Writing a script file using arrays

Question

Hello I'm testing my self by using a tutorial on writing linux shell scripts ran into this issue usinng shell arrays. the syntax is being written using vi

name[0]=chuck
name[1]=samson
echo "hello, ${name[0]}"
echo "hello, ${name[1]}"

and saved file using :wq. I tried to run the file using sh svar.sh but got

name[0]=chuck is not found
name[1]=samson is not found

However when using coding ground GNU Bash v4.4 the scripts run correctly Why it doesn't work under this on this OS?

AFAIK sh doesn't support arrays. Try running with bash.svar.sh. — Kulfy, Jul 28 '20 at 16:40
In ubuntu sh points to /bin/dash not as in the rest of the world to /bin/bash. This was a fun little gotcha introduced by Ubuntu devs years ago which, considering the massive installed base of bash scripts amounted to a prank. — Stephen Boston, Jul 28 '20 at 16:58

Pilot6 · Answer 1 · 2020-07-28T16:49:52.317

3

Add #!/bin/bash shebang.

Older Ubuntu versions had ash as the default shell, that didn't support arrays.

And run the script this way:

./svar.sh

Don't use sh, etc.

edited Jul 28 '20 at 16:49

answered Jul 28 '20 at 16:42

Pilot6

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IIRC shebang is ignored when interpreter is specified while running the script. It seems OP is using sh file to run the script. This answer is unlikely to work unless OP uses bash explicitly in place of sh or make the script executable and run using ./file. – Kulfy Jul 28 '20 at 16:47
OP never mentioned how they run the script. – Pilot6 Jul 28 '20 at 16:47
"I tried to run the file using sh svar.sh but got". See above the error. – Kulfy Jul 28 '20 at 16:48
Ooos, didn't notice that. – Pilot6 Jul 28 '20 at 16:48
Thank you it worked ./file – Samson Israel Jul 28 '20 at 17:16

Writing a script file using arrays

1 Answers1