[SOLVED] "syntax error near unexpected token"

M4xx1m1l14nn · 10-12-2021, 09:08 PM

Trying to write a function such that all instances of a particular process are automatically killed. This triggers the aforementioned error:

Code:

clean_up_beam(){
	list_of_pids=`pidof (beam.smp)`

	for pid in $list_of_pids; do
	    sudo kill -9 $pid
	done
}

How do I make this work?

scasey · 10-12-2021, 09:40 PM

Suggest pkill to kill jobs by name. See man pkill.

michaelk · 10-12-2021, 09:57 PM

The correct syntax is:
pidof program

No (), see man pidof pages.

list_of_pids=$(pidof beam.smp)

NevemTeve · 10-12-2021, 11:28 PM

Code:

killall -9 beam.smp

Or if it is actually (beam.smp):

Code:

killall -9 '(beam.smp)'

sundialsvcs · 10-13-2021, 12:09 PM

Underlying all language implementations is a thing called a "parser," which is following a pre-programmed "map" of sorts (a grammar ...) in order to try to interpret your source code. Well, grammar-designers do try to provide meaningful error-messages, but sometimes the parser just "falls down on its face, leaving lots of junk scattered all across the floor." Just like it did here.

Look very carefully at your source-code to try to spot the error.