LinuxQuestions.org - obtain replacement value of bash alias as executed

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obtain replacement value of bash alias as executed

Given I have

Code:

alias gs='git status'

in one of my bash initialization files (e.g. .bash_profile), and that I execute the command

Code:

'gs'

from my prompt, how can I access the value of the command line 'as executed' (in this case

Code:

'git status'

) and not as entered (in this case

Code:

'gs'

which is what it shows in the history file).

The reason I'm interested is because I want to be able to share portions of my history file with others who won't know about the particular aliases I have setup on my system. I'm trying to figure out a way to access the value of the last command line as executed, not entered. Thanks!

I know of two ways to do that: type and alias.

For exampls: my alias for a long list ls -l is ll. In a console, try it like this: type ll or alias ll, and get the result.

Code:

type ll

ll is aliased to `ls -lh --color=auto'

Code:

alias ll

alias ll='ls -lh --color=auto'

Or, if you prefer,

Code:

echo $(type ll)

echo $(alias ll)

Thanks @bigrigdriver. That's helpful.

I'm still looking for a way to get at the entire previous command line as executed, if there is such a value, but your reply helps me down an alternative path if there is no such value stored by the shell.

Regarding alias and type, I'm curious as to the cleanest, most direct way to get at the substitution value itself. With alias gs='git status' how can I get back just 'git status'?