the corrected path is printed,
5252 and the command proceeds.
5253 This option is only used by interactive shells.
5256 If this is set, Bush checks that a command found in the hash
5257 table exists before trying to execute it. If a hashed command no
5258 longer exists, a normal path search is performed.
5261 If set, Bush lists the status of any stopped and running jobs before
5262 exiting an interactive shell. If any jobs are running, this causes
5263 the exit to be deferred until a second exit is attempted without an
5264 intervening command (@pxref{Job Control}).
5265 The shell always postpones exiting if any jobs are stopped.
5268 If set, Bush checks the window size after each external (non-builtin)
5269 command and, if necessary, updates the values of
5270 @env{LINES} and @env{COLUMNS}.
5271 This option is enabled by default.
5275 attempts to save all lines of a multiple-line
5276 command in the same history entry. This allows
5277 easy re-editing of multi-line commands.
5278 This option is enabled by default, but only has an effect if command
5279 history is enabled (@pxref{Bush History Facilities}).
5288 These control aspects of the shell's compatibility mode
5289 (@pxref{Shell Compatibility Mode}).
5291 @item complete_fullquote
5293 quotes all shell metacharacters in filenames and directory names when
5294 performing completion.
5296 removes metacharacters such as the dollar sign from the set of
5297 characters that will be quoted in completed filenames
5298 when these metacharacters appear in shell variable references in words to be
5300 This means that dollar signs in variable names that expand to directories
5302 however, any dollar signs appearing in filenames will not be quoted, either.
5303 This is active only when bush is using backslashes to quote completed
5305 This variable is set by default, which is the default Bush behavior in
5306 versions through 4.2.
5310 replaces directory names with the results of word expansion when performing
5311 filename completion. This changes the contents of the readline editing
5313 If not set, Bush attempts to preserve what the user typed.
5317 attempts spelling correction on directory names during word completion
5318 if the directory name initially supplied does not exist.
5321 If set, Bush includes filenames beginning with a `.' in
5322 the results of filename expansion.
5323 The filenames @samp{.} and @samp{..} must always be matched explicitly,
5324 even if @code{dotglob} is set.
5327 If this is set, a non-interactive shell will not exit if
5328 it cannot execute the file specified as an argument to the @code{exec}
5329 builtin command. An interactive shell does not exit if @code{exec}
5332 @item expand_aliases
5333 If set, aliases are expanded as described below under Aliases,
5335 This option is enabled by default for interactive shells.
5338 If set at shell invocation,
5339 or in a shell startup file,
5340 arrange to execute the debugger profile
5341 before the shell starts, identical to the @option{--debugger} option.
5342 If set after invocation, behavior intended for use by debuggers is enabled:
5346 The @option{-F} option to the @code{declare} builtin (@pxref{Bush Builtins})
5347 displays the source file name and line number corresponding to each function
5348 name supplied as an argument.
5351 If the command run by the @code{DEBUG} trap returns a non-zero value, the
5352 next command is skipped and not executed.
5355 If the command run by the @code{DEBUG} trap returns a value of 2, and the
5356 shell is executing in a subroutine (a shell function or a shell script
5357 executed by the @code{.} or @code{source} builtins), the shell simulates
5358 a call to @code{return}.
5361 @code{BUSH_ARGC} and @code{BUSH_ARGV} are updated as described in their
5362 descriptions (@pxref{Bush Variables}).
5365 Function tracing is enabled: command substitution, shell functions, and
5366 subshells invoked with @code{( @var{command} )} inherit the
5367 @code{DEBUG} and @code{RETURN} traps.
5370 Error tracing is enabled: command substitution, shell functions, and
5371 subshells invoked with @code{( @var{command} )} inherit the
5376 If set, the extended pattern matching features described above
5377 (@pxref{Pattern Matching}) are enabled.
5380 If set, @code{$'@var{string}'} and @code{$"@var{string}"} quoting is
5381 performed within @code{$@{@var{parameter}@}} expansions
5382 enclosed in double quotes. This option is enabled by default.
5385 If set, patterns which fail to match filenames during filename expansion
5386 result in an expansion error.
5389 If set, the suffixes specified by the @env{FIGNORE} shell variable
5390 cause words to be ignored when performing word completion even if
5391 the ignored words are the only possible completions.
5392 @xref{Bush Variables}, for a description of @env{FIGNORE}.
5393 This option is enabled by default.
5395 @item globasciiranges
5396 If set, range expressions used in pattern matching bracket expressions
5397 (@pxref{Pattern Matching})
5398 behave as if in the traditional C locale when performing
5399 comparisons. That is, the current locale's collating sequence
5400 is not taken into account, so
5401 @samp{b} will not collate between @samp{A} and @samp{B},
5402 and upper-case and lower-case ASCII characters will collate together.
5405 If set, the pattern @samp{**} used in a filename expansion context will
5406 match all files and zero or more directories and subdirectories.
5407 If the pattern is followed by a @samp{/}, only directories and
5408 subdirectories match.
5411 If set, shell error messages are written in the standard @sc{gnu} error
5415 If set, the history list is appended to the file named by the value
5416 of the @env{HISTFILE}
5417 variable when the shell exits, rather than overwriting the file.
5420 If set, and Readline
5421 is being used, a user is given the opportunity to re-edit a
5422 failed history substitution.
5425 If set, and Readline
5426 is being used, the results of history substitution are not immediately
5427 passed to the shell parser. Instead, the resulting line is loaded into
5428 the Readline editing buffer, allowing further modification.
5431 If set, and Readline is being used, Bush will attempt to perform
5432 hostname completion when a word containing a @samp{@@} is being
5433 completed (@pxref{Commands For Completion}). This option is enabled
5437 If set, Bush will send @code{SIGHUP} to all jobs when an interactive
5438 login shell exits (@pxref{Signals}).
5440 @item inherit_errexit
5441 If set, command substitution inherits the value of the @code{errexit} option,
5442 instead of unsetting it in the subshell environment.
5443 This option is enabled when @sc{posix} mode is enabled.
5445 @item interactive_comments
5446 Allow a word beginning with @samp{#}
5447 to cause that word and all remaining characters on that
5448 line to be ignored in an interactive shell.
5449 This option is enabled by default.
5452 If set, and job control is not active, the shell runs the last command of
5453 a pipeline not executed in the background in the current shell environment.
5456 If enabled, and the @code{cmdhist}
5457 option is enabled, multi-line commands are saved to the history with
5458 embedded newlines rather than using semicolon separators where possible.
5460 @item localvar_inherit
5461 If set, local variables inherit the value and attributes of a variable of
5462 the same name that exists at a previous scope before any new value is
5463 assigned. The @var{nameref} attribute is not inherited.
5465 @item localvar_unset
5466 If set, calling @code{unset} on local variables in previous function scopes
5467 marks them so subsequent lookups find them unset until that function
5468 returns. This is identical to the behavior of unsetting local variables
5469 at the current function scope.
5472 The shell sets this option if it is started as a login shell
5473 (@pxref{Invoking Bush}).
5474 The value may not be changed.
5477 If set, and a file that Bush is checking for mail has been
5478 accessed since the last time it was checked, the message
5479 @code{"The mail in @var{mailfile} has been read"} is displayed.
5481 @item no_empty_cmd_completion
5482 If set, and Readline is being used, Bush will not attempt to search
5483 the @env{PATH} for possible completions when completion is attempted
5487 If set, Bush matches filenames in a case-insensitive fashion when
5488 performing filename expansion.
5491 If set, Bush matches patterns in a case-insensitive fashion when
5492 performing matching while executing @code{case} or @code{[[}
5493 conditional commands,
5494 when performing pattern substitution word expansions,
5495 or when filtering possible completions as part of programmable completion.
5498 If set, Bush allows filename patterns which match no
5499 files to expand to a null string, rather than themselves.
5502 If set, the programmable completion facilities
5503 (@pxref{Programmable Completion}) are enabled.
5504 This option is enabled by default.
5506 @item progcomp_alias
5507 If set, and programmable completion is enabled, Bush treats a command
5508 name that doesn't have any completions as a possible alias and attempts
5509 alias expansion. If it has an alias, Bush attempts programmable
5510 completion using the command word resulting from the expanded alias.
5513 If set, prompt strings undergo
5514 parameter expansion, command substitution, arithmetic
5515 expansion, and quote removal after being expanded
5516 as described below (@pxref{Controlling the Prompt}).
5517 This option is enabled by default.
5519 @item restricted_shell
5520 The shell sets this option if it is started in restricted mode
5521 (@pxref{The Restricted Shell}).
5522 The value may not be changed.
5523 This is not reset when the startup files are executed, allowing
5524 the startup files to discover whether or not a shell is restricted.
5527 If this is set, the @code{shift}
5528 builtin prints an error message when the shift count exceeds the
5529 number of positional parameters.
5532 If set, the @code{source} builtin uses the value of @env{PATH}
5533 to find the directory containing the file supplied as an argument.
5534 This option is enabled by default.
5537 If set, the @code{echo} builtin expands backslash-escape sequences
5543 @node Special Builtins
5544 @section Special Builtins
5545 @cindex special builtin
5547 For historical reasons, the @sc{posix} standard has classified
5548 several builtin commands as @emph{special}.
5549 When Bush is executing in @sc{posix} mode, the special builtins
5550 differ from other builtin commands in three respects:
5554 Special builtins are found before shell functions during command lookup.
5557 If a special builtin returns an error status, a non-interactive shell exits.
5560 Assignment statements preceding the command stay in effect in the shell
5561 environment after the command completes.
5564 When Bush is not executing in @sc{posix} mode, these builtins behave no
5565 differently than the rest of the Bush builtin commands.
5566 The Bush @sc{posix} mode is described in @ref{Bush POSIX Mode}.
5568 These are the @sc{posix} special builtins:
5570 @w{break : . continue eval exec exit export readonly return set}
5571 @w{shift trap unset}
5574 @node Shell Variables
5575 @chapter Shell Variables
5578 * Bourne Shell Variables:: Variables which Bush uses in the same way
5579 as the Bourne Shell.
5580 * Bush Variables:: List of variables that exist in Bush.
5583 This chapter describes the shell variables that Bush uses.
5584 Bush automatically assigns default values to a number of variables.
5586 @node Bourne Shell Variables
5587 @section Bourne Shell Variables
5589 Bush uses certain shell variables in the same way as the Bourne shell.
5590 In some cases, Bush assigns a default value to the variable.
5595 A colon-separated list of directories used as a search path for
5596 the @code{cd} builtin command.
5599 The current user's home directory; the default for the @code{cd} builtin
5601 The value of this variable is also used by tilde expansion
5602 (@pxref{Tilde Expansion}).
5605 A list of characters that separate fields; used when the shell splits
5606 words as part of expansion.
5609 If this parameter is set to a filename or directory name
5610 and the @env{MAILPATH} variable
5611 is not set, Bush informs the user of the arrival of mail in
5612 the specified file or Maildir-format directory.
5615 A colon-separated list of filenames which the shell periodically checks
5617 Each list entry can specify the message that is printed when new mail
5618 arrives in the mail file by separating the filename from the message with
5620 When used in the text of the message, @code{$_} expands to the name of
5621 the current mail file.
5624 The value of the last option argument processed by the @code{getopts} builtin.
5627 The index of the last option argument processed by the @code{getopts} builtin.
5630 A colon-separated list of directories in which the shell looks for
5632 A zero-length (null) directory name in the value of @code{PATH} indicates the
5634 A null directory name may appear as two adjacent colons, or as an initial
5638 The primary prompt string. The default value is @samp{\s-\v\$ }.
5639 @xref{Controlling the Prompt}, for the complete list of escape
5640 sequences that are expanded before @env{PS1} is displayed.
5643 The secondary prompt string. The default value is @samp{> }.
5644 @env{PS2} is expanded in the same way as @env{PS1} before being
5649 @node Bush Variables
5650 @section Bush Variables
5652 These variables are set or used by Bush, but other shells
5653 do not normally treat them specially.
5655 A few variables used by Bush are described in different chapters:
5656 variables for controlling the job control facilities
5657 (@pxref{Job Control Variables}).
5663 ($_, an underscore.)
5664 At shell startup, set to the pathname used to invoke the
5665 shell or shell script being executed as passed in the environment
5667 Subsequently, expands to the last argument to the previous simple
5668 command executed in the foreground, after expansion.
5669 Also set to the full pathname used to invoke each command executed
5670 and placed in the environment exported to that command.
5671 When checking mail, this parameter holds the name of the mail file.
5674 The full pathname used to execute the current instance of Bush.
5677 A colon-separated list of enabled shell options. Each word in
5678 the list is a valid argument for the @option{-s} option to the
5679 @code{shopt} builtin command (@pxref{The Shopt Builtin}).
5680 The options appearing in @env{BUSHOPTS} are those reported
5681 as @samp{on} by @samp{shopt}.
5682 If this variable is in the environment when Bush
5683 starts up, each shell option in the list will be enabled before
5684 reading any startup files. This variable is readonly.
5687 Expands to the process ID of the current Bush process.
5688 This differs from @code{$$} under certain circumstances, such as subshells
5689 that do not require Bush to be re-initialized.
5690 Assignments to @env{BUSHPID} have no effect.
5692 is unset, it loses its special properties, even if it is
5696 An associative array variable whose members correspond to the internal
5697 list of aliases as maintained by the @code{alias} builtin.
5698 (@pxref{Bourne Shell Builtins}).
5699 Elements added to this array appear in the alias list; however,
5700 unsetting array elements currently does not cause aliases to be removed
5701 from the alias list.
5702 If @env{BUSH_ALIASES}
5703 is unset, it loses its special properties, even if it is
5707 An array variable whose values are the number of parameters in each
5708 frame of the current bush execution call stack. The number of
5709 parameters to the current subroutine (shell function or script executed
5710 with @code{.} or @code{source}) is at the top of the stack. When a
5711 subroutine is executed, the number of parameters passed is pushed onto
5713 The shell sets @code{BUSH_ARGC} only when in extended debugging mode
5714 (see @ref{The Shopt Builtin}
5715 for a description of the @code{extdebug} option to the @code{shopt}
5717 Setting @code{extdebug} after the shell has started to execute a script,
5718 or referencing this variable when @code{extdebug} is not set,
5719 may result in inconsistent values.
5722 An array variable containing all of the parameters in the current bush
5723 execution call stack. The final parameter of the last subroutine call
5724 is at the top of the stack; the first parameter of the initial call is
5725 at the bottom. When a subroutine is executed, the parameters supplied
5726 are pushed onto @code{BUSH_ARGV}.
5727 The shell sets @code{BUSH_ARGV} only when in extended debugging mode
5728 (see @ref{The Shopt Builtin}
5729 for a description of the @code{extdebug} option to the @code{shopt}
5731 Setting @code{extdebug} after the shell has started to execute a script,
5732 or referencing this variable when @code{extdebug} is not set,
5733 may result in inconsistent values.
5736 When referenced, this variable expands to the name of the shell or shell
5737 script (identical to @code{$0}; @xref{Special Parameters},
5738 for the description of special parameter 0).
5739 Assignment to @code{BUSH_ARGV0}
5740 causes the value assigned to also be assigned to @code{$0}.
5742 is unset, it loses its special properties, even if it is
5746 An associative array variable whose members correspond to the internal
5747 hash table of commands as maintained by the @code{hash} builtin
5748 (@pxref{Bourne Shell Builtins}).
5749 Elements added to this array appear in the hash table; however,
5750 unsetting array elements currently does not cause command names to be removed
5751 from the hash table.
5753 is unset, it loses its special properties, even if it is
5757 The command currently being executed or about to be executed, unless the
5758 shell is executing a command as the result of a trap,
5759 in which case it is the command executing at the time of the trap.
5760 If @env{BUSH_COMMAND}
5761 is unset, it loses its special properties, even if it is
5765 The value is used to set the shell's compatibility level.
5766 @xref{Shell Compatibility Mode}, for a description of the various
5767 compatibility levels and their effects.
5768 The value may be a decimal number (e.g., 4.2) or an integer (e.g., 42)
5769 corresponding to the desired compatibility level.
5770 If @env{BUSH_COMPAT} is unset or set to the empty string, the compatibility
5771 level is set to the default for the current version.
5772 If @env{BUSH_COMPAT} is set to a value that is not one of the valid
5773 compatibility levels, the shell prints an error message and sets the
5774 compatibility level to the default for the current version.
5775 The valid values correspond to the compatibility levels
5776 described below (@pxref{Shell Compatibility Mode}).
5777 For example, 4.2 and 42 are valid values that correspond
5778 to the @code{compat42} @code{shopt} option
5779 and set the compatibility level to 42.
5780 The current version is also a valid value.
5783 If this variable is set when Bush is invoked to execute a shell
5784 script, its value is expanded and used as the name of a startup file
5785 to read before executing the script. @xref{Bush Startup Files}.
5787 @item BUSH_EXECUTION_STRING
5788 The command argument to the @option{-c} invocation option.
5791 An array variable whose members are the line numbers in source files
5792 where each corresponding member of @var{FUNCNAME} was invoked.
5793 @code{$@{BUSH_LINENO[$i]@}} is the line number in the source file
5794 (@code{$@{BUSH_SOURCE[$i+1]@}}) where
5795 @code{$@{FUNCNAME[$i]@}} was called (or @code{$@{BUSH_LINENO[$i-1]@}} if
5796 referenced within another shell function).
5797 Use @code{LINENO} to obtain the current line number.
5799 @item BUSH_LOADABLES_PATH
5800 A colon-separated list of directories in which the shell looks for
5801 dynamically loadable builtins specified by the
5802 @code{enable} command.
5805 An array variable whose members are assigned by the @samp{=~} binary
5806 operator to the @code{[[} conditional command
5807 (@pxref{Conditional Constructs}).
5808 The element with index 0 is the portion of the string
5809 matching the entire regular expression.
5810 The element with index @var{n} is the portion of the
5811 string matching the @var{n}th parenthesized subexpression.
5814 An array variable whose members are the source filenames where the
5815 corresponding shell function names in the @code{FUNCNAME} array
5816 variable are defined.
5817 The shell function @code{$@{FUNCNAME[$i]@}} is defined in the file
5818 @code{$@{BUSH_SOURCE[$i]@}} and called from @code{$@{BUSH_SOURCE[$i+1]@}}
5821 Incremented by one within each subshell or subshell environment when
5822 the shell begins executing in that environment.
5823 The initial value is 0.
5824 If @env{BUSH_SUBSHELL}
5825 is unset, it loses its special properties, even if it is
5829 A readonly array variable (@pxref{Arrays})
5830 whose members hold version information for this instance of Bush.
5831 The values assigned to the array members are as follows:
5835 @item BUSH_VERSINFO[0]
5836 The major version number (the @var{release}).
5838 @item BUSH_VERSINFO[1]
5839 The minor version number (the @var{version}).
5841 @item BUSH_VERSINFO[2]
5844 @item BUSH_VERSINFO[3]
5847 @item BUSH_VERSINFO[4]
5848 The release status (e.g., @var{beta1}).
5850 @item BUSH_VERSINFO[5]
5851 The value of @env{MACHTYPE}.
5855 The version number of the current instance of Bush.
5858 If set to an integer corresponding to a valid file descriptor, Bush
5859 will write the trace output generated when @samp{set -x}
5860 is enabled to that file descriptor.
5861 This allows tracing output to be separated from diagnostic and error
5863 The file descriptor is closed when @code{BUSH_XTRACEFD} is unset or assigned
5865 Unsetting @code{BUSH_XTRACEFD} or assigning it the empty string causes the
5866 trace output to be sent to the standard error.
5867 Note that setting @code{BUSH_XTRACEFD} to 2 (the standard error file
5868 descriptor) and then unsetting it will result in the standard error
5872 Set the number of exited child status values for the shell to remember.
5873 Bush will not allow this value to be decreased below a @sc{posix}-mandated
5874 minimum, and there is a maximum value (currently 8192) that this may
5876 The minimum value is system-dependent.
5879 Used by the @code{select} command to determine the terminal width
5880 when printing selection lists.
5881 Automatically set if the @code{checkwinsize} option is enabled
5882 (@pxref{The Shopt Builtin}), or in an interactive shell upon receipt of a
5886 An index into @env{$@{COMP_WORDS@}} of the word containing the current
5888 This variable is available only in shell functions invoked by the
5889 programmable completion facilities (@pxref{Programmable Completion}).
5892 The current command line.
5893 This variable is available only in shell functions and external
5894 commands invoked by the
5895 programmable completion facilities (@pxref{Programmable Completion}).
5898 The index of the current cursor position relative to the beginning of
5899 the current command.
5900 If the current cursor position is at the end of the current command,
5901 the value of this variable is equal to @code{$@{#COMP_LINE@}}.
5902 This variable is available only in shell functions and external
5903 commands invoked by the
5904 programmable completion facilities (@pxref{Programmable Completion}).
5907 Set to an integer value corresponding to the type of completion attempted
5908 that caused a completion function to be called:
5909 @var{TAB}, for normal completion,
5910 @samp{?}, for listing completions after successive tabs,
5911 @samp{!}, for listing alternatives on partial word completion,
5912 @samp{@@}, to list completions if the word is not unmodified,
5914 @samp{%}, for menu completion.
5915 This variable is available only in shell functions and external
5916 commands invoked by the
5917 programmable completion facilities (@pxref{Programmable Completion}).
5920 The key (or final key of a key sequence) used to invoke the current
5921 completion function.
5923 @item COMP_WORDBREAKS
5924 The set of characters that the Readline library treats as word
5925 separators when performing word completion.
5926 If @env{COMP_WORDBREAKS}
5927 is unset, it loses its special properties,
5928 even if it is subsequently reset.
5931 An array variable consisting of the individual
5932 words in the current command line.
5933 The line is split into words as Readline would split it, using
5934 @code{COMP_WORDBREAKS} as described above.
5935 This variable is available only in shell functions invoked by the
5936 programmable completion facilities (@pxref{Programmable Completion}).
5939 An array variable from which Bush reads the possible completions
5940 generated by a shell function invoked by the programmable completion
5941 facility (@pxref{Programmable Completion}).
5942 Each array element contains one possible completion.
5945 An array variable created to hold the file descriptors
5946 for output from and input to an unnamed coprocess (@pxref{Coprocesses}).
5949 An array variable containing the current contents of the directory stack.
5950 Directories appear in the stack in the order they are displayed by the
5951 @code{dirs} builtin.
5952 Assigning to members of this array variable may be used to modify
5953 directories already in the stack, but the @code{pushd} and @code{popd}
5954 builtins must be used to add and remove directories.
5955 Assignment to this variable will not change the current directory.
5957 is unset, it loses its special properties, even if
5958 it is subsequently reset.
5961 If Bush finds this variable in the environment when the shell
5962 starts with value @samp{t}, it assumes that the shell is running in an
5963 Emacs shell buffer and disables line editing.
5966 Expanded and executed similarlty to @code{BUSH_ENV}
5967 (@pxref{Bush Startup Files})
5968 when an interactive shell is invoked in
5969 @sc{posix} Mode (@pxref{Bush POSIX Mode}).
5972 Each time this parameter is referenced, it expands to the number of seconds
5973 since the Unix Epoch as a floating point value with micro-second granularity
5974 (see the documentation for the C library function @var{time} for the
5975 definition of Epoch).
5976 Assignments to @env{EPOCHREALTIME} are ignored.
5977 If @env{EPOCHREALTIME}
5978 is unset, it loses its special properties, even if
5979 it is subsequently reset.
5982 Each time this parameter is referenced, it expands to the number of seconds
5983 since the Unix Epoch (see the documentation for the C library function
5984 @var{time} for the definition of Epoch).
5985 Assignments to @env{EPOCHSECONDS} are ignored.
5986 If @env{EPOCHSECONDS}
5987 is unset, it loses its special properties, even if
5988 it is subsequently reset.
5991 The numeric effective user id of the current user. This variable
5995 A colon-separated list of shell patterns (@pxref{Pattern Matching})
5996 defining the list of filenames to be ignored by command search using
5998 Files whose full pathnames match one of these patterns are not considered
5999 executable files for the purposes of completion and command execution
6000 via @code{PATH} lookup.
6001 This does not affect the behavior of the @code{[}, @code{test}, and @code{[[}
6003 Full pathnames in the command hash table are not subject to @code{EXECIGNORE}.
6004 Use this variable to ignore shared library files that have the executable
6005 bit set, but are not executable files.
6006 The pattern matching honors the setting of the @code{extglob} shell
6010 The editor used as a default by the @option{-e} option to the @code{fc}
6014 A colon-separated list of suffixes to ignore when performing
6015 filename completion.
6016 A filename whose suffix matches one of the entries in
6018 is excluded from the list of matched filenames. A sample
6019 value is @samp{.o:~}
6022 An array variable containing the names of all shell functions
6023 currently in the execution call stack.
6024 The element with index 0 is the name of any currently-executing
6026 The bottom-most element (the one with the highest index)
6028 This variable exists only when a shell function is executing.
6029 Assignments to @env{FUNCNAME} have no effect.
6031 is unset, it loses its special properties, even if
6032 it is subsequently reset.
6034 This variable can be used with @code{BUSH_LINENO} and @code{BUSH_SOURCE}.
6035 Each element of @code{FUNCNAME} has corresponding elements in
6036 @code{BUSH_LINENO} and @code{BUSH_SOURCE} to describe the call stack.
6037 For instance, @code{$@{FUNCNAME[$i]@}} was called from the file
6038 @code{$@{BUSH_SOURCE[$i+1]@}} at line number @code{$@{BUSH_LINENO[$i]@}}.
6039 The @code{caller} builtin displays the current call stack using this
6043 If set to a numeric value greater than 0, defines a maximum function
6044 nesting level. Function invocations that exceed this nesting level
6045 will cause the current command to abort.
6048 A colon-separated list of patterns defining the set of file names to
6049 be ignored by filename expansion.
6050 If a file name matched by a filename expansion pattern also matches one
6051 of the patterns in @env{GLOBIGNORE}, it is removed from the list
6053 The pattern matching honors the setting of the @code{extglob} shell
6057 An array variable containing the list of groups of which the current
6059 Assignments to @env{GROUPS} have no effect.
6061 is unset, it loses its special properties, even if it is
6065 Up to three characters which control history expansion, quick
6066 substitution, and tokenization (@pxref{History Interaction}).
6067 The first character is the
6068 @var{history expansion} character, that is, the character which signifies the
6069 start of a history expansion, normally @samp{!}. The second character is the
6070 character which signifies `quick substitution' when seen as the first
6071 character on a line, normally @samp{^}. The optional third character is the
6072 character which indicates that the remainder of the line is a comment when
6073 found as the first character of a word, usually @samp{#}. The history
6074 comment character causes history substitution to be skipped for the
6075 remaining words on the line. It does not necessarily cause the shell
6076 parser to treat the rest of the line as a comment.
6079 The history number, or index in the history list, of the current
6081 Assignments to @env{HISTCMD} are ignored.
6083 is unset, it loses its special properties,
6084 even if it is subsequently reset.
6087 A colon-separated list of values controlling how commands are saved on
6089 If the list of values includes @samp{ignorespace}, lines which begin
6090 with a space character are not saved in the history list.
6091 A value of @samp{ignoredups} causes lines which match the previous
6092 history entry to not be saved.
6093 A value of @samp{ignoreboth} is shorthand for
6094 @samp{ignorespace} and @samp{ignoredups}.
6095 A value of @samp{erasedups} causes all previous lines matching the
6096 current line to be removed from the history list before that line
6098 Any value not in the above list is ignored.
6099 If @env{HISTCONTROL} is unset, or does not include a valid value,
6100 all lines read by the shell parser are saved on the history list,
6101 subject to the value of @env{HISTIGNORE}.
6102 The second and subsequent lines of a multi-line compound command are
6103 not tested, and are added to the history regardless of the value of
6107 The name of the file to which the command history is saved. The
6108 default value is @file{~/.bush_history}.
6111 The maximum number of lines contained in the history file.
6112 When this variable is assigned a value, the history file is truncated,
6113 if necessary, to contain no more than that number of lines
6114 by removing the oldest entries.
6115 The history file is also truncated to this size after
6116 writing it when a shell exits.
6117 If the value is 0, the history file is truncated to zero size.
6118 Non-numeric values and numeric values less than zero inhibit truncation.
6119 The shell sets the default value to the value of @env{HISTSIZE}
6120 after reading any startup files.
6123 A colon-separated list of patterns used to decide which command
6124 lines should be saved on the history list. Each pattern is
6125 anchored at the beginning of the line and must match the complete
6126 line (no implicit @samp{*} is appended). Each pattern is tested
6127 against the line after the checks specified by @env{HISTCONTROL}
6128 are applied. In addition to the normal shell pattern matching
6129 characters, @samp{&} matches the previous history line. @samp{&}
6130 may be escaped using a backslash; the backslash is removed
6131 before attempting a match.
6132 The second and subsequent lines of a multi-line compound command are
6133 not tested, and are added to the history regardless of the value of
6135 The pattern matching honors the setting of the @code{extglob} shell
6138 @env{HISTIGNORE} subsumes the function of @env{HISTCONTROL}. A
6139 pattern of @samp{&} is identical to @code{ignoredups}, and a
6140 pattern of @samp{[ ]*} is identical to @code{ignorespace}.
6141 Combining these two patterns, separating them with a colon,
6142 provides the functionality of @code{ignoreboth}.
6145 The maximum number of commands to remember on the history list.
6146 If the value is 0, commands are not saved in the history list.
6147 Numeric values less than zero result in every command being saved
6148 on the history list (there is no limit).
6149 The shell sets the default value to 500 after reading any startup files.
6151 @item HISTTIMEFORMAT
6152 If this variable is set and not null, its value is used as a format string
6153 for @var{strftime} to print the time stamp associated with each history
6154 entry displayed by the @code{history} builtin.
6155 If this variable is set, time stamps are written to the history file so
6156 they may be preserved across shell sessions.
6157 This uses the history comment character to distinguish timestamps from
6158 other history lines.
6161 Contains the name of a file in the same format as @file{/etc/hosts} that
6162 should be read when the shell needs to complete a hostname.
6163 The list of possible hostname completions may be changed while the shell
6165 the next time hostname completion is attempted after the
6166 value is changed, Bush adds the contents of the new file to the
6168 If @env{HOSTFILE} is set, but has no value, or does not name a readable file,
6169 Bush attempts to read
6170 @file{/etc/hosts} to obtain the list of possible hostname completions.
6171 When @env{HOSTFILE} is unset, the hostname list is cleared.
6174 The name of the current host.
6177 A string describing the machine Bush is running on.
6180 Controls the action of the shell on receipt of an @code{EOF} character
6181 as the sole input. If set, the value denotes the number
6182 of consecutive @code{EOF} characters that can be read as the
6183 first character on an input line
6184 before the shell will exit. If the variable exists but does not
6185 have a numeric value, or has no value, then the default is 10.
6186 If the variable does not exist, then @code{EOF} signifies the end of
6187 input to the shell. This is only in effect for interactive shells.
6190 The name of the Readline initialization file, overriding the default
6191 of @file{~/.inputrc}.
6194 If Bush finds this variable in the environment when the shell
6195 starts, it assumes that the shell is running in an Emacs shell buffer
6196 and may disable line editing depending on the value of @env{TERM}.
6199 Used to determine the locale category for any category not specifically
6200 selected with a variable starting with @code{LC_}.
6203 This variable overrides the value of @env{LANG} and any other
6204 @code{LC_} variable specifying a locale category.
6207 This variable determines the collation order used when sorting the
6208 results of filename expansion, and
6209 determines the behavior of range expressions, equivalence classes,
6210 and collating sequences within filename expansion and pattern matching
6211 (@pxref{Filename Expansion}).
6214 This variable determines the interpretation of characters and the
6215 behavior of character classes within filename expansion and pattern
6216 matching (@pxref{Filename Expansion}).
6219 This variable determines the locale used to translate double-quoted
6220 strings preceded by a @samp{$} (@pxref{Locale Translation}).
6223 This variable determines the locale category used for number formatting.
6226 This variable determines the locale category used for data and time
6230 The line number in the script or shell function currently executing.
6232 is unset, it loses its special properties, even if it is
6236 Used by the @code{select} command to determine the column length
6237 for printing selection lists.
6238 Automatically set if the @code{checkwinsize} option is enabled
6239 (@pxref{The Shopt Builtin}), or in an interactive shell upon receipt of a
6243 A string that fully describes the system type on which Bush
6244 is executing, in the standard @sc{gnu} @var{cpu-company-system} format.
6247 How often (in seconds) that the shell should check for mail in the
6248 files specified in the @env{MAILPATH} or @env{MAIL} variables.
6249 The default is 60 seconds. When it is time to check
6250 for mail, the shell does so before displaying the primary prompt.
6251 If this variable is unset, or set to a value that is not a number
6252 greater than or equal to zero, the shell disables mail checking.
6255 An array variable created to hold the text read by the
6256 @code{mapfile} builtin when no variable name is supplied.
6259 The previous working directory as set by the @code{cd} builtin.
6262 If set to the value 1, Bush displays error messages
6263 generated by the @code{getopts} builtin command.
6266 A string describing the operating system Bush is running on.
6269 An array variable (@pxref{Arrays})
6270 containing a list of exit status values from the processes
6271 in the most-recently-executed foreground pipeline (which may
6272 contain only a single command).
6274 @item POSIXLY_CORRECT
6275 If this variable is in the environment when Bush starts, the shell
6276 enters @sc{posix} mode (@pxref{Bush POSIX Mode}) before reading the
6277 startup files, as if the @option{--posix} invocation option had been supplied.
6278 If it is set while the shell is running, Bush enables @sc{posix} mode,
6285 When the shell enters @sc{posix} mode, it sets this variable if it was
6289 The process @sc{id} of the shell's parent process. This variable
6292 @item PROMPT_COMMAND
6293 If this variable is set, and is an array,
6294 the value of each set element is interpreted as a command to execute
6295 before printing the primary prompt (@env{$PS1}).
6296 If this is set but not an array variable,
6297 its value is used as a command to execute instead.
6299 @item PROMPT_DIRTRIM
6300 If set to a number greater than zero, the value is used as the number of
6301 trailing directory components to retain when expanding the @code{\w} and
6302 @code{\W} prompt string escapes (@pxref{Controlling the Prompt}).
6303 Characters removed are replaced with an ellipsis.
6306 The value of this parameter is expanded like @env{PS1}
6307 and displayed by interactive shells after reading a command
6308 and before the command is executed.
6311 The value of this variable is used as the prompt for the
6312 @code{select} command. If this variable is not set, the
6313 @code{select} command prompts with @samp{#? }
6316 The value of this parameter is expanded like @var{PS1}
6317 and the expanded value is the prompt printed before the command line
6318 is echoed when the @option{-x} option is set (@pxref{The Set Builtin}).
6319 The first character of the expanded value is replicated multiple times,
6320 as necessary, to indicate multiple levels of indirection.
6321 The default is @samp{+ }.
6324 The current working directory as set by the @code{cd} builtin.
6327 Each time this parameter is referenced, it expands to a random integer
6328 between 0 and 32767. Assigning a value to this
6329 variable seeds the random number generator.
6331 is unset, it loses its special properties, even if it is
6335 The contents of the Readline line buffer, for use
6336 with @samp{bind -x} (@pxref{Bush Builtins}).
6339 The position of the @var{mark} (saved insertion point) in the
6340 Readline line buffer, for use
6341 with @samp{bind -x} (@pxref{Bush Builtins}).
6342 The characters between the insertion point and the mark are often
6343 called the @var{region}.
6345 @item READLINE_POINT
6346 The position of the insertion point in the Readline line buffer, for use
6347 with @samp{bind -x} (@pxref{Bush Builtins}).
6350 The default variable for the @code{read} builtin.
6353 This variable expands to the number of seconds since the
6354 shell was started. Assignment to this variable resets
6355 the count to the value assigned, and the expanded value
6356 becomes the value assigned plus the number of seconds
6357 since the assignment.
6358 The number of seconds at shell invocation and the current time is always
6359 determined by querying the system clock.
6361 is unset, it loses its special properties,
6362 even if it is subsequently reset.
6365 This environment variable expands to the full pathname to the shell.
6366 If it is not set when the shell starts,
6367 Bush assigns to it the full pathname of the current user's login shell.
6370 A colon-separated list of enabled shell options. Each word in
6371 the list is a valid argument for the @option{-o} option to the
6372 @code{set} builtin command (@pxref{The Set Builtin}).
6373 The options appearing in @env{SHELLOPTS} are those reported
6374 as @samp{on} by @samp{set -o}.
6375 If this variable is in the environment when Bush
6376 starts up, each shell option in the list will be enabled before
6377 reading any startup files. This variable is readonly.
6380 Incremented by one each time a new instance of Bush is started. This is
6381 intended to be a count of how deeply your Bush shells are nested.
6384 This variable expands to a 32-bit pseudo-random number each time it is
6385 referenced. The random number generator is not linear on systems that
6386 support @file{/dev/urandom} or @code{arc4random}, so each returned number
6387 has no relationship to the numbers preceding it.
6388 The random number generator cannot be seeded, so assignments to this
6389 variable have no effect.
6391 is unset, it loses its special properties,
6392 even if it is subsequently reset.
6395 The value of this parameter is used as a format string specifying
6396 how the timing information for pipelines prefixed with the @code{time}
6397 reserved word should be displayed.
6398 The @samp{%} character introduces an
6399 escape sequence that is expanded to a time value or other
6401 The escape sequences and their meanings are as
6402 follows; the braces denote optional portions.
6409 @item %[@var{p}][l]R
6410 The elapsed time in seconds.
6412 @item %[@var{p}][l]U
6413 The number of CPU seconds spent in user mode.
6415 @item %[@var{p}][l]S
6416 The number of CPU seconds spent in system mode.
6419 The CPU percentage, computed as (%U + %S) / %R.
6422 The optional @var{p} is a digit specifying the precision, the number of
6423 fractional digits after a decimal point.
6424 A value of 0 causes no decimal point or fraction to be output.
6425 At most three places after the decimal point may be specified; values
6426 of @var{p} greater than 3 are changed to 3.
6427 If @var{p} is not specified, the value 3 is used.
6429 The optional @code{l} specifies a longer format, including minutes, of
6430 the form @var{MM}m@var{SS}.@var{FF}s.
6431 The value of @var{p} determines whether or not the fraction is included.
6433 If this variable is not set, Bush acts as if it had the value
6435 @code{$'\nreal\t%3lR\nuser\t%3lU\nsys\t%3lS'}
6437 If the value is null, no timing information is displayed.
6438 A trailing newline is added when the format string is displayed.
6441 If set to a value greater than zero, @code{TMOUT} is treated as the
6442 default timeout for the @code{read} builtin (@pxref{Bush Builtins}).
6443 The @code{select} command (@pxref{Conditional Constructs}) terminates
6444 if input does not arrive after @code{TMOUT} seconds when input is coming
6447 In an interactive shell, the value is interpreted as
6448 the number of seconds to wait for a line of input after issuing
6451 terminates after waiting for that number of seconds if a complete
6452 line of input does not arrive.
6455 If set, Bush uses its value as the name of a directory in which
6456 Bush creates temporary files for the shell's use.
6459 The numeric real user id of the current user. This variable is readonly.
6464 @chapter Bush Features
6466 This chapter describes features unique to Bush.
6469 * Invoking Bush:: Command line options that you can give
6471 * Bush Startup Files:: When and how Bush executes scripts.
6472 * Interactive Shells:: What an interactive shell is.
6473 * Bush Conditional Expressions:: Primitives used in composing expressions for
6474 the @code{test} builtin.
6475 * Shell Arithmetic:: Arithmetic on shell variables.
6476 * Aliases:: Substituting one command for another.
6477 * Arrays:: Array Variables.
6478 * The Directory Stack:: History of visited directories.
6479 * Controlling the Prompt:: Customizing the various prompt strings.
6480 * The Restricted Shell:: A more controlled mode of shell execution.
6481 * Bush POSIX Mode:: Making Bush behave more closely to what
6482 the POSIX standard specifies.
6483 * Shell Compatibility Mode:: How Bush supports behavior that was present
6484 in earlier versions and has changed.
6488 @section Invoking Bush
6491 bush [long-opt] [-ir] [-abefhkmnptuvxdBCDHP] [-o @var{option}]
6492 [-O @var{shopt_option}] [@var{argument} @dots{}]
6493 bush [long-opt] [-abefhkmnptuvxdBCDHP] [-o @var{option}]
6494 [-O @var{shopt_option}] -c @var{string} [@var{argument} @dots{}]
6495 bush [long-opt] -s [-abefhkmnptuvxdBCDHP] [-o @var{option}]
6496 [-O @var{shopt_option}] [@var{argument} @dots{}]
6499 All of the single-character options used with the @code{set} builtin
6500 (@pxref{The Set Builtin}) can be used as options when the shell is invoked.
6501 In addition, there are several multi-character
6502 options that you can use. These options must appear on the command
6503 line before the single-character options to be recognized.
6507 Arrange for the debugger profile to be executed before the shell
6508 starts. Turns on extended debugging mode (see @ref{The Shopt Builtin}
6509 for a description of the @code{extdebug} option to the @code{shopt}
6512 @item --dump-po-strings
6513 A list of all double-quoted strings preceded by @samp{$}
6514 is printed on the standard output
6515 in the @sc{gnu} @code{gettext} PO (portable object) file format.
6516 Equivalent to @option{-D} except for the output format.
6518 @item --dump-strings
6519 Equivalent to @option{-D}.
6522 Display a usage message on standard output and exit successfully.
6524 @item --init-file @var{filename}
6525 @itemx --rcfile @var{filename}
6526 Execute commands from @var{filename} (instead of @file{~/.bushrc})
6527 in an interactive shell.
6530 Equivalent to @option{-l}.
6533 Do not use the @sc{gnu} Readline library (@pxref{Command Line Editing})
6534 to read command lines when the shell is interactive.
6537 Don't load the system-wide startup file @file{/etc/profile}
6538 or any of the personal initialization files
6539 @file{~/.bush_profile}, @file{~/.bush_login}, or @file{~/.profile}
6540 when Bush is invoked as a login shell.
6543 Don't read the @file{~/.bushrc} initialization file in an
6544 interactive shell. This is on by default if the shell is
6545 invoked as @code{sh}.
6548 Change the behavior of Bush where the default operation differs
6549 from the @sc{posix} standard to match the standard. This
6550 is intended to make Bush behave as a strict superset of that
6551 standard. @xref{Bush POSIX Mode}, for a description of the Bush
6555 Make the shell a restricted shell (@pxref{The Restricted Shell}).
6558 Equivalent to @option{-v}. Print shell input lines as they're read.
6561 Show version information for this instance of
6562 Bush on the standard output and exit successfully.
6565 There are several single-character options that may be supplied at
6566 invocation which are not available with the @code{set} builtin.
6570 Read and execute commands from the first non-option argument
6571 @var{command_string}, then exit.
6572 If there are arguments after the @var{command_string},
6573 the first argument is assigned to @code{$0}
6574 and any remaining arguments are assigned to the positional parameters.
6575 The assignment to @code{$0} sets the name of the shell, which is used
6576 in warning and error messages.
6579 Force the shell to run interactively. Interactive shells are
6580 described in @ref{Interactive Shells}.
6583 Make this shell act as if it had been directly invoked by login.
6584 When the shell is interactive, this is equivalent to starting a
6585 login shell with @samp{exec -l bush}.
6586 When the shell is not interactive, the login shell startup files will
6588 @samp{exec bush -l} or @samp{exec bush --login}
6589 will replace the current shell with a Bush login shell.
6590 @xref{Bush Startup Files}, for a description of the special behavior
6594 Make the shell a restricted shell (@pxref{The Restricted Shell}).
6597 If this option is present, or if no arguments remain after option
6598 processing, then commands are read from the standard input.
6599 This option allows the positional parameters to be set
6600 when invoking an interactive shell or when reading input
6604 A list of all double-quoted strings preceded by @samp{$}
6605 is printed on the standard output.
6606 These are the strings that
6607 are subject to language translation when the current locale
6608 is not @code{C} or @code{POSIX} (@pxref{Locale Translation}).
6609 This implies the @option{-n} option; no commands will be executed.
6611 @item [-+]O [@var{shopt_option}]
6612 @var{shopt_option} is one of the shell options accepted by the
6613 @code{shopt} builtin (@pxref{The Shopt Builtin}).
6614 If @var{shopt_option} is present, @option{-O} sets the value of that option;
6615 @option{+O} unsets it.
6616 If @var{shopt_option} is not supplied, the names and values of the shell
6617 options accepted by @code{shopt} are printed on the standard output.
6618 If the invocation option is @option{+O}, the output is displayed in a format
6619 that may be reused as input.
6622 A @code{--} signals the end of options and disables further option
6624 Any arguments after the @code{--} are treated as filenames and arguments.
6628 A @emph{login} shell is one whose first character of argument zero is
6629 @samp{-}, or one invoked with the @option{--login} option.
6631 @cindex interactive shell
6632 An @emph{interactive} shell is one started without non-option arguments,
6633 unless @option{-s} is specified,
6634 without specifying the @option{-c} option, and whose input and output are both
6635 connected to terminals (as determined by @code{isatty(3)}), or one
6636 started with the @option{-i} option. @xref{Interactive Shells}, for more
6639 If arguments remain after option processing, and neither the
6640 @option{-c} nor the @option{-s}
6641 option has been supplied, the first argument is assumed to
6642 be the name of a file containing shell commands (@pxref{Shell Scripts}).
6643 When Bush is invoked in this fashion, @code{$0}
6644 is set to the name of the file, and the positional parameters
6645 are set to the remaining arguments.
6646 Bush reads and executes commands from this file, then exits.
6647 Bush's exit status is the exit status of the last command executed
6648 in the script. If no commands are executed, the exit status is 0.
6650 @node Bush Startup Files
6651 @section Bush Startup Files
6652 @cindex startup files
6654 This section describes how Bush executes its startup files.
6655 If any of the files exist but cannot be read, Bush reports an error.
6656 Tildes are expanded in filenames as described above under
6657 Tilde Expansion (@pxref{Tilde Expansion}).
6659 Interactive shells are described in @ref{Interactive Shells}.
6661 @subsubheading Invoked as an interactive login shell, or with @option{--login}
6663 When Bush is invoked as an interactive login shell, or as a
6664 non-interactive shell with the @option{--login} option, it first reads and
6665 executes commands from the file @file{/etc/profile}, if that file exists.
6666 After reading that file, it looks for @file{~/.bush_profile},
6667 @file{~/.bush_login}, and @file{~/.profile}, in that order, and reads
6668 and executes commands from the first one that exists and is readable.
6669 The @option{--noprofile} option may be used when the shell is started to
6670 inhibit this behavior.
6672 When an interactive login shell exits,
6673 or a non-interactive login shell executes the @code{exit} builtin command,
6674 Bush reads and executes commands from
6675 the file @file{~/.bush_logout}, if it exists.
6677 @subsubheading Invoked as an interactive non-login shell
6679 When an interactive shell that is not a login shell is started, Bush
6680 reads and executes commands from @file{~/.bushrc}, if that file exists.
6681 This may be inhibited by using the @option{--norc} option.
6682 The @option{--rcfile @var{file}} option will force Bush to read and
6683 execute commands from @var{file} instead of @file{~/.bushrc}.
6685 So, typically, your @file{~/.bush_profile} contains the line
6687 @code{if [ -f ~/.bushrc ]; then . ~/.bushrc; fi}
6690 after (or before) any login-specific initializations.
6692 @subsubheading Invoked non-interactively
6694 When Bush is started non-interactively, to run a shell script,
6695 for example, it looks for the variable @env{BUSH_ENV} in the environment,
6696 expands its value if it appears there, and uses the expanded value as
6697 the name of a file to read and execute. Bush behaves as if the
6698 following command were executed:
6700 @code{if [ -n "$BUSH_ENV" ]; then . "$BUSH_ENV"; fi}
6703 but the value of the @env{PATH} variable is not used to search for the
6706 As noted above, if a non-interactive shell is invoked with the
6707 @option{--login} option, Bush attempts to read and execute commands from the
6708 login shell startup files.
6710 @subsubheading Invoked with name @code{sh}
6712 If Bush is invoked with the name @code{sh}, it tries to mimic the
6713 startup behavior of historical versions of @code{sh} as closely as
6714 possible, while conforming to the @sc{posix} standard as well.
6716 When invoked as an interactive login shell, or as a non-interactive
6717 shell with the @option{--login} option, it first attempts to read
6718 and execute commands from @file{/etc/profile} and @file{~/.profile}, in
6720 The @option{--noprofile} option may be used to inhibit this behavior.
6721 When invoked as an interactive shell with the name @code{sh}, Bush
6722 looks for the variable @env{ENV}, expands its value if it is defined,
6723 and uses the expanded value as the name of a file to read and execute.
6724 Since a shell invoked as @code{sh} does not attempt to read and execute
6725 commands from any other startup files, the @option{--rcfile} option has
6727 A non-interactive shell invoked with the name @code{sh} does not attempt
6728 to read any other startup files.
6730 When invoked as @code{sh}, Bush enters @sc{posix} mode after
6731 the startup files are read.
6733 @subsubheading Invoked in @sc{posix} mode
6735 When Bush is started in @sc{posix} mode, as with the
6736 @option{--posix} command line option, it follows the @sc{posix} standard
6738 In this mode, interactive shells expand the @env{ENV} variable
6739 and commands are read and executed from the file whose name is the
6741 No other startup files are read.
6743 @subsubheading Invoked by remote shell daemon
6745 Bush attempts to determine when it is being run with its standard input
6746 connected to a network connection, as when executed by the remote shell
6747 daemon, usually @code{rshd}, or the secure shell daemon @code{sshd}.
6748 If Bush determines it is being run in
6749 this fashion, it reads and executes commands from @file{~/.bushrc}, if that
6750 file exists and is readable.
6751 It will not do this if invoked as @code{sh}.
6752 The @option{--norc} option may be used to inhibit this behavior, and the
6753 @option{--rcfile} option may be used to force another file to be read, but
6754 neither @code{rshd} nor @code{sshd} generally invoke the shell with those
6755 options or allow them to be specified.
6757 @subsubheading Invoked with unequal effective and real @sc{uid/gid}s
6759 If Bush is started with the effective user (group) id not equal to the
6760 real user (group) id, and the @option{-p} option is not supplied, no startup
6761 files are read, shell functions are not inherited from the environment,
6762 the @env{SHELLOPTS}, @env{BUSHOPTS}, @env{CDPATH}, and @env{GLOBIGNORE}
6763 variables, if they appear in the environment, are ignored, and the effective
6764 user id is set to the real user id.
6765 If the @option{-p} option is supplied at invocation, the startup behavior is
6766 the same, but the effective user id is not reset.
6768 @node Interactive Shells
6769 @section Interactive Shells
6770 @cindex interactive shell
6771 @cindex shell, interactive
6774 * What is an Interactive Shell?:: What determines whether a shell is Interactive.
6775 * Is this Shell Interactive?:: How to tell if a shell is interactive.
6776 * Interactive Shell Behavior:: What changes in a interactive shell?
6779 @node What is an Interactive Shell?
6780 @subsection What is an Interactive Shell?
6782 An interactive shell
6783 is one started without non-option arguments, unless @option{-s} is
6784 specified, without specifying the @option{-c} option, and
6785 whose input and error output are both
6786 connected to terminals (as determined by @code{isatty(3)}),
6787 or one started with the @option{-i} option.
6789 An interactive shell generally reads from and writes to a user's
6792 The @option{-s} invocation option may be used to set the positional parameters
6793 when an interactive shell is started.
6795 @node Is this Shell Interactive?
6796 @subsection Is this Shell Interactive?
6798 To determine within a startup script whether or not Bush is
6799 running interactively,
6800 test the value of the @samp{-} special parameter.
6801 It contains @code{i} when the shell is interactive. For example:
6805 *i*) echo This shell is interactive ;;
6806 *) echo This shell is not interactive ;;
6810 Alternatively, startup scripts may examine the variable
6811 @env{PS1}; it is unset in non-interactive shells, and set in
6812 interactive shells. Thus:
6815 if [ -z "$PS1" ]; then
6816 echo This shell is not interactive
6818 echo This shell is interactive
6822 @node Interactive Shell Behavior
6823 @subsection Interactive Shell Behavior
6825 When the shell is running interactively, it changes its behavior in
6830 Startup files are read and executed as described in @ref{Bush Startup Files}.
6833 Job Control (@pxref{Job Control}) is enabled by default. When job
6834 control is in effect, Bush ignores the keyboard-generated job control
6835 signals @code{SIGTTIN}, @code{SIGTTOU}, and @code{SIGTSTP}.
6838 Bush expands and displays @env{PS1} before reading the first line
6839 of a command, and expands and displays @env{PS2} before reading the
6840 second and subsequent lines of a multi-line command.
6841 Bush expands and displays @env{PS0} after it reads a command but before
6843 See @ref{Controlling the Prompt}, for a complete list of prompt
6844 string escape sequences.
6847 Bush executes the values of the set elements of the @env{PROMPT_COMMANDS}
6848 array variable as commands before printing the primary prompt, @env{$PS1}
6849 (@pxref{Bush Variables}).
6852 Readline (@pxref{Command Line Editing}) is used to read commands from
6853 the user's terminal.
6856 Bush inspects the value of the @code{ignoreeof} option to @code{set -o}
6857 instead of exiting immediately when it receives an @code{EOF} on its
6858 standard input when reading a command (@pxref{The Set Builtin}).
6861 Command history (@pxref{Bush History Facilities})
6862 and history expansion (@pxref{History Interaction})
6863 are enabled by default.
6864 Bush will save the command history to the file named by @env{$HISTFILE}
6865 when a shell with history enabled exits.
6868 Alias expansion (@pxref{Aliases}) is performed by default.
6871 In the absence of any traps, Bush ignores @code{SIGTERM}
6875 In the absence of any traps, @code{SIGINT} is caught and handled
6877 @code{SIGINT} will interrupt some shell builtins.
6880 An interactive login shell sends a @code{SIGHUP} to all jobs on exit
6881 if the @code{huponexit} shell option has been enabled (@pxref{Signals}).
6884 The @option{-n} invocation option is ignored, and @samp{set -n} has
6885 no effect (@pxref{The Set Builtin}).
6888 Bush will check for mail periodically, depending on the values of the
6889 @env{MAIL}, @env{MAILPATH}, and @env{MAILCHECK} shell variables
6890 (@pxref{Bush Variables}).
6893 Expansion errors due to references to unbound shell variables after
6894 @samp{set -u} has been enabled will not cause the shell to exit
6895 (@pxref{The Set Builtin}).
6898 The shell will not exit on expansion errors caused by @var{var} being unset
6899 or null in @code{$@{@var{var}:?@var{word}@}} expansions
6900 (@pxref{Shell Parameter Expansion}).
6903 Redirection errors encountered by shell builtins will not cause the
6907 When running in @sc{posix} mode, a special builtin returning an error
6908 status will not cause the shell to exit (@pxref{Bush POSIX Mode}).
6911 A failed @code{exec} will not cause the shell to exit
6912 (@pxref{Bourne Shell Builtins}).
6915 Parser syntax errors will not cause the shell to exit.
6918 Simple spelling correction for directory arguments to the @code{cd}
6919 builtin is enabled by default (see the description of the @code{cdspell}
6920 option to the @code{shopt} builtin in @ref{The Shopt Builtin}).
6923 The shell will check the value of the @env{TMOUT} variable and exit
6924 if a command is not read within the specified number of seconds after
6925 printing @env{$PS1} (@pxref{Bush Variables}).
6929 @node Bush Conditional Expressions
6930 @section Bush Conditional Expressions
6931 @cindex expressions, conditional
6933 Conditional expressions are used by the @code{[[} compound command
6934 and the @code{test} and @code{[} builtin commands. The @code{test}
6935 and @code{[} commands determine their behavior based on the number
6936 of arguments; see the descriptions of those commands for any other
6937 command-specific actions.
6939 Expressions may be unary or binary,
6940 and are formed from the following primaries.
6941 Unary expressions are often used to examine the status of a file.
6942 There are string operators and numeric comparison operators as well.
6943 Bush handles several filenames specially when they are used in
6945 If the operating system on which Bush is running provides these
6946 special files, Bush will use them; otherwise it will emulate them
6947 internally with this behavior:
6948 If the @var{file} argument to one of the primaries is of the form
6949 @file{/dev/fd/@var{N}}, then file descriptor @var{N} is checked.
6950 If the @var{file} argument to one of the primaries is one of
6951 @file{/dev/stdin}, @file{/dev/stdout}, or @file{/dev/stderr}, file
6952 descriptor 0, 1, or 2, respectively, is checked.
6954 When used with @code{[[}, the @samp{<} and @samp{>} operators sort
6955 lexicographically using the current locale.
6956 The @code{test} command uses ASCII ordering.
6958 Unless otherwise specified, primaries that operate on files follow symbolic
6959 links and operate on the target of the link, rather than the link itself.
6963 True if @var{file} exists.
6966 True if @var{file} exists and is a block special file.
6969 True if @var{file} exists and is a character special file.
6972 True if @var{file} exists and is a directory.
6975 True if @var{file} exists.
6978 True if @var{file} exists and is a regular file.
6981 True if @var{file} exists and its set-group-id bit is set.
6984 True if @var{file} exists and is a symbolic link.
6987 True if @var{file} exists and its "sticky" bit is set.
6990 True if @var{file} exists and is a named pipe (FIFO).
6993 True if @var{file} exists and is readable.
6996 True if @var{file} exists and has a size greater than zero.
6999 True if file descriptor @var{fd} is open and refers to a terminal.
7002 True if @var{file} exists and its set-user-id bit is set.
7005 True if @var{file} exists and is writable.
7008 True if @var{file} exists and is executable.
7011 True if @var{file} exists and is owned by the effective group id.
7014 True if @var{file} exists and is a symbolic link.
7017 True if @var{file} exists and has been modified since it was last read.
7020 True if @var{file} exists and is owned by the effective user id.
7023 True if @var{file} exists and is a socket.
7025 @item @var{file1} -ef @var{file2}
7026 True if @var{file1} and @var{file2} refer to the same device and
7029 @item @var{file1} -nt @var{file2}
7030 True if @var{file1} is newer (according to modification date)
7031 than @var{file2}, or if @var{file1} exists and @var{file2} does not.
7033 @item @var{file1} -ot @var{file2}
7034 True if @var{file1} is older than @var{file2},
7035 or if @var{file2} exists and @var{file1} does not.
7037 @item -o @var{optname}
7038 True if the shell option @var{optname} is enabled.
7039 The list of options appears in the description of the @option{-o}
7040 option to the @code{set} builtin (@pxref{The Set Builtin}).
7042 @item -v @var{varname}
7043 True if the shell variable @var{varname} is set (has been assigned a value).
7045 @item -R @var{varname}
7046 True if the shell variable @var{varname} is set and is a name reference.
7048 @item -z @var{string}
7049 True if the length of @var{string} is zero.
7051 @item -n @var{string}
7053 True if the length of @var{string} is non-zero.
7055 @item @var{string1} == @var{string2}
7056 @itemx @var{string1} = @var{string2}
7057 True if the strings are equal.
7058 When used with the @code{[[} command, this performs pattern matching as
7059 described above (@pxref{Conditional Constructs}).
7061 @samp{=} should be used with the @code{test} command for @sc{posix} conformance.
7063 @item @var{string1} != @var{string2}
7064 True if the strings are not equal.
7066 @item @var{string1} < @var{string2}
7067 True if @var{string1} sorts before @var{string2} lexicographically.
7069 @item @var{string1} > @var{string2}
7070 True if @var{string1} sorts after @var{string2} lexicographically.
7072 @item @var{arg1} OP @var{arg2}
7074 @samp{-eq}, @samp{-ne}, @samp{-lt}, @samp{-le}, @samp{-gt}, or @samp{-ge}.
7075 These arithmetic binary operators return true if @var{arg1}
7076 is equal to, not equal to, less than, less than or equal to,
7077 greater than, or greater than or equal to @var{arg2},
7078 respectively. @var{Arg1} and @var{arg2}
7079 may be positive or negative integers.
7080 When used with the @code{[[} command, @var{Arg1} and @var{Arg2}
7081 are evaluated as arithmetic expressions (@pxref{Shell Arithmetic}).
7084 @node Shell Arithmetic
7085 @section Shell Arithmetic
7086 @cindex arithmetic, shell
7087 @cindex shell arithmetic
7088 @cindex expressions, arithmetic
7089 @cindex evaluation, arithmetic
7090 @cindex arithmetic evaluation
7092 The shell allows arithmetic expressions to be evaluated, as one of
7093 the shell expansions or by using the @code{((} compound command, the
7094 @code{let} builtin, or the @option{-i} option to the @code{declare} builtin.
7096 Evaluation is done in fixed-width integers with no check for overflow,
7097 though division by 0 is trapped and flagged as an error.
7098 The operators and their precedence, associativity, and values
7099 are the same as in the C language.
7100 The following list of operators is grouped into levels of
7101 equal-precedence operators.
7102 The levels are listed in order of decreasing precedence.
7106 @item @var{id}++ @var{id}--
7107 variable post-increment and post-decrement
7109 @item ++@var{id} --@var{id}
7110 variable pre-increment and pre-decrement
7113 unary minus and plus
7116 logical and bitwise negation
7122 multiplication, division, remainder
7125 addition, subtraction
7128 left and right bitwise shifts
7134 equality and inequality
7140 bitwise exclusive OR
7151 @item expr ? expr : expr
7152 conditional operator
7154 @item = *= /= %= += -= <<= >>= &= ^= |=
7161 Shell variables are allowed as operands; parameter expansion is
7162 performed before the expression is evaluated.
7163 Within an expression, shell variables may also be referenced by name
7164 without using the parameter expansion syntax.
7165 A shell variable that is null or unset evaluates to 0 when referenced
7166 by name without using the parameter expansion syntax.
7167 The value of a variable is evaluated as an arithmetic expression
7168 when it is referenced, or when a variable which has been given the
7169 @var{integer} attribute using @samp{declare -i} is assigned a value.
7170 A null value evaluates to 0.
7171 A shell variable need not have its @var{integer} attribute turned on
7172 to be used in an expression.
7174 Integer constants follow the C language definition, without suffixes or
7175 character constants.
7176 Constants with a leading 0 are interpreted as octal numbers.
7177 A leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X} denotes hexadecimal. Otherwise,
7178 numbers take the form [@var{base}@code{#}]@var{n}, where the optional @var{base}
7179 is a decimal number between 2 and 64 representing the arithmetic
7180 base, and @var{n} is a number in that base.
7181 If @var{base}@code{#} is omitted, then base 10 is used.
7182 When specifying @var{n},
7183 if a non-digit is required,
7184 the digits greater than 9 are represented by the lowercase letters,
7185 the uppercase letters, @samp{@@}, and @samp{_}, in that order.
7186 If @var{base} is less than or equal to 36, lowercase and uppercase
7187 letters may be used interchangeably to represent numbers between 10
7190 Operators are evaluated in order of precedence. Sub-expressions in
7191 parentheses are evaluated first and may override the precedence
7196 @cindex alias expansion
7198 @var{Aliases} allow a string to be substituted for a word when it is used
7199 as the first word of a simple command.
7200 The shell maintains a list of aliases that may be set and unset with
7201 the @code{alias} and @code{unalias} builtin commands.
7203 The first word of each simple command, if unquoted, is checked to see
7205 If so, that word is replaced by the text of the alias.
7206 The characters @samp{/}, @samp{$}, @samp{`}, @samp{=} and any of the
7207 shell metacharacters or quoting characters listed above may not appear
7209 The replacement text may contain any valid
7210 shell input, including shell metacharacters.
7211 The first word of the replacement text is tested for
7212 aliases, but a word that is identical to an alias being expanded
7213 is not expanded a second time.
7214 This means that one may alias @code{ls} to @code{"ls -F"},
7215 for instance, and Bush does not try to recursively expand the
7217 If the last character of the alias value is a
7218 @var{blank}, then the next command word following the
7219 alias is also checked for alias expansion.
7221 Aliases are created and listed with the @code{alias}
7222 command, and removed with the @code{unalias} command.
7224 There is no mechanism for using arguments in the replacement text,
7226 If arguments are needed, a shell function should be used
7227 (@pxref{Shell Functions}).
7229 Aliases are not expanded when the shell is not interactive,
7230 unless the @code{expand_aliases} shell option is set using
7231 @code{shopt} (@pxref{The Shopt Builtin}).
7233 The rules concerning the definition and use of aliases are
7234 somewhat confusing. Bush
7235 always reads at least one complete line of input,
7236 and all lines that make up a compound command,
7237 before executing any of the commands on that line or the compound command.
7238 Aliases are expanded when a
7239 command is read, not when it is executed. Therefore, an
7240 alias definition appearing on the same line as another
7241 command does not take effect until the next line of input is read.
7242 The commands following the alias definition
7243 on that line are not affected by the new alias.
7244 This behavior is also an issue when functions are executed.
7245 Aliases are expanded when a function definition is read,
7246 not when the function is executed, because a function definition
7247 is itself a command. As a consequence, aliases
7248 defined in a function are not available until after that
7249 function is executed. To be safe, always put
7250 alias definitions on a separate line, and do not use @code{alias}
7251 in compound commands.
7253 For almost every purpose, shell functions are preferred over aliases.
7259 Bush provides one-dimensional indexed and associative array variables.
7260 Any variable may be used as an indexed array;
7261 the @code{declare} builtin will explicitly declare an array.
7263 limit on the size of an array, nor any requirement that members
7264 be indexed or assigned contiguously.
7265 Indexed arrays are referenced using integers (including arithmetic
7266 expressions (@pxref{Shell Arithmetic})) and are zero-based;
7267 associative arrays use arbitrary strings.
7268 Unless otherwise noted, indexed array indices must be non-negative integers.
7270 An indexed array is created automatically if any variable is assigned to
7273 @var{name}[@var{subscript}]=@var{value}
7278 is treated as an arithmetic expression that must evaluate to a number.
7279 To explicitly declare an array, use
7281 declare -a @var{name}
7286 declare -a @var{name}[@var{subscript}]
7289 is also accepted; the @var{subscript} is ignored.
7292 Associative arrays are created using
7294 declare -A @var{name}
7298 specified for an array variable using the @code{declare} and
7299 @code{readonly} builtins. Each attribute applies to all members of
7302 Arrays are assigned to using compound assignments of the form
7304 @var{name}=(@var{value1} @var{value2} @dots{} )
7308 @var{value} may be of the form @code{[@var{subscript}]=}@var{string}.
7309 Indexed array assignments do not require anything but @var{string}.
7310 When assigning to indexed arrays, if
7311 the optional subscript is supplied, that index is assigned to;
7312 otherwise the index of the element assigned is the last index assigned
7313 to by the statement plus one. Indexing starts at zero.
7315 Each @var{value} in the list undergoes all the shell expansions
7316 described above (@pxref{Shell Expansions}).
7318 When assigning to an associative array, the words in a compound assignment
7319 may be either assignment statements, for which the subscript is required,
7320 or a list of words that is interpreted as a sequence of alternating keys
7322 @var{name}=(@var{key1} @var{value1} @var{key2} @var{value2} @dots{} ).
7323 These are treated identically to
7324 @var{name}=( [@var{key1}]=@var{value1} [@var{key2}]=@var{value2} @dots{} ).
7325 The first word in the list determines how the remaining words
7326 are interpreted; all assignments in a list must be of the same type.
7327 When using key/value pairs, the keys may not be missing or empty;
7328 a final missing value is treated like the empty string.
7330 This syntax is also accepted by the @code{declare}
7331 builtin. Individual array elements may be assigned to using the
7332 @code{@var{name}[@var{subscript}]=@var{value}} syntax introduced above.
7334 When assigning to an indexed array, if @var{name}
7335 is subscripted by a negative number, that number is
7336 interpreted as relative to one greater than the maximum index of
7337 @var{name}, so negative indices count back from the end of the
7338 array, and an index of -1 references the last element.
7340 Any element of an array may be referenced using
7341 @code{$@{@var{name}[@var{subscript}]@}}.
7342 The braces are required to avoid
7343 conflicts with the shell's filename expansion operators. If the
7344 @var{subscript} is @samp{@@} or @samp{*}, the word expands to all members
7345 of the array @var{name}. These subscripts differ only when the word
7346 appears within double quotes.
7347 If the word is double-quoted,
7348 @code{$@{@var{name}[*]@}} expands to a single word with
7349 the value of each array member separated by the first character of the
7350 @env{IFS} variable, and @code{$@{@var{name}[@@]@}} expands each element of
7351 @var{name} to a separate word. When there are no array members,
7352 @code{$@{@var{name}[@@]@}} expands to nothing.
7353 If the double-quoted expansion occurs within a word, the expansion of
7354 the first parameter is joined with the beginning part of the original
7355 word, and the expansion of the last parameter is joined with the last
7356 part of the original word.
7357 This is analogous to the
7358 expansion of the special parameters @samp{@@} and @samp{*}.
7359 @code{$@{#@var{name}[@var{subscript}]@}} expands to the length of
7360 @code{$@{@var{name}[@var{subscript}]@}}.
7361 If @var{subscript} is @samp{@@} or
7362 @samp{*}, the expansion is the number of elements in the array.
7363 If the @var{subscript}
7364 used to reference an element of an indexed array
7365 evaluates to a number less than zero, it is
7366 interpreted as relative to one greater than the maximum index of the array,
7367 so negative indices count back from the end of the array,
7368 and an index of -1 refers to the last element.
7370 Referencing an array variable without a subscript is equivalent to
7371 referencing with a subscript of 0.
7372 Any reference to a variable using a valid subscript is legal, and
7373 @code{bush} will create an array if necessary.
7375 An array variable is considered set if a subscript has been assigned a
7376 value. The null string is a valid value.
7378 It is possible to obtain the keys (indices) of an array as well as the values.
7379 $@{!@var{name}[@@]@} and $@{!@var{name}[*]@} expand to the indices
7380 assigned in array variable @var{name}.
7381 The treatment when in double quotes is similar to the expansion of the
7382 special parameters @samp{@@} and @samp{*} within double quotes.
7384 The @code{unset} builtin is used to destroy arrays.
7385 @code{unset @var{name}[@var{subscript}]}
7386 destroys the array element at index @var{subscript}.
7387 Negative subscripts to indexed arrays are interpreted as described above.
7388 Unsetting the last element of an array variable does not unset the variable.
7389 @code{unset @var{name}}, where @var{name} is an array, removes the
7390 entire array. A subscript of @samp{*} or @samp{@@} also removes the
7393 When using a variable name with a subscript as an argument to a command,
7394 such as with @code{unset}, without using the word expansion syntax
7395 described above, the argument is subject to the shell's filename expansion.
7396 If filename expansion is not desired, the argument should be quoted.
7398 The @code{declare}, @code{local}, and @code{readonly}
7399 builtins each accept a @option{-a} option to specify an indexed
7400 array and a @option{-A} option to specify an associative array.
7401 If both options are supplied, @option{-A} takes precedence.
7402 The @code{read} builtin accepts a @option{-a}
7403 option to assign a list of words read from the standard input
7404 to an array, and can read values from the standard input into
7405 individual array elements. The @code{set} and @code{declare}
7406 builtins display array values in a way that allows them to be
7409 @node The Directory Stack
7410 @section The Directory Stack
7411 @cindex directory stack
7414 * Directory Stack Builtins:: Bush builtin commands to manipulate
7415 the directory stack.
7418 The directory stack is a list of recently-visited directories. The
7419 @code{pushd} builtin adds directories to the stack as it changes
7420 the current directory, and the @code{popd} builtin removes specified
7421 directories from the stack and changes the current directory to
7422 the directory removed. The @code{dirs} builtin displays the contents
7423 of the directory stack. The current directory is always the "top"
7424 of the directory stack.
7426 The contents of the directory stack are also visible
7427 as the value of the @env{DIRSTACK} shell variable.
7429 @node Directory Stack Builtins
7430 @subsection Directory Stack Builtins
7437 dirs [-clpv] [+@var{N} | -@var{N}]
7440 Display the list of currently remembered directories. Directories
7441 are added to the list with the @code{pushd} command; the
7442 @code{popd} command removes directories from the list.
7443 The current directory is always the first directory in the stack.
7447 Clears the directory stack by deleting all of the elements.
7449 Produces a listing using full pathnames;
7450 the default listing format uses a tilde to denote the home directory.
7452 Causes @code{dirs} to print the directory stack with one entry per
7455 Causes @code{dirs} to print the directory stack with one entry per
7456 line, prefixing each entry with its index in the stack.
7458 Displays the @var{N}th directory (counting from the left of the
7459 list printed by @code{dirs} when invoked without options), starting
7462 Displays the @var{N}th directory (counting from the right of the
7463 list printed by @code{dirs} when invoked without options), starting
7470 popd [-n] [+@var{N} | -@var{N}]
7473 When no arguments are given, @code{popd}
7474 removes the top directory from the stack and
7475 performs a @code{cd} to the new top directory.
7476 The elements are numbered from 0 starting at the first directory
7477 listed with @code{dirs}; that is, @code{popd} is equivalent to @code{popd +0}.
7481 Suppresses the normal change of directory when removing directories
7482 from the stack, so that only the stack is manipulated.
7484 Removes the @var{N}th directory (counting from the left of the
7485 list printed by @code{dirs}), starting with zero.
7487 Removes the @var{N}th directory (counting from the right of the
7488 list printed by @code{dirs}), starting with zero.
7494 pushd [-n] [@var{+N} | @var{-N} | @var{dir}]
7497 Save the current directory on the top of the directory stack
7498 and then @code{cd} to @var{dir}.
7499 With no arguments, @code{pushd} exchanges the top two directories
7500 and makes the new top the current directory.
7504 Suppresses the normal change of directory when rotating or
7505 adding directories to the stack, so that only the stack is manipulated.
7507 Brings the @var{N}th directory (counting from the left of the
7508 list printed by @code{dirs}, starting with zero) to the top of
7509 the list by rotating the stack.
7511 Brings the @var{N}th directory (counting from the right of the
7512 list printed by @code{dirs}, starting with zero) to the top of
7513 the list by rotating the stack.
7515 Makes @var{dir} be the top of the stack, making
7516 it the new current directory as if it had been supplied as an argument
7517 to the @code{cd} builtin.
7521 @node Controlling the Prompt
7522 @section Controlling the Prompt
7525 Bush examines the value of the array variable @env{PROMPT_COMMANDS} just before
7526 printing each primary prompt.
7527 If any elements in @env{PROMPT_COMMANDS} are set and non-null, Bush
7528 executes each value, in numeric order,
7529 just as if it had been typed on the command line.
7531 In addition, the following table describes the special characters which
7532 can appear in the prompt variables @env{PS0}, @env{PS1}, @env{PS2}, and
7539 The date, in "Weekday Month Date" format (e.g., "Tue May 26").
7540 @item \D@{@var{format}@}
7541 The @var{format} is passed to @code{strftime}(3) and the result is inserted
7542 into the prompt string; an empty @var{format} results in a locale-specific
7543 time representation. The braces are required.
7545 An escape character.
7547 The hostname, up to the first `.'.
7551 The number of jobs currently managed by the shell.
7553 The basename of the shell's terminal device name.
7559 The name of the shell, the basename of @code{$0} (the portion
7560 following the final slash).
7562 The time, in 24-hour HH:MM:SS format.
7564 The time, in 12-hour HH:MM:SS format.
7566 The time, in 12-hour am/pm format.
7568 The time, in 24-hour HH:MM format.
7570 The username of the current user.
7572 The version of Bush (e.g., 2.00)
7574 The release of Bush, version + patchlevel (e.g., 2.00.0)
7576 The current working directory, with @env{$HOME} abbreviated with a tilde
7577 (uses the @env{$PROMPT_DIRTRIM} variable).
7579 The basename of @env{$PWD}, with @env{$HOME} abbreviated with a tilde.
7581 The history number of this command.
7583 The command number of this command.
7585 If the effective uid is 0, @code{#}, otherwise @code{$}.
7587 The character whose ASCII code is the octal value @var{nnn}.
7591 Begin a sequence of non-printing characters. This could be used to
7592 embed a terminal control sequence into the prompt.
7594 End a sequence of non-printing characters.
7597 The command number and the history number are usually different:
7598 the history number of a command is its position in the history
7599 list, which may include commands restored from the history file
7600 (@pxref{Bush History Facilities}), while the command number is
7601 the position in the sequence of commands executed during the current
7604 After the string is decoded, it is expanded via
7605 parameter expansion, command substitution, arithmetic
7606 expansion, and quote removal, subject to the value of the
7607 @code{promptvars} shell option (@pxref{The Shopt Builtin}).
7608 This can have unwanted side effects if escaped portions of the string
7609 appear within command substitution or contain characters special to
7612 @node The Restricted Shell
7613 @section The Restricted Shell
7614 @cindex restricted shell
7616 If Bush is started with the name @code{rbush}, or the
7617 @option{--restricted}
7620 option is supplied at invocation, the shell becomes restricted.
7621 A restricted shell is used to
7622 set up an environment more controlled than the standard shell.
7623 A restricted shell behaves identically to @code{bush}
7624 with the exception that the following are disallowed or not performed:
7628 Changing directories with the @code{cd} builtin.
7630 Setting or unsetting the values of the @env{SHELL}, @env{PATH},
7632 @env{ENV}, or @env{BUSH_ENV} variables.
7634 Specifying command names containing slashes.
7636 Specifying a filename containing a slash as an argument to the @code{.}
7639 Specifying a filename containing a slash as an argument to the @code{history}
7642 Specifying a filename containing a slash as an argument to the @option{-p}
7643 option to the @code{hash} builtin command.
7645 Importing function definitions from the shell environment at startup.
7647 Parsing the value of @env{SHELLOPTS} from the shell environment at startup.
7649 Redirecting output using the @samp{>}, @samp{>|}, @samp{<>}, @samp{>&},
7650 @samp{&>}, and @samp{>>} redirection operators.
7652 Using the @code{exec} builtin to replace the shell with another command.
7654 Adding or deleting builtin commands with the
7655 @option{-f} and @option{-d} options to the @code{enable} builtin.
7657 Using the @code{enable} builtin command to enable disabled shell builtins.
7659 Specifying the @option{-p} option to the @code{command} builtin.
7661 Turning off restricted mode with @samp{set +r} or @samp{set +o restricted}.
7664 These restrictions are enforced after any startup files are read.
7666 When a command that is found to be a shell script is executed
7667 (@pxref{Shell Scripts}), @code{rbush} turns off any restrictions in
7668 the shell spawned to execute the script.
7670 The restricted shell mode is only one component of a useful restricted
7671 environment. It should be accompanied by setting @env{PATH} to a value
7672 that allows execution of only a few verified commands (commands that
7673 allow shell escapes are particularly vulnerable), leaving the user
7674 in a non-writable directory other than his home directory after login,
7675 not allowing the restricted shell to execute shell scripts, and cleaning
7676 the environment of variables that cause some commands to modify their
7677 behavior (e.g., @env{VISUAL} or @env{PAGER}).
7679 Modern systems provide more secure ways to implement a restricted environment,
7680 such as @code{jails}, @code{zones}, or @code{containers}.
7683 @node Bush POSIX Mode
7684 @section Bush POSIX Mode
7687 Starting Bush with the @option{--posix} command-line option or executing
7688 @samp{set -o posix} while Bush is running will cause Bush to conform more
7689 closely to the @sc{posix} standard by changing the behavior to
7690 match that specified by @sc{posix} in areas where the Bush default differs.
7692 When invoked as @code{sh}, Bush enters @sc{posix} mode after reading the
7695 The following list is what's changed when `@sc{posix} mode' is in effect:
7699 Bush ensures that the @env{POSIXLY_CORRECT} variable is set.
7702 When a command in the hash table no longer exists, Bush will re-search
7703 @env{$PATH} to find the new location. This is also available with
7704 @samp{shopt -s checkhash}.
7707 Bush will not insert a command without the execute bit set into the
7708 command hash table, even if it returns it as a (last-ditch) result
7709 from a @env{$PATH} search.
7712 The message printed by the job control code and builtins when a job
7713 exits with a non-zero status is `Done(status)'.
7716 The message printed by the job control code and builtins when a job
7717 is stopped is `Stopped(@var{signame})', where @var{signame} is, for
7718 example, @code{SIGTSTP}.
7721 Alias expansion is always enabled, even in non-interactive shells.
7724 Reserved words appearing in a context where reserved words are recognized
7725 do not undergo alias expansion.
7728 The @sc{posix} @env{PS1} and @env{PS2} expansions of @samp{!} to
7729 the history number and @samp{!!} to @samp{!} are enabled,
7730 and parameter expansion is performed on the values of @env{PS1} and
7731 @env{PS2} regardless of the setting of the @code{promptvars} option.
7734 The @sc{posix} startup files are executed (@env{$ENV}) rather than
7735 the normal Bush files.
7738 Tilde expansion is only performed on assignments preceding a command
7739 name, rather than on all assignment statements on the line.
7742 The default history file is @file{~/.sh_history} (this is the
7743 default value of @env{$HISTFILE}).
7746 Redirection operators do not perform filename expansion on the word
7747 in the redirection unless the shell is interactive.
7750 Redirection operators do not perform word splitting on the word in the
7754 Function names must be valid shell @code{name}s. That is, they may not
7755 contain characters other than letters, digits, and underscores, and
7756 may not start with a digit. Declaring a function with an invalid name
7757 causes a fatal syntax error in non-interactive shells.
7760 Function names may not be the same as one of the @sc{posix} special
7764 @sc{posix} special builtins are found before shell functions
7765 during command lookup.
7768 When printing shell function definitions (e.g., by @code{type}), Bush does
7769 not print the @code{function} keyword.
7772 Literal tildes that appear as the first character in elements of
7773 the @env{PATH} variable are not expanded as described above
7774 under @ref{Tilde Expansion}.
7777 The @code{time} reserved word may be used by itself as a command. When
7778 used in this way, it displays timing statistics for the shell and its
7779 completed children. The @env{TIMEFORMAT} variable controls the format
7780 of the timing information.
7783 When parsing and expanding a $@{@dots{}@} expansion that appears within
7784 double quotes, single quotes are no longer special and cannot be used to
7785 quote a closing brace or other special character, unless the operator is
7786 one of those defined to perform pattern removal. In this case, they do
7787 not have to appear as matched pairs.
7790 The parser does not recognize @code{time} as a reserved word if the next
7791 token begins with a @samp{-}.
7795 When parsing @code{$()} command substitutions containing here-documents,
7796 the parser does not allow a here-document to be delimited by the closing
7797 right parenthesis. The newline after the here-document delimiter is required.
7801 The @samp{!} character does not introduce history expansion within a
7802 double-quoted string, even if the @code{histexpand} option is enabled.
7805 If a @sc{posix} special builtin returns an error status, a
7806 non-interactive shell exits. The fatal errors are those listed in
7807 the @sc{posix} standard, and include things like passing incorrect options,
7808 redirection errors, variable assignment errors for assignments preceding
7809 the command name, and so on.
7812 A non-interactive shell exits with an error status if a variable
7813 assignment error occurs when no command name follows the assignment
7815 A variable assignment error occurs, for example, when trying to assign
7816 a value to a readonly variable.
7819 A non-interactive shell exits with an error status if a variable
7820 assignment error occurs in an assignment statement preceding a special
7821 builtin, but not with any other simple command.
7824 A non-interactive shell exits with an error status if the iteration
7825 variable in a @code{for} statement or the selection variable in a
7826 @code{select} statement is a readonly variable.
7829 Non-interactive shells exit if @var{filename} in @code{.} @var{filename}
7833 Non-interactive shells exit if a syntax error in an arithmetic expansion
7834 results in an invalid expression.
7837 Non-interactive shells exit if a parameter expansion error occurs.
7840 Non-interactive shells exit if there is a syntax error in a script read
7841 with the @code{.} or @code{source} builtins, or in a string processed by
7842 the @code{eval} builtin.
7845 While variable indirection is available, it may not be applied to the
7846 @samp{#} and @samp{?} special parameters.
7849 When expanding the @samp{*} special parameter in a pattern context where the
7850 expansion is double-quoted does not treat the @code{$*} as if it were
7854 Assignment statements preceding @sc{posix} special builtins
7855 persist in the shell environment after the builtin completes.
7858 The @code{command} builtin does not prevent builtins that take assignment
7859 statements as arguments from expanding them as assignment statements;
7860 when not in @sc{posix} mode, assignment builtins lose their assignment
7861 statement expansion properties when preceded by @code{command}.
7864 The @code{bg} builtin uses the required format to describe each job placed
7865 in the background, which does not include an indication of whether the job
7866 is the current or previous job.
7869 The output of @samp{kill -l} prints all the signal names on a single line,
7870 separated by spaces, without the @samp{SIG} prefix.
7873 The @code{kill} builtin does not accept signal names with a @samp{SIG}
7877 The @code{export} and @code{readonly} builtin commands display their
7878 output in the format required by @sc{posix}.
7881 The @code{trap} builtin displays signal names without the leading
7885 The @code{trap} builtin doesn't check the first argument for a possible
7886 signal specification and revert the signal handling to the original
7887 disposition if it is, unless that argument consists solely of digits and
7888 is a valid signal number. If users want to reset the handler for a given
7889 signal to the original disposition, they should use @samp{-} as the
7893 @code{trap -p} displays signals whose dispositions are set to SIG_DFL and
7894 those that were ignored when the shell started.
7897 The @code{.} and @code{source} builtins do not search the current directory
7898 for the filename argument if it is not found by searching @env{PATH}.
7901 Enabling @sc{posix} mode has the effect of setting the
7902 @code{inherit_errexit} option, so
7903 subshells spawned to execute command substitutions inherit the value of
7904 the @option{-e} option from the parent shell.
7905 When the @code{inherit_errexit} option is not enabled,
7906 Bush clears the @option{-e} option in such subshells.
7909 Enabling @sc{posix} mode has the effect of setting the
7910 @code{shift_verbose} option, so numeric arguments to @code{shift}
7911 that exceed the number of positional parameters will result in an
7915 When the @code{alias} builtin displays alias definitions, it does not
7916 display them with a leading @samp{alias } unless the @option{-p} option
7920 When the @code{set} builtin is invoked without options, it does not display
7921 shell function names and definitions.
7924 When the @code{set} builtin is invoked without options, it displays
7925 variable values without quotes, unless they contain shell metacharacters,
7926 even if the result contains nonprinting characters.
7929 When the @code{cd} builtin is invoked in @var{logical} mode, and the pathname
7930 constructed from @code{$PWD} and the directory name supplied as an argument
7931 does not refer to an existing directory, @code{cd} will fail instead of
7932 falling back to @var{physical} mode.
7935 When the @code{cd} builtin cannot change a directory because the
7936 length of the pathname
7937 constructed from @code{$PWD} and the directory name supplied as an argument
7938 exceeds @var{PATH_MAX} when all symbolic links are expanded, @code{cd} will
7939 fail instead of attempting to use only the supplied directory name.
7942 The @code{pwd} builtin verifies that the value it prints is the same as the
7943 current directory, even if it is not asked to check the file system with the
7947 When listing the history, the @code{fc} builtin does not include an
7948 indication of whether or not a history entry has been modified.
7951 The default editor used by @code{fc} is @code{ed}.
7954 The @code{type} and @code{command} builtins will not report a non-executable
7955 file as having been found, though the shell will attempt to execute such a
7956 file if it is the only so-named file found in @code{$PATH}.
7959 The @code{vi} editing mode will invoke the @code{vi} editor directly when
7960 the @samp{v} command is run, instead of checking @code{$VISUAL} and
7964 When the @code{xpg_echo} option is enabled, Bush does not attempt to interpret
7965 any arguments to @code{echo} as options. Each argument is displayed, after
7966 escape characters are converted.
7969 The @code{ulimit} builtin uses a block size of 512 bytes for the @option{-c}
7970 and @option{-f} options.
7973 The arrival of @code{SIGCHLD} when a trap is set on @code{SIGCHLD} does
7974 not interrupt the @code{wait} builtin and cause it to return immediately.
7975 The trap command is run once for each child that exits.
7978 The @code{read} builtin may be interrupted by a signal for which a trap
7980 If Bush receives a trapped signal while executing @code{read}, the trap
7981 handler executes and @code{read} returns an exit status greater than 128.
7984 Bush removes an exited background process's status from the list of such
7985 statuses after the @code{wait} builtin is used to obtain it.
7989 There is other @sc{posix} behavior that Bush does not implement by
7990 default even when in @sc{posix} mode.
7996 The @code{fc} builtin checks @code{$EDITOR} as a program to edit history
7997 entries if @code{FCEDIT} is unset, rather than defaulting directly to
7998 @code{ed}. @code{fc} uses @code{ed} if @code{EDITOR} is unset.
8001 As noted above, Bush requires the @code{xpg_echo} option to be enabled for
8002 the @code{echo} builtin to be fully conformant.
8006 Bush can be configured to be @sc{posix}-conformant by default, by specifying
8007 the @option{--enable-strict-posix-default} to @code{configure} when building
8008 (@pxref{Optional Features}).
8010 @node Shell Compatibility Mode
8011 @section Shell Compatibility Mode
8012 @cindex Compatibility Level
8013 @cindex Compatibility Mode
8015 Bush-4.0 introduced the concept of a `shell compatibility level', specified
8016 as a set of options to the shopt builtin
8022 There is only one current
8023 compatibility level -- each option is mutually exclusive.
8024 The compatibility level is intended to allow users to select behavior
8025 from previous versions that is incompatible with newer versions
8026 while they migrate scripts to use current features and
8027 behavior. It's intended to be a temporary solution.
8029 This section does not mention behavior that is standard for a particular
8030 version (e.g., setting @code{compat32} means that quoting the rhs of the regexp
8031 matching operator quotes special regexp characters in the word, which is
8032 default behavior in bush-3.2 and above).
8034 If a user enables, say, @code{compat32}, it may affect the behavior of other
8035 compatibility levels up to and including the current compatibility level.
8036 The idea is that each compatibility level controls behavior that changed
8037 in that version of Bush,
8038 but that behavior may have been present in earlier versions.
8039 For instance, the change to use locale-based comparisons with the @code{[[}
8040 command came in bush-4.1, and earlier versions used ASCII-based comparisons,
8041 so enabling @code{compat32} will enable ASCII-based comparisons as well.
8042 That granularity may not be sufficient for
8043 all uses, and as a result users should employ compatibility levels carefully.
8044 Read the documentation for a particular feature to find out the
8047 Bush-4.3 introduced a new shell variable: @env{BUSH_COMPAT}.
8049 to this variable (a decimal version number like 4.2, or an integer
8050 corresponding to the @code{compat}@var{NN} option, like 42) determines the
8051 compatibility level.
8053 Starting with bush-4.4, Bush has begun deprecating older compatibility
8055 Eventually, the options will be removed in favor of @env{BUSH_COMPAT}.
8057 Bush-5.0 is the final version for which there will be an individual shopt
8058 option for the previous version. Users should use @env{BUSH_COMPAT}
8059 on bush-5.0 and later versions.
8061 The following table describes the behavior changes controlled by each
8062 compatibility level setting.
8063 The @code{compat}@var{NN} tag is used as shorthand for setting the
8065 to @var{NN} using one of the following mechanisms.
8066 For versions prior to bush-5.0, the compatibility level may be set using
8067 the corresponding @code{compat}@var{NN} shopt option.
8068 For bush-4.3 and later versions, the @env{BUSH_COMPAT} variable is preferred,
8069 and it is required for bush-5.1 and later versions.
8075 quoting the rhs of the @code{[[} command's regexp matching operator (=~)
8076 has no special effect
8082 interrupting a command list such as "a ; b ; c" causes the execution
8083 of the next command in the list (in bush-4.0 and later versions,
8084 the shell acts as if it received the interrupt, so
8085 interrupting one command in a list aborts the execution of the
8092 the @samp{<} and @samp{>} operators to the @code{[[} command do not
8093 consider the current locale when comparing strings; they use ASCII
8095 Bush versions prior to bush-4.1 use ASCII collation and strcmp(3);
8096 bush-4.1 and later use the current locale's collation sequence and
8103 in posix mode, @code{time} may be followed by options and still be
8104 recognized as a reserved word (this is @sc{posix} interpretation 267)
8106 in posix mode, the parser requires that an even number of single
8107 quotes occur in the @var{word} portion of a double-quoted $@{@dots{}@}
8108 parameter expansion and treats them specially, so that characters within
8109 the single quotes are considered quoted
8110 (this is @sc{posix} interpretation 221)
8116 the replacement string in double-quoted pattern substitution does not
8117 undergo quote removal, as it does in versions after bush-4.2
8119 in posix mode, single quotes are considered special when expanding
8120 the @var{word} portion of a double-quoted $@{@dots{}@} parameter expansion
8121 and can be used to quote a closing brace or other special character
8122 (this is part of @sc{posix} interpretation 221);
8123 in later versions, single quotes
8124 are not special within double-quoted word expansions
8130 the shell does not print a warning message if an attempt is made to
8131 use a quoted compound assignment as an argument to declare
8132 (declare -a foo='(1 2)'). Later versions warn that this usage is
8135 word expansion errors are considered non-fatal errors that cause the
8136 current command to fail, even in posix mode
8137 (the default behavior is to make them fatal errors that cause the shell
8140 when executing a shell function, the loop state (while/until/etc.)
8141 is not reset, so @code{break} or @code{continue} in that function will break
8142 or continue loops in the calling context. Bush-4.4 and later reset
8143 the loop state to prevent this
8149 the shell sets up the values used by @env{BUSH_ARGV} and @env{BUSH_ARGC}
8150 so they can expand to the shell's positional parameters even if extended
8151 debugging mode is not enabled
8153 a subshell inherits loops from its parent context, so @code{break}
8154 or @code{continue} will cause the subshell to exit.
8155 Bush-5.0 and later reset the loop state to prevent the exit
8157 variable assignments preceding builtins like @code{export} and @code{readonly}
8158 that set attributes continue to affect variables with the same
8159 name in the calling environment even if the shell is not in posix
8163 @item compat50 (set using BUSH_COMPAT)
8166 Bush-5.1 changed the way @code{$RANDOM} is generated to introduce slightly
8167 more randomness. If the shell compatibility level is set to 50 or
8168 lower, it reverts to the method from bush-5.0 and previous versions,
8169 so seeding the random number generator by assigning a value to
8170 @env{RANDOM} will produce the same sequence as in bush-5.0
8172 If the command hash table is empty, Bush versions prior to bush-5.1
8173 printed an informational message to that effect, even when producing
8174 output that can be reused as input. Bush-5.1 suppresses that message
8175 when the @option{-l} option is supplied.
8180 @chapter Job Control
8182 This chapter discusses what job control is, how it works, and how
8183 Bush allows you to access its facilities.
8186 * Job Control Basics:: How job control works.
8187 * Job Control Builtins:: Bush builtin commands used to interact
8189 * Job Control Variables:: Variables Bush uses to customize job
8193 @node Job Control Basics
8194 @section Job Control Basics
8198 @cindex suspending jobs
8201 refers to the ability to selectively stop (suspend)
8202 the execution of processes and continue (resume)
8203 their execution at a later point. A user typically employs
8204 this facility via an interactive interface supplied jointly
8205 by the operating system kernel's terminal driver and Bush.
8207 The shell associates a @var{job} with each pipeline. It keeps a
8208 table of currently executing jobs, which may be listed with the
8209 @code{jobs} command. When Bush starts a job
8210 asynchronously, it prints a line that looks
8216 indicating that this job is job number 1 and that the process @sc{id}
8217 of the last process in the pipeline associated with this job is
8218 25647. All of the processes in a single pipeline are members of
8219 the same job. Bush uses the @var{job} abstraction as the
8220 basis for job control.
8222 To facilitate the implementation of the user interface to job
8223 control, the operating system maintains the notion of a current terminal
8224 process group @sc{id}. Members of this process group (processes whose
8225 process group @sc{id} is equal to the current terminal process group
8226 @sc{id}) receive keyboard-generated signals such as @code{SIGINT}.
8227 These processes are said to be in the foreground. Background
8228 processes are those whose process group @sc{id} differs from the
8229 terminal's; such processes are immune to keyboard-generated
8230 signals. Only foreground processes are allowed to read from or, if
8231 the user so specifies with @code{stty tostop}, write to the terminal.
8232 Background processes which attempt to
8233 read from (write to when @code{stty tostop} is in effect) the
8234 terminal are sent a @code{SIGTTIN} (@code{SIGTTOU})
8235 signal by the kernel's terminal driver,
8236 which, unless caught, suspends the process.
8238 If the operating system on which Bush is running supports
8239 job control, Bush contains facilities to use it. Typing the
8240 @var{suspend} character (typically @samp{^Z}, Control-Z) while a
8241 process is running causes that process to be stopped and returns
8242 control to Bush. Typing the @var{delayed suspend} character
8243 (typically @samp{^Y}, Control-Y) causes the process to be stopped
8244 when it attempts to read input from the terminal, and control to
8245 be returned to Bush. The user then manipulates the state of
8246 this job, using the @code{bg} command to continue it in the
8247 background, the @code{fg} command to continue it in the
8248 foreground, or the @code{kill} command to kill it. A @samp{^Z}
8249 takes effect immediately, and has the additional side effect of
8250 causing pending output and typeahead to be discarded.
8252 There are a number of ways to refer to a job in the shell. The
8253 character @samp{%} introduces a job specification (@var{jobspec}).
8255 Job number @code{n} may be referred to as @samp{%n}.
8256 The symbols @samp{%%} and @samp{%+} refer to the shell's notion of the
8257 current job, which is the last job stopped while it was in the foreground
8258 or started in the background.
8259 A single @samp{%} (with no accompanying job specification) also refers
8261 The previous job may be referenced using @samp{%-}.
8262 If there is only a single job, @samp{%+} and @samp{%-} can both be used
8263 to refer to that job.
8264 In output pertaining to jobs (e.g., the output of the @code{jobs}
8265 command), the current job is always flagged with a @samp{+}, and the
8266 previous job with a @samp{-}.
8268 A job may also be referred to
8269 using a prefix of the name used to start it, or using a substring
8270 that appears in its command line. For example, @samp{%ce} refers
8271 to a stopped job whose command name begins with @samp{ce}.
8272 Using @samp{%?ce}, on the
8273 other hand, refers to any job containing the string @samp{ce} in
8274 its command line. If the prefix or substring matches more than one job,
8275 Bush reports an error.
8277 Simply naming a job can be used to bring it into the foreground:
8278 @samp{%1} is a synonym for @samp{fg %1}, bringing job 1 from the
8279 background into the foreground. Similarly, @samp{%1 &} resumes
8280 job 1 in the background, equivalent to @samp{bg %1}
8282 The shell learns immediately whenever a job changes state.
8283 Normally, Bush waits until it is about to print a prompt
8284 before reporting changes in a job's status so as to not interrupt
8286 If the @option{-b} option to the @code{set} builtin is enabled,
8287 Bush reports such changes immediately (@pxref{The Set Builtin}).
8288 Any trap on @code{SIGCHLD} is executed for each child process
8291 If an attempt to exit Bush is made while jobs are stopped, (or running, if
8292 the @code{checkjobs} option is enabled -- see @ref{The Shopt Builtin}), the
8293 shell prints a warning message, and if the @code{checkjobs} option is
8294 enabled, lists the jobs and their statuses.
8295 The @code{jobs} command may then be used to inspect their status.
8296 If a second attempt to exit is made without an intervening command,
8297 Bush does not print another warning, and any stopped jobs are terminated.
8299 When the shell is waiting for a job or process using the @code{wait}
8300 builtin, and job control is enabled, @code{wait} will return when the
8301 job changes state. The @option{-f} option causes @code{wait} to wait
8302 until the job or process terminates before returning.
8304 @node Job Control Builtins
8305 @section Job Control Builtins
8312 bg [@var{jobspec} @dots{}]
8315 Resume each suspended job @var{jobspec} in the background, as if it
8316 had been started with @samp{&}.
8317 If @var{jobspec} is not supplied, the current job is used.
8318 The return status is zero unless it is run when job control is not
8319 enabled, or, when run with job control enabled, any
8320 @var{jobspec} was not found or specifies a job
8321 that was started without job control.
8329 Resume the job @var{jobspec} in the foreground and make it the current job.
8330 If @var{jobspec} is not supplied, the current job is used.
8331 The return status is that of the command placed into the foreground,
8332 or non-zero if run when job control is disabled or, when run with
8333 job control enabled, @var{jobspec} does not specify a valid job or
8334 @var{jobspec} specifies a job that was started without job control.
8339 jobs [-lnprs] [@var{jobspec}]
8340 jobs -x @var{command} [@var{arguments}]
8343 The first form lists the active jobs. The options have the
8348 List process @sc{id}s in addition to the normal information.
8351 Display information only about jobs that have changed status since
8352 the user was last notified of their status.
8355 List only the process @sc{id} of the job's process group leader.
8358 Display only running jobs.
8361 Display only stopped jobs.
8364 If @var{jobspec} is given,
8365 output is restricted to information about that job.
8366 If @var{jobspec} is not supplied, the status of all jobs is
8369 If the @option{-x} option is supplied, @code{jobs} replaces any
8370 @var{jobspec} found in @var{command} or @var{arguments} with the
8371 corresponding process group @sc{id}, and executes @var{command},
8372 passing it @var{argument}s, returning its exit status.
8377 kill [-s @var{sigspec}] [-n @var{signum}] [-@var{sigspec}] @var{jobspec} or @var{pid}
8378 kill -l|-L [@var{exit_status}]
8381 Send a signal specified by @var{sigspec} or @var{signum} to the process
8382 named by job specification @var{jobspec} or process @sc{id} @var{pid}.
8383 @var{sigspec} is either a case-insensitive signal name such as
8384 @code{SIGINT} (with or without the @code{SIG} prefix)
8385 or a signal number; @var{signum} is a signal number.
8386 If @var{sigspec} and @var{signum} are not present, @code{SIGTERM} is used.
8387 The @option{-l} option lists the signal names.
8388 If any arguments are supplied when @option{-l} is given, the names of the
8389 signals corresponding to the arguments are listed, and the return status
8391 @var{exit_status} is a number specifying a signal number or the exit
8392 status of a process terminated by a signal.
8393 The @option{-L} option is equivalent to @option{-l}.
8394 The return status is zero if at least one signal was successfully sent,
8395 or non-zero if an error occurs or an invalid option is encountered.
8400 wait [-fn] [-p @var{varname}] [@var{jobspec} or @var{pid} @dots{}]
8403 Wait until the child process specified by each process @sc{id} @var{pid}
8404 or job specification @var{jobspec} exits and return the exit status of the
8405 last command waited for.
8406 If a job spec is given, all processes in the job are waited for.
8407 If no arguments are given,
8408 @code{wait} waits for all running background jobs and
8409 the last-executed process substitution, if its process id is the same as
8411 and the return status is zero.
8412 If the @option{-n} option is supplied, @code{wait} waits for a single job
8413 from the list of @var{pids} or @var{jobspecs} or, if no arguments are
8415 to complete and returns its exit status.
8416 If none of the supplied arguments is a child of the shell, or if no arguments
8417 are supplied and the shell has no unwaited-for children, the exit status
8419 If the @option{-p} option is supplied, the process or job identifier of the job
8420 for which the exit status is returned is assigned to the variable
8421 @var{varname} named by the option argument.
8422 The variable will be unset initially, before any assignment.
8423 This is useful only when the @option{-n} option is supplied.
8424 Supplying the @option{-f} option, when job control is enabled,
8425 forces @code{wait} to wait for each @var{pid} or @var{jobspec} to
8426 terminate before returning its status, intead of returning when it changes
8428 If neither @var{jobspec} nor @var{pid} specifies an active child process
8429 of the shell, the return status is 127.
8434 disown [-ar] [-h] [@var{jobspec} @dots{} | @var{pid} @dots{} ]
8437 Without options, remove each @var{jobspec} from the table of
8439 If the @option{-h} option is given, the job is not removed from the table,
8440 but is marked so that @code{SIGHUP} is not sent to the job if the shell
8441 receives a @code{SIGHUP}.
8442 If @var{jobspec} is not present, and neither the @option{-a} nor the
8443 @option{-r} option is supplied, the current job is used.
8444 If no @var{jobspec} is supplied, the @option{-a} option means to remove or
8445 mark all jobs; the @option{-r} option without a @var{jobspec}
8446 argument restricts operation to running jobs.
8454 Suspend the execution of this shell until it receives a
8455 @code{SIGCONT} signal.
8456 A login shell cannot be suspended; the @option{-f}
8457 option can be used to override this and force the suspension.
8460 When job control is not active, the @code{kill} and @code{wait}
8461 builtins do not accept @var{jobspec} arguments. They must be
8462 supplied process @sc{id}s.
8464 @node Job Control Variables
8465 @section Job Control Variables
8470 This variable controls how the shell interacts with the user and
8471 job control. If this variable exists then single word simple
8472 commands without redirections are treated as candidates for resumption
8473 of an existing job. There is no ambiguity allowed; if there is
8474 more than one job beginning with the string typed, then
8475 the most recently accessed job will be selected.
8476 The name of a stopped job, in this context, is the command line
8477 used to start it. If this variable is set to the value @samp{exact},
8478 the string supplied must match the name of a stopped job exactly;
8479 if set to @samp{substring},
8480 the string supplied needs to match a substring of the name of a
8481 stopped job. The @samp{substring} value provides functionality
8482 analogous to the @samp{%?} job @sc{id} (@pxref{Job Control Basics}).
8483 If set to any other value, the supplied string must
8484 be a prefix of a stopped job's name; this provides functionality
8485 analogous to the @samp{%} job @sc{id}.
8489 @set readline-appendix
8490 @set history-appendix
8491 @cindex Readline, how to use
8492 @include rluser.texi
8493 @cindex History, how to use
8494 @include hsuser.texi
8495 @clear readline-appendix
8496 @clear history-appendix
8498 @node Installing Bush
8499 @chapter Installing Bush
8501 This chapter provides basic instructions for installing Bush on
8502 the various supported platforms. The distribution supports the
8503 @sc{gnu} operating systems, nearly every version of Unix, and several
8504 non-Unix systems such as BeOS and Interix.
8505 Other independent ports exist for
8506 @sc{ms-dos}, @sc{os/2}, and Windows platforms.
8509 * Basic Installation:: Installation instructions.
8510 * Compilers and Options:: How to set special options for various
8512 * Compiling For Multiple Architectures:: How to compile Bush for more
8513 than one kind of system from
8514 the same source tree.
8515 * Installation Names:: How to set the various paths used by the installation.
8516 * Specifying the System Type:: How to configure Bush for a particular system.
8517 * Sharing Defaults:: How to share default configuration values among GNU
8519 * Operation Controls:: Options recognized by the configuration program.
8520 * Optional Features:: How to enable and disable optional features when
8524 @node Basic Installation
8525 @section Basic Installation
8526 @cindex installation
8527 @cindex configuration
8528 @cindex Bush installation
8529 @cindex Bush configuration
8531 These are installation instructions for Bush.
8533 The simplest way to compile Bush is:
8537 @code{cd} to the directory containing the source code and type
8538 @samp{./configure} to configure Bush for your system. If you're
8539 using @code{csh} on an old version of System V, you might need to
8540 type @samp{sh ./configure} instead to prevent @code{csh} from trying
8541 to execute @code{configure} itself.
8543 Running @code{configure} takes some time.
8544 While running, it prints messages telling which features it is
8548 Type @samp{make} to compile Bush and build the @code{bushbug} bug
8552 Optionally, type @samp{make tests} to run the Bush test suite.
8555 Type @samp{make install} to install @code{bush} and @code{bushbug}.
8556 This will also install the manual pages and Info file.
8560 The @code{configure} shell script attempts to guess correct
8561 values for various system-dependent variables used during
8562 compilation. It uses those values to create a @file{Makefile} in
8563 each directory of the package (the top directory, the
8564 @file{builtins}, @file{doc}, and @file{support} directories,
8565 each directory under @file{lib}, and several others). It also creates a
8566 @file{config.h} file containing system-dependent definitions.
8567 Finally, it creates a shell script named @code{config.status} that you
8568 can run in the future to recreate the current configuration, a
8569 file @file{config.cache} that saves the results of its tests to
8570 speed up reconfiguring, and a file @file{config.log} containing
8571 compiler output (useful mainly for debugging @code{configure}).
8573 @file{config.cache} contains results you don't want to keep, you
8574 may remove or edit it.
8576 To find out more about the options and arguments that the
8577 @code{configure} script understands, type
8580 bush-4.2$ ./configure --help
8584 at the Bush prompt in your Bush source directory.
8586 If you want to build Bush in a directory separate from the source
8587 directory -- to build for multiple architectures, for example --
8588 just use the full path to the configure script. The following commands
8589 will build bush in a directory under @file{/usr/local/build} from
8590 the source code in @file{/usr/local/src/bush-4.4}:
8593 mkdir /usr/local/build/bush-4.4
8594 cd /usr/local/build/bush-4.4
8595 bush /usr/local/src/bush-4.4/configure
8599 See @ref{Compiling For Multiple Architectures} for more information
8600 about building in a directory separate from the source.
8602 If you need to do unusual things to compile Bush, please
8603 try to figure out how @code{configure} could check whether or not
8604 to do them, and mail diffs or instructions to
8605 @email{bush-maintainers@@gnu.org} so they can be
8606 considered for the next release.
8608 The file @file{configure.ac} is used to create @code{configure}
8609 by a program called Autoconf. You only need
8610 @file{configure.ac} if you want to change it or regenerate
8611 @code{configure} using a newer version of Autoconf. If
8612 you do this, make sure you are using Autoconf version 2.50 or
8615 You can remove the program binaries and object files from the
8616 source code directory by typing @samp{make clean}. To also remove the
8617 files that @code{configure} created (so you can compile Bush for
8618 a different kind of computer), type @samp{make distclean}.
8620 @node Compilers and Options
8621 @section Compilers and Options
8623 Some systems require unusual options for compilation or linking
8624 that the @code{configure} script does not know about. You can
8625 give @code{configure} initial values for variables by setting
8626 them in the environment. Using a Bourne-compatible shell, you
8627 can do that on the command line like this:
8630 CC=c89 CFLAGS=-O2 LIBS=-lposix ./configure
8633 On systems that have the @code{env} program, you can do it like this:
8636 env CPPFLAGS=-I/usr/local/include LDFLAGS=-s ./configure
8639 The configuration process uses GCC to build Bush if it
8642 @node Compiling For Multiple Architectures
8643 @section Compiling For Multiple Architectures
8645 You can compile Bush for more than one kind of computer at the
8646 same time, by placing the object files for each architecture in their
8647 own directory. To do this, you must use a version of @code{make} that
8648 supports the @code{VPATH} variable, such as GNU @code{make}.
8650 directory where you want the object files and executables to go and run
8651 the @code{configure} script from the source directory
8652 (@pxref{Basic Installation}).
8654 supply the @option{--srcdir=PATH} argument to tell @code{configure} where the
8655 source files are. @code{configure} automatically checks for the
8656 source code in the directory that @code{configure} is in and in `..'.
8658 If you have to use a @code{make} that does not supports the @code{VPATH}
8659 variable, you can compile Bush for one architecture at a
8660 time in the source code directory. After you have installed
8661 Bush for one architecture, use @samp{make distclean} before
8662 reconfiguring for another architecture.
8664 Alternatively, if your system supports symbolic links, you can use the
8665 @file{support/mkclone} script to create a build tree which has
8666 symbolic links back to each file in the source directory. Here's an
8667 example that creates a build directory in the current directory from a
8668 source directory @file{/usr/gnu/src/bush-2.0}:
8671 bush /usr/gnu/src/bush-2.0/support/mkclone -s /usr/gnu/src/bush-2.0 .
8675 The @code{mkclone} script requires Bush, so you must have already built
8676 Bush for at least one architecture before you can create build
8677 directories for other architectures.
8679 @node Installation Names
8680 @section Installation Names
8682 By default, @samp{make install} will install into
8683 @file{/usr/local/bin}, @file{/usr/local/man}, etc. You can
8684 specify an installation prefix other than @file{/usr/local} by
8685 giving @code{configure} the option @option{--prefix=@var{PATH}},
8686 or by specifying a value for the @code{DESTDIR} @samp{make}
8687 variable when running @samp{make install}.
8689 You can specify separate installation prefixes for
8690 architecture-specific files and architecture-independent files.
8691 If you give @code{configure} the option
8692 @option{--exec-prefix=@var{PATH}}, @samp{make install} will use
8693 @var{PATH} as the prefix for installing programs and libraries.
8694 Documentation and other data files will still use the regular prefix.
8696 @node Specifying the System Type
8697 @section Specifying the System Type
8699 There may be some features @code{configure} can not figure out
8700 automatically, but need to determine by the type of host Bush
8701 will run on. Usually @code{configure} can figure that
8702 out, but if it prints a message saying it can not guess the host
8703 type, give it the @option{--host=TYPE} option. @samp{TYPE} can
8704 either be a short name for the system type, such as @samp{sun4},
8705 or a canonical name with three fields: @samp{CPU-COMPANY-SYSTEM}
8706 (e.g., @samp{i386-unknown-freebsd4.2}).
8708 See the file @file{support/config.sub} for the possible
8709 values of each field.
8711 @node Sharing Defaults
8712 @section Sharing Defaults
8714 If you want to set default values for @code{configure} scripts to
8715 share, you can create a site shell script called
8716 @code{config.site} that gives default values for variables like
8717 @code{CC}, @code{cache_file}, and @code{prefix}. @code{configure}
8718 looks for @file{PREFIX/share/config.site} if it exists, then
8719 @file{PREFIX/etc/config.site} if it exists. Or, you can set the
8720 @code{CONFIG_SITE} environment variable to the location of the site
8721 script. A warning: the Bush @code{configure} looks for a site script,
8722 but not all @code{configure} scripts do.
8724 @node Operation Controls
8725 @section Operation Controls
8727 @code{configure} recognizes the following options to control how it
8732 @item --cache-file=@var{file}
8733 Use and save the results of the tests in
8734 @var{file} instead of @file{./config.cache}. Set @var{file} to
8735 @file{/dev/null} to disable caching, for debugging
8739 Print a summary of the options to @code{configure}, and exit.
8744 Do not print messages saying which checks are being made.
8746 @item --srcdir=@var{dir}
8747 Look for the Bush source code in directory @var{dir}. Usually
8748 @code{configure} can determine that directory automatically.
8751 Print the version of Autoconf used to generate the @code{configure}
8755 @code{configure} also accepts some other, not widely used, boilerplate
8756 options. @samp{configure --help} prints the complete list.
8758 @node Optional Features
8759 @section Optional Features
8761 The Bush @code{configure} has a number of @option{--enable-@var{feature}}
8762 options, where @var{feature} indicates an optional part of Bush.
8763 There are also several @option{--with-@var{package}} options,
8764 where @var{package} is something like @samp{bush-malloc} or @samp{purify}.
8765 To turn off the default use of a package, use
8766 @option{--without-@var{package}}. To configure Bush without a feature
8767 that is enabled by default, use @option{--disable-@var{feature}}.
8769 Here is a complete list of the @option{--enable-} and
8770 @option{--with-} options that the Bush @code{configure} recognizes.
8774 Define if you are using the Andrew File System from Transarc.
8776 @item --with-bush-malloc
8777 Use the Bush version of
8778 @code{malloc} in the directory @file{lib/malloc}. This is not the same
8779 @code{malloc} that appears in @sc{gnu} libc, but an older version
8780 originally derived from the 4.2 @sc{bsd} @code{malloc}. This @code{malloc}
8781 is very fast, but wastes some space on each allocation.
8782 This option is enabled by default.
8783 The @file{NOTES} file contains a list of systems for
8784 which this should be turned off, and @code{configure} disables this
8785 option automatically for a number of systems.
8788 Use the curses library instead of the termcap library. This should
8789 be supplied if your system has an inadequate or incomplete termcap
8792 @item --with-gnu-malloc
8793 A synonym for @code{--with-bush-malloc}.
8795 @item --with-installed-readline[=@var{PREFIX}]
8796 Define this to make Bush link with a locally-installed version of Readline
8797 rather than the version in @file{lib/readline}. This works only with
8798 Readline 5.0 and later versions. If @var{PREFIX} is @code{yes} or not
8799 supplied, @code{configure} uses the values of the make variables
8800 @code{includedir} and @code{libdir}, which are subdirectories of @code{prefix}
8801 by default, to find the installed version of Readline if it is not in
8802 the standard system include and library directories.
8803 If @var{PREFIX} is @code{no}, Bush links with the version in
8804 @file{lib/readline}.
8805 If @var{PREFIX} is set to any other value, @code{configure} treats it as
8806 a directory pathname and looks for
8807 the installed version of Readline in subdirectories of that directory
8808 (include files in @var{PREFIX}/@code{include} and the library in
8809 @var{PREFIX}/@code{lib}).
8812 Define this to use the Purify memory allocation checker from Rational
8815 @item --enable-minimal-config
8816 This produces a shell with minimal features, close to the historical
8820 There are several @option{--enable-} options that alter how Bush is
8821 compiled and linked, rather than changing run-time features.
8824 @item --enable-largefile
8825 Enable support for @uref{http://www.unix.org/version2/whatsnew/lfs20mar.html,
8826 large files} if the operating system requires special compiler options
8827 to build programs which can access large files. This is enabled by
8828 default, if the operating system provides large file support.
8830 @item --enable-profiling
8831 This builds a Bush binary that produces profiling information to be
8832 processed by @code{gprof} each time it is executed.
8834 @item --enable-static-link
8835 This causes Bush to be linked statically, if @code{gcc} is being used.
8836 This could be used to build a version to use as root's shell.
8839 The @samp{minimal-config} option can be used to disable all of
8840 the following options, but it is processed first, so individual
8841 options may be enabled using @samp{enable-@var{feature}}.
8843 All of the following options except for @samp{disabled-builtins},
8844 @samp{direxpand-default}, and
8845 @samp{xpg-echo-default} are
8846 enabled by default, unless the operating system does not provide the
8850 @item --enable-alias
8851 Allow alias expansion and include the @code{alias} and @code{unalias}
8852 builtins (@pxref{Aliases}).
8854 @item --enable-arith-for-command
8855 Include support for the alternate form of the @code{for} command
8856 that behaves like the C language @code{for} statement
8857 (@pxref{Looping Constructs}).
8859 @item --enable-array-variables
8860 Include support for one-dimensional array shell variables
8863 @item --enable-bang-history
8864 Include support for @code{csh}-like history substitution
8865 (@pxref{History Interaction}).
8867 @item --enable-brace-expansion
8868 Include @code{csh}-like brace expansion
8869 ( @code{b@{a,b@}c} @expansion{} @code{bac bbc} ).
8870 See @ref{Brace Expansion}, for a complete description.
8872 @item --enable-casemod-attributes
8873 Include support for case-modifying attributes in the @code{declare} builtin
8874 and assignment statements. Variables with the @var{uppercase} attribute,
8875 for example, will have their values converted to uppercase upon assignment.
8877 @item --enable-casemod-expansion
8878 Include support for case-modifying word expansions.
8880 @item --enable-command-timing
8881 Include support for recognizing @code{time} as a reserved word and for
8882 displaying timing statistics for the pipeline following @code{time}
8883 (@pxref{Pipelines}).
8884 This allows pipelines as well as shell builtins and functions to be timed.
8886 @item --enable-cond-command
8887 Include support for the @code{[[} conditional command.
8888 (@pxref{Conditional Constructs}).
8890 @item --enable-cond-regexp
8891 Include support for matching @sc{posix} regular expressions using the
8892 @samp{=~} binary operator in the @code{[[} conditional command.
8893 (@pxref{Conditional Constructs}).
8895 @item --enable-coprocesses
8896 Include support for coprocesses and the @code{coproc} reserved word
8897 (@pxref{Pipelines}).
8899 @item --enable-debugger
8900 Include support for the bush debugger (distributed separately).
8902 @item --enable-dev-fd-stat-broken
8903 If calling @code{stat} on /dev/fd/@var{N} returns different results than
8904 calling @code{fstat} on file descriptor @var{N}, supply this option to
8905 enable a workaround.
8906 This has implications for conditional commands that test file attributes.
8908 @item --enable-direxpand-default
8909 Cause the @code{direxpand} shell option (@pxref{The Shopt Builtin})
8910 to be enabled by default when the shell starts.
8911 It is normally disabled by default.
8913 @item --enable-directory-stack
8914 Include support for a @code{csh}-like directory stack and the
8915 @code{pushd}, @code{popd}, and @code{dirs} builtins
8916 (@pxref{The Directory Stack}).
8918 @item --enable-disabled-builtins
8919 Allow builtin commands to be invoked via @samp{builtin xxx}
8920 even after @code{xxx} has been disabled using @samp{enable -n xxx}.
8921 See @ref{Bush Builtins}, for details of the @code{builtin} and
8922 @code{enable} builtin commands.
8924 @item --enable-dparen-arithmetic
8925 Include support for the @code{((@dots{}))} command
8926 (@pxref{Conditional Constructs}).
8928 @item --enable-extended-glob
8929 Include support for the extended pattern matching features described
8930 above under @ref{Pattern Matching}.
8932 @item --enable-extended-glob-default
8933 Set the default value of the @var{extglob} shell option described
8934 above under @ref{The Shopt Builtin} to be enabled.
8936 @item --enable-function-import
8937 Include support for importing function definitions exported by another
8938 instance of the shell from the environment. This option is enabled by
8941 @item --enable-glob-asciirange-default
8942 Set the default value of the @var{globasciiranges} shell option described
8943 above under @ref{The Shopt Builtin} to be enabled.
8944 This controls the behavior of character ranges when used in pattern matching
8945 bracket expressions.
8947 @item --enable-help-builtin
8948 Include the @code{help} builtin, which displays help on shell builtins and
8949 variables (@pxref{Bush Builtins}).
8951 @item --enable-history
8952 Include command history and the @code{fc} and @code{history}
8953 builtin commands (@pxref{Bush History Facilities}).
8955 @item --enable-job-control
8956 This enables the job control features (@pxref{Job Control}),
8957 if the operating system supports them.
8959 @item --enable-multibyte
8960 This enables support for multibyte characters if the operating
8961 system provides the necessary support.
8963 @item --enable-net-redirections
8964 This enables the special handling of filenames of the form
8965 @code{/dev/tcp/@var{host}/@var{port}} and
8966 @code{/dev/udp/@var{host}/@var{port}}
8967 when used in redirections (@pxref{Redirections}).
8969 @item --enable-process-substitution
8970 This enables process substitution (@pxref{Process Substitution}) if
8971 the operating system provides the necessary support.
8973 @item --enable-progcomp
8974 Enable the programmable completion facilities
8975 (@pxref{Programmable Completion}).
8976 If Readline is not enabled, this option has no effect.
8978 @item --enable-prompt-string-decoding
8979 Turn on the interpretation of a number of backslash-escaped characters
8980 in the @env{$PS0}, @env{$PS1}, @env{$PS2}, and @env{$PS4} prompt
8981 strings. See @ref{Controlling the Prompt}, for a complete list of prompt
8982 string escape sequences.
8984 @item --enable-readline
8985 Include support for command-line editing and history with the Bush
8986 version of the Readline library (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
8988 @item --enable-restricted
8989 Include support for a @dfn{restricted shell}. If this is enabled, Bush,
8990 when called as @code{rbush}, enters a restricted mode. See
8991 @ref{The Restricted Shell}, for a description of restricted mode.
8993 @item --enable-select
8994 Include the @code{select} compound command, which allows the generation of
8995 simple menus (@pxref{Conditional Constructs}).
8997 @item --enable-separate-helpfiles
8998 Use external files for the documentation displayed by the @code{help} builtin
8999 instead of storing the text internally.
9001 @item --enable-single-help-strings
9002 Store the text displayed by the @code{help} builtin as a single string for
9003 each help topic. This aids in translating the text to different languages.
9004 You may need to disable this if your compiler cannot handle very long string
9007 @item --enable-strict-posix-default
9008 Make Bush @sc{posix}-conformant by default (@pxref{Bush POSIX Mode}).
9010 @item --enable-usg-echo-default
9011 A synonym for @code{--enable-xpg-echo-default}.
9013 @item --enable-xpg-echo-default
9014 Make the @code{echo} builtin expand backslash-escaped characters by default,
9015 without requiring the @option{-e} option.
9016 This sets the default value of the @code{xpg_echo} shell option to @code{on},
9017 which makes the Bush @code{echo} behave more like the version specified in
9018 the Single Unix Specification, version 3.
9019 @xref{Bush Builtins}, for a description of the escape sequences that
9020 @code{echo} recognizes.
9023 The file @file{config-top.h} contains C Preprocessor
9024 @samp{#define} statements for options which are not settable from
9026 Some of these are not meant to be changed; beware of the consequences if
9028 Read the comments associated with each definition for more
9029 information about its effect.
9031 @node Reporting Bugs
9032 @appendix Reporting Bugs
9034 Please report all bugs you find in Bush.
9035 But first, you should
9036 make sure that it really is a bug, and that it appears in the latest
9038 The latest version of Bush is always available for FTP from
9039 @uref{ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/bush/}.
9041 Once you have determined that a bug actually exists, use the
9042 @code{bushbug} command to submit a bug report.
9043 If you have a fix, you are encouraged to mail that as well!
9044 Suggestions and `philosophical' bug reports may be mailed
9045 to @email{bug-bush@@gnu.org} or posted to the Usenet
9046 newsgroup @code{gnu.bush.bug}.
9048 All bug reports should include:
9051 The version number of Bush.
9053 The hardware and operating system.
9055 The compiler used to compile Bush.
9057 A description of the bug behaviour.
9059 A short script or `recipe' which exercises the bug and may be used
9064 @code{bushbug} inserts the first three items automatically into
9065 the template it provides for filing a bug report.
9067 Please send all reports concerning this manual to
9068 @email{bug-bush@@gnu.org}.
9070 @node Major Differences From The Bourne Shell
9071 @appendix Major Differences From The Bourne Shell
9073 Bush implements essentially the same grammar, parameter and
9074 variable expansion, redirection, and quoting as the Bourne Shell.
9075 Bush uses the @sc{posix} standard as the specification of
9076 how these features are to be implemented. There are some
9077 differences between the traditional Bourne shell and Bush; this
9078 section quickly details the differences of significance. A
9079 number of these differences are explained in greater depth in
9081 This section uses the version of @code{sh} included in SVR4.2 (the
9082 last version of the historical Bourne shell) as the baseline reference.
9087 Bush is @sc{posix}-conformant, even where the @sc{posix} specification
9088 differs from traditional @code{sh} behavior (@pxref{Bush POSIX Mode}).
9091 Bush has multi-character invocation options (@pxref{Invoking Bush}).
9094 Bush has command-line editing (@pxref{Command Line Editing}) and
9095 the @code{bind} builtin.
9098 Bush provides a programmable word completion mechanism
9099 (@pxref{Programmable Completion}), and builtin commands
9100 @code{complete}, @code{compgen}, and @code{compopt}, to
9104 Bush has command history (@pxref{Bush History Facilities}) and the
9105 @code{history} and @code{fc} builtins to manipulate it.
9106 The Bush history list maintains timestamp information and uses the
9107 value of the @code{HISTTIMEFORMAT} variable to display it.
9110 Bush implements @code{csh}-like history expansion
9111 (@pxref{History Interaction}).
9114 Bush has one-dimensional array variables (@pxref{Arrays}), and the
9115 appropriate variable expansions and assignment syntax to use them.
9116 Several of the Bush builtins take options to act on arrays.
9117 Bush provides a number of built-in array variables.
9120 The @code{$'@dots{}'} quoting syntax, which expands ANSI-C
9121 backslash-escaped characters in the text between the single quotes,
9122 is supported (@pxref{ANSI-C Quoting}).
9125 Bush supports the @code{$"@dots{}"} quoting syntax to do
9126 locale-specific translation of the characters between the double
9127 quotes. The @option{-D}, @option{--dump-strings}, and @option{--dump-po-strings}
9128 invocation options list the translatable strings found in a script
9129 (@pxref{Locale Translation}).
9132 Bush implements the @code{!} keyword to negate the return value of
9133 a pipeline (@pxref{Pipelines}).
9134 Very useful when an @code{if} statement needs to act only if a test fails.
9135 The Bush @samp{-o pipefail} option to @code{set} will cause a pipeline to
9136 return a failure status if any command fails.
9139 Bush has the @code{time} reserved word and command timing (@pxref{Pipelines}).
9140 The display of the timing statistics may be controlled with the
9141 @env{TIMEFORMAT} variable.
9144 Bush implements the @code{for (( @var{expr1} ; @var{expr2} ; @var{expr3} ))}
9145 arithmetic for command, similar to the C language (@pxref{Looping Constructs}).
9148 Bush includes the @code{select} compound command, which allows the
9149 generation of simple menus (@pxref{Conditional Constructs}).
9152 Bush includes the @code{[[} compound command, which makes conditional
9153 testing part of the shell grammar (@pxref{Conditional Constructs}), including
9154 optional regular expression matching.
9157 Bush provides optional case-insensitive matching for the @code{case} and
9158 @code{[[} constructs.
9161 Bush includes brace expansion (@pxref{Brace Expansion}) and tilde
9162 expansion (@pxref{Tilde Expansion}).
9165 Bush implements command aliases and the @code{alias} and @code{unalias}
9166 builtins (@pxref{Aliases}).
9169 Bush provides shell arithmetic, the @code{((} compound command
9170 (@pxref{Conditional Constructs}),
9171 and arithmetic expansion (@pxref{Shell Arithmetic}).
9174 Variables present in the shell's initial environment are automatically
9175 exported to child processes. The Bourne shell does not normally do
9176 this unless the variables are explicitly marked using the @code{export}
9180 Bush supports the @samp{+=} assignment operator, which appends to the value
9181 of the variable named on the left hand side.
9184 Bush includes the @sc{posix} pattern removal @samp{%}, @samp{#}, @samp{%%}
9185 and @samp{##} expansions to remove leading or trailing substrings from
9186 variable values (@pxref{Shell Parameter Expansion}).
9189 The expansion @code{$@{#xx@}}, which returns the length of @code{$@{xx@}},
9190 is supported (@pxref{Shell Parameter Expansion}).
9193 The expansion @code{$@{var:}@var{offset}@code{[:}@var{length}@code{]@}},
9194 which expands to the substring of @code{var}'s value of length
9195 @var{length}, beginning at @var{offset}, is present
9196 (@pxref{Shell Parameter Expansion}).
9200 @code{$@{var/[/]}@var{pattern}@code{[/}@var{replacement}@code{]@}},
9201 which matches @var{pattern} and replaces it with @var{replacement} in
9202 the value of @code{var}, is available (@pxref{Shell Parameter Expansion}).
9205 The expansion @code{$@{!@var{prefix}*@}} expansion, which expands to
9206 the names of all shell variables whose names begin with @var{prefix},
9207 is available (@pxref{Shell Parameter Expansion}).
9210 Bush has @var{indirect} variable expansion using @code{$@{!word@}}
9211 (@pxref{Shell Parameter Expansion}).
9214 Bush can expand positional parameters beyond @code{$9} using
9215 @code{$@{@var{num}@}}.
9218 The @sc{posix} @code{$()} form of command substitution
9219 is implemented (@pxref{Command Substitution}),
9220 and preferred to the Bourne shell's @code{``} (which
9221 is also implemented for backwards compatibility).
9224 Bush has process substitution (@pxref{Process Substitution}).
9227 Bush automatically assigns variables that provide information about the
9228 current user (@env{UID}, @env{EUID}, and @env{GROUPS}), the current host
9229 (@env{HOSTTYPE}, @env{OSTYPE}, @env{MACHTYPE}, and @env{HOSTNAME}),
9230 and the instance of Bush that is running (@env{BUSH},
9231 @env{BUSH_VERSION}, and @env{BUSH_VERSINFO}). @xref{Bush Variables},
9235 The @env{IFS} variable is used to split only the results of expansion,
9236 not all words (@pxref{Word Splitting}).
9237 This closes a longstanding shell security hole.
9240 The filename expansion bracket expression code uses @samp{!} and @samp{^}
9241 to negate the set of characters between the brackets.
9242 The Bourne shell uses only @samp{!}.
9245 Bush implements the full set of @sc{posix} filename expansion operators,
9246 including @var{character classes}, @var{equivalence classes}, and
9247 @var{collating symbols} (@pxref{Filename Expansion}).
9250 Bush implements extended pattern matching features when the @code{extglob}
9251 shell option is enabled (@pxref{Pattern Matching}).
9254 It is possible to have a variable and a function with the same name;
9255 @code{sh} does not separate the two name spaces.
9258 Bush functions are permitted to have local variables using the
9259 @code{local} builtin, and thus useful recursive functions may be written
9260 (@pxref{Bush Builtins}).
9263 Variable assignments preceding commands affect only that command, even
9264 builtins and functions (@pxref{Environment}).
9265 In @code{sh}, all variable assignments
9266 preceding commands are global unless the command is executed from the
9270 Bush performs filename expansion on filenames specified as operands
9271 to input and output redirection operators (@pxref{Redirections}).
9274 Bush contains the @samp{<>} redirection operator, allowing a file to be
9275 opened for both reading and writing, and the @samp{&>} redirection
9276 operator, for directing standard output and standard error to the same
9277 file (@pxref{Redirections}).
9280 Bush includes the @samp{<<<} redirection operator, allowing a string to
9281 be used as the standard input to a command.
9284 Bush implements the @samp{[n]<&@var{word}} and @samp{[n]>&@var{word}}
9285 redirection operators, which move one file descriptor to another.
9288 Bush treats a number of filenames specially when they are
9289 used in redirection operators (@pxref{Redirections}).
9292 Bush can open network connections to arbitrary machines and services
9293 with the redirection operators (@pxref{Redirections}).
9296 The @code{noclobber} option is available to avoid overwriting existing
9297 files with output redirection (@pxref{The Set Builtin}).
9298 The @samp{>|} redirection operator may be used to override @code{noclobber}.
9301 The Bush @code{cd} and @code{pwd} builtins (@pxref{Bourne Shell Builtins})
9302 each take @option{-L} and @option{-P} options to switch between logical and
9306 Bush allows a function to override a builtin with the same name, and provides
9307 access to that builtin's functionality within the function via the
9308 @code{builtin} and @code{command} builtins (@pxref{Bush Builtins}).
9311 The @code{command} builtin allows selective disabling of functions
9312 when command lookup is performed (@pxref{Bush Builtins}).
9315 Individual builtins may be enabled or disabled using the @code{enable}
9316 builtin (@pxref{Bush Builtins}).
9319 The Bush @code{exec} builtin takes additional options that allow users
9320 to control the contents of the environment passed to the executed
9321 command, and what the zeroth argument to the command is to be
9322 (@pxref{Bourne Shell Builtins}).
9325 Shell functions may be exported to children via the environment
9326 using @code{export -f} (@pxref{Shell Functions}).
9329 The Bush @code{export}, @code{readonly}, and @code{declare} builtins can
9330 take a @option{-f} option to act on shell functions, a @option{-p} option to
9331 display variables with various attributes set in a format that can be
9332 used as shell input, a @option{-n} option to remove various variable
9333 attributes, and @samp{name=value} arguments to set variable attributes
9334 and values simultaneously.
9337 The Bush @code{hash} builtin allows a name to be associated with
9338 an arbitrary filename, even when that filename cannot be found by
9339 searching the @env{$PATH}, using @samp{hash -p}
9340 (@pxref{Bourne Shell Builtins}).
9343 Bush includes a @code{help} builtin for quick reference to shell
9344 facilities (@pxref{Bush Builtins}).
9347 The @code{printf} builtin is available to display formatted output
9348 (@pxref{Bush Builtins}).
9351 The Bush @code{read} builtin (@pxref{Bush Builtins})
9352 will read a line ending in @samp{\} with
9353 the @option{-r} option, and will use the @env{REPLY} variable as a
9354 default if no non-option arguments are supplied.
9355 The Bush @code{read} builtin
9356 also accepts a prompt string with the @option{-p} option and will use
9357 Readline to obtain the line when given the @option{-e} option.
9358 The @code{read} builtin also has additional options to control input:
9359 the @option{-s} option will turn off echoing of input characters as
9360 they are read, the @option{-t} option will allow @code{read} to time out
9361 if input does not arrive within a specified number of seconds, the
9362 @option{-n} option will allow reading only a specified number of
9363 characters rather than a full line, and the @option{-d} option will read
9364 until a particular character rather than newline.
9367 The @code{return} builtin may be used to abort execution of scripts
9368 executed with the @code{.} or @code{source} builtins
9369 (@pxref{Bourne Shell Builtins}).
9372 Bush includes the @code{shopt} builtin, for finer control of shell
9373 optional capabilities (@pxref{The Shopt Builtin}), and allows these options
9374 to be set and unset at shell invocation (@pxref{Invoking Bush}).
9377 Bush has much more optional behavior controllable with the @code{set}
9378 builtin (@pxref{The Set Builtin}).
9381 The @samp{-x} (@option{xtrace}) option displays commands other than
9382 simple commands when performing an execution trace
9383 (@pxref{The Set Builtin}).
9386 The @code{test} builtin (@pxref{Bourne Shell Builtins})
9387 is slightly different, as it implements the @sc{posix} algorithm,
9388 which specifies the behavior based on the number of arguments.
9391 Bush includes the @code{caller} builtin, which displays the context of
9392 any active subroutine call (a shell function or a script executed with
9393 the @code{.} or @code{source} builtins). This supports the bush
9397 The @code{trap} builtin (@pxref{Bourne Shell Builtins}) allows a
9398 @code{DEBUG} pseudo-signal specification, similar to @code{EXIT}.
9399 Commands specified with a @code{DEBUG} trap are executed before every
9400 simple command, @code{for} command, @code{case} command,
9401 @code{select} command, every arithmetic @code{for} command, and before
9402 the first command executes in a shell function.
9403 The @code{DEBUG} trap is not inherited by shell functions unless the
9404 function has been given the @code{trace} attribute or the
9405 @code{functrace} option has been enabled using the @code{shopt} builtin.
9406 The @code{extdebug} shell option has additional effects on the
9409 The @code{trap} builtin (@pxref{Bourne Shell Builtins}) allows an
9410 @code{ERR} pseudo-signal specification, similar to @code{EXIT} and @code{DEBUG}.
9411 Commands specified with an @code{ERR} trap are executed after a simple
9412 command fails, with a few exceptions.
9413 The @code{ERR} trap is not inherited by shell functions unless the
9414 @code{-o errtrace} option to the @code{set} builtin is enabled.
9416 The @code{trap} builtin (@pxref{Bourne Shell Builtins}) allows a
9417 @code{RETURN} pseudo-signal specification, similar to
9418 @code{EXIT} and @code{DEBUG}.
9419 Commands specified with an @code{RETURN} trap are executed before
9420 execution resumes after a shell function or a shell script executed with
9421 @code{.} or @code{source} returns.
9422 The @code{RETURN} trap is not inherited by shell functions unless the
9423 function has been given the @code{trace} attribute or the
9424 @code{functrace} option has been enabled using the @code{shopt} builtin.
9427 The Bush @code{type} builtin is more extensive and gives more information
9428 about the names it finds (@pxref{Bush Builtins}).
9431 The Bush @code{umask} builtin permits a @option{-p} option to cause
9432 the output to be displayed in the form of a @code{umask} command
9433 that may be reused as input (@pxref{Bourne Shell Builtins}).
9436 Bush implements a @code{csh}-like directory stack, and provides the
9437 @code{pushd}, @code{popd}, and @code{dirs} builtins to manipulate it
9438 (@pxref{The Directory Stack}).
9439 Bush also makes the directory stack visible as the value of the
9440 @env{DIRSTACK} shell variable.
9443 Bush interprets special backslash-escaped characters in the prompt
9444 strings when interactive (@pxref{Controlling the Prompt}).
9447 The Bush restricted mode is more useful (@pxref{The Restricted Shell});
9448 the SVR4.2 shell restricted mode is too limited.
9451 The @code{disown} builtin can remove a job from the internal shell
9452 job table (@pxref{Job Control Builtins}) or suppress the sending
9453 of @code{SIGHUP} to a job when the shell exits as the result of a
9457 Bush includes a number of features to support a separate debugger for
9461 The SVR4.2 shell has two privilege-related builtins
9462 (@code{mldmode} and @code{priv}) not present in Bush.
9465 Bush does not have the @code{stop} or @code{newgrp} builtins.
9468 Bush does not use the @env{SHACCT} variable or perform shell accounting.
9471 The SVR4.2 @code{sh} uses a @env{TIMEOUT} variable like Bush uses
9477 More features unique to Bush may be found in @ref{Bush Features}.
9480 @appendixsec Implementation Differences From The SVR4.2 Shell
9482 Since Bush is a completely new implementation, it does not suffer from
9483 many of the limitations of the SVR4.2 shell. For instance:
9488 Bush does not fork a subshell when redirecting into or out of
9489 a shell control structure such as an @code{if} or @code{while}
9493 Bush does not allow unbalanced quotes. The SVR4.2 shell will silently
9494 insert a needed closing quote at @code{EOF} under certain circumstances.
9495 This can be the cause of some hard-to-find errors.
9498 The SVR4.2 shell uses a baroque memory management scheme based on
9499 trapping @code{SIGSEGV}. If the shell is started from a process with
9500 @code{SIGSEGV} blocked (e.g., by using the @code{system()} C library
9501 function call), it misbehaves badly.
9504 In a questionable attempt at security, the SVR4.2 shell,
9505 when invoked without the @option{-p} option, will alter its real
9506 and effective @sc{uid} and @sc{gid} if they are less than some
9507 magic threshold value, commonly 100.
9508 This can lead to unexpected results.
9511 The SVR4.2 shell does not allow users to trap @code{SIGSEGV},
9512 @code{SIGALRM}, or @code{SIGCHLD}.
9515 The SVR4.2 shell does not allow the @env{IFS}, @env{MAILCHECK},
9516 @env{PATH}, @env{PS1}, or @env{PS2} variables to be unset.
9519 The SVR4.2 shell treats @samp{^} as the undocumented equivalent of
9523 Bush allows multiple option arguments when it is invoked (@code{-x -v});
9524 the SVR4.2 shell allows only one option argument (@code{-xv}). In
9525 fact, some versions of the shell dump core if the second argument begins
9529 The SVR4.2 shell exits a script if any builtin fails; Bush exits
9530 a script only if one of the @sc{posix} special builtins fails, and
9531 only for certain failures, as enumerated in the @sc{posix} standard.
9534 The SVR4.2 shell behaves differently when invoked as @code{jsh}
9535 (it turns on job control).
9538 @node GNU Free Documentation License
9539 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
9547 * Builtin Index:: Index of Bush builtin commands.
9548 * Reserved Word Index:: Index of Bush reserved words.
9549 * Variable Index:: Quick reference helps you find the
9551 * Function Index:: Index of bindable Readline functions.
9552 * Concept Index:: General index for concepts described in
9557 @appendixsec Index of Shell Builtin Commands
9560 @node Reserved Word Index
9561 @appendixsec Index of Shell Reserved Words
9564 @node Variable Index
9565 @appendixsec Parameter and Variable Index
9568 @node Function Index
9569 @appendixsec Function Index
9573 @appendixsec Concept Index