Why can't I extract the last three characters of my hostname using the below shell parameter expansion?

Question

deppfx@localhost:/tmp$ echo ${$(hostname): -3}

-bash: ${$(hostname): -3}: bad substitution

I am looking for the output as ost.

score 2 · Answer 1 · edited Aug 04 '15 at 03:01

2

It should be ${variable: -3}. Don't try to substitute command.

edited Aug 04 '15 at 03:01

Srini V

answered Aug 04 '15 at 01:49

Mahesh Kharvi

blashser · Answer 2 · 2015-08-04T06:50:57.753

1

The substitution works in variables, not in commands.

echo $(myVar=$(hostname);echo ${myVar: -3})

edited Aug 04 '15 at 06:50

answered Aug 04 '15 at 05:58

blashser

2 Answers2