CODEWITHSUNDEEP
bashsubshell
Gary
Gary

Reputation: 318

Why does recursive function go though only one sub directory

I have found the answer to get my code to work but I want to know why it works and my code doesn't

rFunc() {
  for d in *; do
    if [ -d "$d" ]; then
      cd "$d"
      rFunc
    fi
    #Do Something
  done
}

This code will go though only one sub directory but if I use the code from this answer it goes though all sub directories. Why?

(cd -- "$d" && rFunc)

Also, what is the purpose of the --? My code works without it.

Upvotes: 2

Views: 50

Answers (1)

John Kugelman
John Kugelman

Reputation: 361605

(cd -- "$d" && rFunc) performs the cd in subshell and the parent call's current directory is unchanged, whereas your version cd's into $d but doesn't back out of it after rFunc returns.

To fix yours you should put the subshell back in, or go back up to the parent directory explicitly, e.g. with:

cd "$d"
rFunc
cd ..

or:

pushd "$d"
rFunc
popd

Upvotes: 1

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