Which command to use to find name of operating system

archtoad6 · 10-29-2009, 09:35 AM

Great thread, I had forgotten some of the suggestions.

Here is code embodying all of the above, plus uname -a. It can be redundant, but it is comprehensive.

Code:

# find *nix distro/version/release info.

_divider () {
  echo -e "======================\n"$@"\n-----------------"
}

_execute () {
  _divider $@
  $@
}

# main line, pipable or redirectable
{
_execute  lsb_release -a

for X in  {/etc/*{release,version}*,/proc/version}
do
   _divider $X
   cat $X
done

_execute  uname -a
}  | less -S

Tested on "MEPIS 7.0 (upgradable from Debian etch)".

Notes
Hints, lessons, explanations -- skip this if you understand the code.

It's modular -- You can add new, delete the useless (to you), & rearrange the presentation order.
Nicely formatted output.
You can send the output wherever you want.
Functions hold repeated code, for:
1. less typing.
2. modular debugging,
3. making changes in one place.
2-1/2 uses of braces:
1. to enclose the body of a function -- this is the half, it's really a special case of iii)
  (see bash man page at "Shell Function Definitions"),
2. brace expansion - "{/etc/*{release,version}*,/proc/version}"
  (see bash man page at "brace expansion is"),
3. Compound Commands - enclosing the body of the functions & enclosing the main line for piping or redirection
  (see bash man page at "Compound Commands"),
"-e" option for echo (man echo)
"$@" positional parameter (see bash man page at "several parameters specially")
"-S" option for less (man less)