Variable gNames...

custangro · 01-02-2009, 06:35 PM

Hello All,

This is just a question about "personal preference"...

Why do people use UPPERCASE variable names in shell scripting? From what I've been taught; UPPERCASE variables are reserved for environmental variables.

So then why use UPPERCASE variables

Example:

Code:

#!/bin/bash
VAR=one
#
echo $VAR
#

^ Why use the UPPERCASE?

-C

P.S. FWIW The UPPERCASE variable thing is a pet peeve of mine...and I just want to know why all you guys are doing it "wrong"

David the H. · 01-02-2009, 07:52 PM

I've never heard of any rule that says caps must be reserved for environmental variables. To me a variable is a variable, whatever its purpose.

I generally use uppercase for my variables simply to make it clear that they are variables. It sets them apart from commands, comments, and other code, and helps to make everything more readable.

Other people may do it differently, perhaps by using some kind of standard prefix or something, but for the same reason: to make the variable names stand out from the rest of the code.

In the advice I've read about coding style, they usually say the more important thing is to choose a pattern that works well and use it consistently.

But then again, I'm just an amateur hacking away as best I can, so what do I know.

chrism01 · 01-04-2009, 07:59 PM

Yeah, consistency is probably the most important thing, IF you are on your own. Otherwise agree a std with your co-workers and stick to it (consistency again..).

The UPPERCASE thing is prob related to:
1. ex-BASIC programmers, and shell is similar in some ways.
2. MSDOS: its not case sensitive, so uppercase is common

In C, usually vars are lowercase, CONSTANTS (inc #defines) are set UPPER for clarity.

Personally I can't stand CamelCase. I find it hard to read compared to lower_with_underscores and also its hard (for me) to type

custangro · 01-05-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrism01

Yeah, consistency is probably the most important thing, IF you are on your own. Otherwise agree a std with your co-workers and stick to it (consistency again..).

The UPPERCASE thing is prob related to:
1. ex-BASIC programmers, and shell is similar in some ways.
2. MSDOS: its not case sensitive, so uppercase is common

In C, usually vars are lowercase, CONSTANTS (inc #defines) are set UPPER for clarity.

Personally I can't stand CamelCase. I find it hard to read compared to lower_with_underscores and also its hard (for me) to type

I can agree to that...consistency is important.

I guess it's more how you are taught...I always got a "ruler to the hand" when I would use uppercase variables

-C