declare array in bash script errors out: bad array subscript

Question

I'm trying to debug my script, I'm new at bash and I can't understand the error. i tried to change it several times and warped line 60 with comments.

the error:

error: ./scriptdemo.txt: line 60: results_array: bad array subscript

#!/bin/bash

echo the script is running

#this part uses preCourses script to get preCourse demends for the input 
course
results_array=''
reqursion_counter=-2
result_courses_counter=0
   ----------------------
   ....some more logic...
   ----------------------
results_array[$result_courses_counter]=${line_of_course[$len-$k-1]}
let result_courses_counter++

   ----------------------
   ....some more logic...
   ----------------------

results_array isn't an array, it's a string: results_array='' — Barmar
– Barmar, Commented Nov 10, 2017 at 21:10
A minimal reproducible example isolating the shortest possible code that causes the same problem would do this question quite a lot of good. — Charles Duffy
– Charles Duffy, Commented Nov 10, 2017 at 22:22

nyronium · Accepted Answer · 2017-11-10 22:17:41Z

3

The main problem is, that you have defined results_array as a normal variable, but use it as if it was an array. In bash arrays have separate declaration syntax.

Use this to declare an empty array:

results_array=()

or

declate -a results_array

Despite of this, there are quite some other problems with your code, and as @Cyrus suggested, you should have a look at shellcheck to check your syntax.

answered Nov 10, 2017 at 22:17

nyronium

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