How to make bash/shell "set -x" sticky across nested calls to shell scripts

Question

I am trying to trace/debug a shell script that in turn includes nested invocations to other shell scripts.

My approach has been:

• set -x (at the bash prompt)
• add !/bin/bash -x to the main/entry point bash script

The second approach does end up showing the executions by the shell for the main script. But the nested scripts seem not to inherit that setting - either from the "set -x" on bash prompt or from the calling shell script.

Any way to achieve the inherited behavior - short of modifying each and every nested script?

Answer 1

You can use the SHELLOPTS environment variable to make the "sub" shell use the same options. You just have to export it before any calls to subshells:

export SHELLOPTS