Multiple path additions to a variable in Linux (Bash)

Question

I would like to know if my following implementation is correct or wrong.

I have a variable called $MY_HUGE_PATH_VARIABLE.

I need to enhance it by adding a few directories and all directories within those directories.

I set it up like this:

export MY_HUGE_PATH_VARIABLE=$PATH_1/version1/*\:\
$PATH_2/version4/*\:\
$PATH_n/versionn/*\

Is this correct. Does that * work when exporting paths? Are there any other issues with this piece of script. I am working on a Redhat Linux machine and my script in bash shell.

My aim is to include all the jar files within these folders for my Java compilation. My intention is to understand this stuff. the shell has not really thrown any errors to me as of yet and the script is part of a bigger set-up which I have not yet tested.

What you are trying to do can be dangerous. Maybe checkout unix.stackexchange.com/questions/17715/… — Ian2thedv
– Ian2thedv, Commented Jun 8, 2016 at 9:32
I have .jar files within these paths, which i need to use for my Java code compilation. Thats why i am working on this sort of set-up — Müller
– Müller, Commented Jun 8, 2016 at 10:05
Ahh, this is somewhat of an XY Problem. Update your question and explain WHY you want to do this. You can write a bash script to run your jar, and list all dependencies individually, or you can do something like java -cp lib\*.jar;. myproject.MainClass which seems to be what you — Ian2thedv
– Ian2thedv, Commented Jun 8, 2016 at 10:18

sumitya · Accepted Answer · 2016-06-08 09:48:59Z

3

EDIT:- you dont need to specify * here, in linux it works like this:-

export MY_HUGE_PATH_VARIABLE=$MY_HUGE_PATH_VARIABLE$( find $PATH_1/version1/ $PATH_2/version4/ $PATH_n/versionn/ -type d -printf ":%p" )

edited Jun 8, 2016 at 9:48

answered Jun 8, 2016 at 9:23

sumitya

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3 Comments

Ian2thedv Over a year ago

Bash does not scan subdirectories of PATH variable recursively

Müller Over a year ago

I would be happy if you could give a small explanation of what happens as well. I am quite new to bash scripting

sumitya Over a year ago

here find will search for -type d(directories) and printf will print "%p"(files) along with : from the space separated paths you provided in find command.

GMichael · Accepted Answer · 2016-06-08 09:33:06Z

0

Please try the following:

export MY_HUGE_PATH_VARIABLE=$(find $PATH_1/version1 $PATH_2/version4 $PATH_n/versionn -type d | tr '\n' ':')

answered Jun 8, 2016 at 9:33

GMichael

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