How to debug "syntax error in conditional expression" in Bash?

Question

I am writing a Bash script and I am new to it. When I run it I get this error:

./greet: line 14: syntax error in conditional expression

./greet: line 15: syntax error near `then'
./greet: line 15: `   then '

The lines of code its throwing on are these:

if [[ $hour -lt 0 || $hour -gt 23]]
   then
      echo "Please Enter a value between 0-23"
      exit 1
fi
#

I have tried putting spaces after the "then" and rewriting it multiple times.

Save yourself some trouble with shellcheck

that other guy
– that other guy

2019-05-08 22:15:45 +00:00
Commented May 8, 2019 at 22:15 — that other guy
– that other guy, Commented May 8, 2019 at 22:15

cxw · Accepted Answer · 2019-05-08 22:42:31Z

1

In the if statement, you need a space before ]]. The [[ and ]] have to be their own "words" as defined by the shell, so surrounded by whitespace.

answered May 8, 2019 at 22:42

cxw

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