run alias from another shell script

Question

I have an alias like alias cdpy="cd python" in my .bash_profile and I have sourced it. But I am still not able to use that in another shell script of mine, which is called pygitup.

I googled it and got some answers like adding shopt -s expand_aliases. I have added it to the pygitup but it still doesn't work. Am I using it wrong? This is how I use it:

# some code
shopt -s expand_aliases
cdpy
# some code

@thatotherguy Thanks. But it only works when I call "source pygitup", which means if I just do pygitup "something", I still get command not found. Should I call source pygitup "something" every time instead of merely pygitup "something"? Is there a way to simplify the "source"? — Seaky Lone
– Seaky Lone, Commented Jan 10, 2019 at 19:19
I meant that you have to add source ~/.bash_profile in your pygitup script. — that other guy
– that other guy, Commented Jan 10, 2019 at 19:20
@thatotherguy Thank you! Problem resolved. Do you mind turning your comment into an answer? And I added the source ~/.bash_profile right before the shopt line. Although it works I still wonder did I add it to the right place? — Seaky Lone
– Seaky Lone, Commented Jan 10, 2019 at 19:24

brunorey · Accepted Answer · 2019-01-10 19:43:11Z

2

If you run pygitup from your environment with a leading "dot space", it will inherit your shell's configuration, including aliases.

A simple example with a bash script:

user@pc:~ $ alias e='echo alias is set'
user@pc:~ $ e
alias is set
user@pc:~ $ vim pygitup.sh
user@pc:~ $ cat pygitup.sh 
#!/bin/bash
e
user@pc:~ $
user@pc:~ $ ./pygitup.sh 
./pygitup.sh: line 2: e: command not found
user@pc:~ $ 
user@pc:~ $ 
user@pc:~ $ . ./pygitup.sh       # <--- notice the leading dot
alias is set
user@pc:~ $

answered Jan 10, 2019 at 19:43

brunorey

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1 Comment

Seaky Lone Over a year ago

You seem to use the alias in the terminal. Does it still work if the alias is in another file?

that other guy · Accepted Answer · 2019-01-10 19:32:44Z

1

Aliases are not inherited by external commands, so there's no alias to expand. You'd have to source the file that defines the alias again in your script:

# some code
shopt -s expand_aliases
source ~/.bash_profile
cdpy
# some code

answered Jan 10, 2019 at 19:32

that other guy

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