Set variable from script

Question

I have a script "set_var.sh" written like this

#!/bin/bash

export NAME=release
export ROOT=/Volumes/name/dev/release

but if I run this set_var.sh from terminal, afterward I issue set command to check variables I could not find NAME and ROOT var be set.

I am wondering what is wrong in my case.

When you run it, all variables get defined within the scope of the execution. If you want these variables to remain in your session, you have to `source` instead. — fedorqui, May 20 '14 at 11:53

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered May 20 '14 at 11:53

0

it was set in sub-shell.

you need

source set_var.sh

answered May 20 '14 at 11:53

Kent

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered May 20 '14 at 11:55

If you simply run set_var.sh, it runs in its own shell which exits, losing the variables that were set.

If you want to change variables in your interactive shell, you can use:

source set_var.sh

or the shorthand,

. set_var.sh

This will execute the lines of the script as if they were typed into your interactive shell.

Note that when you "source" a file this way, it does not require the "shebang" on the first line.

Note also that this is feature exists in Bourne shell as well, but only in the short-form version.

2 Answers2