Perl script in loop ends after one run

Question

I am running a Perl script in a loop in a shell script:

  while [ $currentDate -le $toDate ]; do
    // code here...
    exec /users/my_user/script_name $currentDate
    // code here...
  done

I have confirmed the while-loop loops. However, after one run of the Perl script, the while-loop ends.

Could someone please shed some light on this?

nandhp · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-18 20:23:47Z

11

You're using exec. exec replaces the shell process with the new program. You probably want to just remove the exec keyword.

exec [-cl] [-a name] [command [arguments ...]] [redirection ...]

Replace the shell with the given command.

Execute COMMAND, replacing this shell with the specified program. ARGUMENTS become the arguments to COMMAND.

answered Jun 18, 2013 at 20:23

nandhp

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user21926 · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-18 20:22:49Z

1

Change:

exec /users/my_user/script_name $currentDate

To:

/users/my_user/script_name $currentDate

answered Jun 18, 2013 at 20:22

user21926

Comments

Joe W · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-18 21:03:10Z

1

The issue you are having is caused by

exec /users/my_user/script_name $currentDate

what the exec causes is for the perl script that you are calling replaces the current program with the new one and keeps the current PID.

If you remove the exec from the line it will allow the program to spawn properly and keep the shell running as you expect.

edited Jun 18, 2013 at 21:03

answered Jun 18, 2013 at 20:27

Joe W

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1 Comment

Joe W Over a year ago

@daxim sorry in my hurry to answer the question I missed that but I have updated my answer.

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