CODEWITHSUNDEEP
bashquotesxargs
Tom
Tom

Reputation: 233

Converting string to argument in bash

I want to form an argument for tail using xargs.

"string" | xargs -I '{}' tail -F *{}*

This results in tail "*{}*" which does not work. How do I remove the quotes and turn it into a valid argument for tail? i.e. tail *string*

Upvotes: 1

Views: 378

Answers (1)

xhienne
xhienne

Reputation: 6134

* is interpreted by Bourne shell (pathname expansion) at the moment your command is parsed, before it is actually executed, NOT at the moment tail is executed.

If you want that the command built by xargs be subject to bash's pathname expansion, you need to execute bash:

echo "string" | xargs -I '{}' bash -c "tail -F *'{}'*"

Security issue: if you don't have control over the file names sent to xargs, then with specially crafted filenames, you may end up inadvertently executing hamrful commands.

Upvotes: 1

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