How do you run bash script as a command?

Question

I have a bash script, which I use for configuration of different parameters in text files in my wireless access media server.

The script is located in one directory, and because I do all of configurations using putty, I have to either use the full path of the file or move to the directory that contains the file. I would like to avoid this.

Is it possible to save the bash script in or edit the bash script so that I can run it as command, for example as cp or ls commands?

Toby Speight · Accepted Answer · 2016-01-07 15:29:55Z

12

The script needs to be executable, with:

chmod +x scriptname

(or similar).

Also, you want the script to be located in a directory that is in your PATH. To see your PATH use:

echo $PATH

Your choices are: to move (or link) the file into one of those directories, or to add the directory it is in to your PATH.

You can add a directory to your PATH with:

PATH=$PATH:/name/of/my/directory

and if you do this in the file $HOME/.bashrc it will happen for each of your shell's automatically.

edited Jan 7, 2016 at 15:29

Toby Speight

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answered Jan 7, 2016 at 13:17

John Hascall

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3 Comments

depecheSoul Over a year ago

I can run script, my question is: can I and how can I create a bash script that I can use as a command. For example instead of typing /media/data/script.sh can I configure linux to type just script

John Hascall Over a year ago

That's what the PATH environment variable is -- a list of directories to search for commands in. You can change your PATH in the file .bashrc in your home dir.

John Hascall Over a year ago

A shell alias as suggested by @Andy K is another option.

Ingo Meldau · Accepted Answer · 2016-01-07 13:24:49Z

5

You can place a softlink to the script under /usr/local/bin (Should be in $PATH like John said)

ln -s /path/to/script /usr/local/bin/scriptname

This should do the trick.

answered Jan 7, 2016 at 13:24

Ingo Meldau

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2 Comments

Toby Speight Over a year ago

Users don't normally have write permission to /usr/local/bin. I'd recommend $HOME/bin, and add it to the $PATH in .profile or .bashrc as appropriate.

Ingo Meldau Over a year ago

Thats of course assuming that the user has sufficent rights. Most times I use this approach because other users of the system are also able to use the command then (in case you want that). But for a user with not sufficent rights I fully agree with you :)

Andy K · Accepted Answer · 2016-01-12 09:14:01Z

2

You can write a minimal wrapper in your home directory:

#!/bin/bash
exec /yourpath/yourfile.extension

And run your child script with this command ./NameOfYourScript

update: Unix hawks will probably say the first solution is a no-brainer because of the additional admin work it will load on you. Agreed, but on your requirements, my solution works :)

Otherwise, you can use an alias; you will have to amend your .bashrc

alias menu='bash /yourpath/menuScript.sh'

edited Jan 12, 2016 at 9:14

answered Jan 7, 2016 at 13:25

Andy K

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2 Comments

ghoti Over a year ago

@TobySpeight - true, but that concern is out of scope for an answer here, since the question didn't include the script.

Andy K Over a year ago

ok @TobySpeight mate you got me. Thanks for urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=turd+polishing ;)

PeteM · Accepted Answer · 2016-01-07 21:47:51Z

1

Another way is to run it with:

/bin/bash /path/to/script

Then the file doesn't need to be executable.

answered Jan 7, 2016 at 21:47

PeteM

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Comments

vinod devops · Accepted Answer · 2024-01-28 18:41:38Z

0

Create a script as below

#!/bin/bash
Shell script to run

Export the script Path in to a variable:

export script="/path/to/script"

Type "Script" Command in the CLI to Get Shell script Executed

# script

If you want to make sure Script command should run in different sessions add below in .bashrc file

export Script="/path/to/script"

answered Jan 28, 2024 at 18:41

vinod devops

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