Debugging Bash scripts systematically
Summary
Al Williams shows tracing, strict shell options and a real Bash debugger as better tools than scattered echo output. Bash has built-in tracing functions. External debuggers can run scripts step by step.
Ideas
- set -x logs expanded commands during execution.
- Shell options stop on errors and undefined variables.
- A debugger sets breakpoints and examines variables.
Insights
- A visible control flow shortens troubleshooting in complex scripts.
- Strict execution turns silent follow-up errors into early aborts.
Recommendations
- Enable strict options in tests first.
- Write small functions with clear return values.
References
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