CODEWITHSUNDEEP
linuxbash
AlikElzin-kilaka
AlikElzin-kilaka

Reputation: 35991

How to reuse a function defined in another bash file?

I have a utility function that I used a lot (assertReturnStatus()). I'd like to define it in a utility file (utility.sh) and reuse it in other bash scripts.

How can reuse the function from another bash script file? Thanks.

Upvotes: 4

Views: 3579

Answers (2)

eckes
eckes

Reputation: 67037

If you don't want to do an explicit sourcing of your script file as bufh suggests: I put my often used functions in my .bashrc which gets always sourced thus having the functions always available.

As bufh pointed out in a comment always is not really always but limited to interactive shells. So, if you're planning to use the scripts from an interactive session, you could put it into the .bashrc, otherwise go for explicit sourcing.

Upvotes: 0

bufh
bufh

Reputation: 3410

You need to "import" the first file in the second.

Be warned that this will litterally include the first, so any code in the first will be executed as if it were litterally in the place of the line.

The syntax is:

# if /path/to/file exists, then include it
[ -f /path/to/file ] && . /path/to/file

Note bash also support the keyword source (ie: source /path/to/file) but it is not POSIX compliant and might not work in other shell like ash, dash, posh.

Upvotes: 14

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