[Rear-users] Better way to extend arrays in bash (+=)

[Schlomo Schapiro]

Hi,

so bad, and I was hoping that we can simplify things with +=.

But as long as we do support SLES9 (and this will take quite some time)
we apparently have to reduce our requirement to bash 2.

Thanks for checking.

Schlomo

PS: We will gladly accept a patch containing your solaris port of ReaR :-)

Werner Flamme wrote:
> Schlomo Schapiro [23.04.2009 12:15]:
>> Hi,
>>
>> while reading the bash manpage I found this little gem:
>>
>> A variable may be assigned to by a statement of the form
>>
>> name=[value]
>>
>> If  value  is  not  given,  the variable is assigned the null string.
>> All values undergo tilde expansion, parameter and variable expansion,
>> command substitution, arithmetic  expansion,  and  quote  removal
>> (see EXPANSION below).  If the variable has its integer attribute
>> set, then value is evaluated as an arithmetic expression even if the
>> $((...)) expansion is not used (see Arithmetic Expansion below).
>> Word splitting is not performed, with the exception of "$@" as
>> explained below under Special Parameters.  Pathname expansion is not
>> performed.  Assignment statements may also appear as arguments  to
>> the  alias,  declare,  typeset, export, readonly, and local builtin
>> commands.
> 
> In "GNU bash, version 2.05b.0(1)-release-(x86_64-suse-linux)" (on my
> SLES 9) the text ends here. Nothing of += is mentioned.
> 
>> Which means that instead of writing tediously
>>
>> VAR=( "${VAR[@]}" some "more stuff" )
>>
>> we can now simply write
>>
>> VAR+=( better "and nicer stuff" )
> 
> [...]
> 
>> I found this in bash 3.2.25. Can you please check with your bash
>> version and post wether it also works there? Of course only for
>> Kernel 2.6 systems (as that is what ReaR supports).
>>
> 
> This does not work for me on the SLES 9 boxes:
> STRING="foo"
> STRING+=" bar"
> bash: STRING+= bar: command not found
> STRING+="bar"
> bash: STRING+=bar: command not found
> echo $STRING
> foo
> 
> But it works as described on my openSUSE 11.1 (GNU bash, version
> 3.2.39(1)-release (x86_64-suse-linux-gnu))
> 
>> I would then suggest to migrate to the new form of extending arrays
>> as it looks better and reduces code complexity. No need to go through
>> all scripts and change it but I would use it with new code.
>>
>> Regards, Schlomo
>>
>> PS: And those who wonder are encouraged to do man bash :-)
>>
>> PPS: For those who don't know. ReaR depends on bash version 3 and not
>> on "sh"! That is why we allow ourselves to use the arrays and other
>> fancy stuff and MUST use #!/bin/bash instead of #!/bin/sh !
> Hm, yes, bash v3 - but all my SLES 9 boxes have the same bash as
> mentioned above, and ReaR runs...
> 
> BTW, I will be using SLES 9 up to next year, when the SAP hardware in my
> company will change. Maybe I even have to switch to Slowlaris... ISO
> output? Hmmmmmmmm........
> 
> Regards,
> Werner
> 
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