Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1a 12/4/83; site rlgvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!floyd!harpo!seismo!rlgvax!guy From: guy@rlgvax.UUCP (Guy Harris) Newsgroups: net.unix Subject: Re: Shell programming style -- a plea for better shell scripts Message-ID: <1701@rlgvax.UUCP> Date: Fri, 10-Feb-84 17:03:15 EST Article-I.D.: rlgvax.1701 Posted: Fri Feb 10 17:03:15 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 11-Feb-84 23:22:58 EST References: <5684@mcvax.UUCP> Organization: CCI Office Systems Group, Reston, VA Lines: 27 A couple of minor points: 1) /bin/[ should be linked to /bin/test (on non-USG systems) in order to make if [ "$1" = "foo ] then ... else ... fi work; I have seen systems in which /bin/test (which is documented in the V7 manual) works but /bin/[ (which isn't documented, but works if the link is made) doesn't. 2) The "#" comment convention is only in the 4.xBSD and USG shells; the standard V7 shell only implements ":" comments - NOTE that it's not a real comment, but a command which throws its arguments away and returns an "exit status" of 0 (which is why "while :" works). You can't say things like : This isn't valid because the shell gets upset at the unbalanced single quote. Guy Harris {seismo,ihnp4,allegra}!rlgvax!guy