[SOLVED] bash command with arguments in variable

blueray · 08-04-2020, 03:36 AM

If I use export EDITOR="code" then run $EDITOR, It opens vscode.

However, If I use export EDITOR="code -n -w" then use $EDITOR, it says

Code:

% $EDITOR
code -n -w: command not found

How can I use code -n -w in $EDITOR so that it identifies it as a command.

pan64 · 08-04-2020, 04:37 AM

what kind of shell is it? in bash it should work that way.

MadeInGermany · 08-04-2020, 05:13 AM

I think only zsh does not further expand $variables, so $EDITOR behaves like "$EDITOR".
But zsh does further expansions on ${=EDITOR} or short $=EDITOR

Geist · 08-04-2020, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueray

If I use export EDITOR="code" then run $EDITOR, It opens vscode.

However, If I use export EDITOR="code -n -w" then use $EDITOR, it says

Code:

% $EDITOR
code -n -w: command not found

How can I use code -n -w in $EDITOR so that it identifies it as a command.

If you want to use it more or less universally, make an alias, if your use case allows it.

Otherwise, as the others stated, tell us your shell, because, zsh, for example, indeed does not do it that way you want it (but it does if you use MadeInGermany's approach), and bash, indeed, does do it the way you want to.

blueray · 08-04-2020, 08:31 AM

I am actually using zsh.

blueray · 08-04-2020, 08:34 AM

I am currently using

Code:

export VISUAL=(code -n -w)
export EDITOR=(code -n -w)

Not sure whether it is a good idea or not.

MadeInGermany · 08-04-2020, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueray

I am currently using

Code:

export VISUAL=(code -n -w)
export EDITOR=(code -n -w)

Not sure whether it is a good idea or not.

Not good. The parentheses force an array. You need to expand/run it like this:

Code:

${EDITOR[@]}

Simple variable:

Code:

export EDITOR="code -n -w"
# expand/run with
$=EDITOR

Perhaps you can use an alias or function?

Code:

alias code="code -n -w"
# expand/run with
code

blueray · 08-04-2020, 09:18 AM

Thank you very much.