Difference between `eval set -- "$opts"` and the direct call `set -- "$opts"`

Faki · 10-29-2021, 12:20 AM

What is the difference between

eval set -- "$opts"

and a direct call using

set -- "$opts"

Have seen `eval set -- "$opts"` being used quite frequently with `getopt`.

pan64 · 10-29-2021, 01:50 AM

eval will evaluate the content of that variable ($opts) before executing set. That means also a single string will be split into parts.

I see it is just a duplicate of https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...al-4175702722/

Faki · 10-29-2021, 02:01 AM

I cannot see an adequate response about the question of using one or the other. Examples showing how one behaves differently than the other would be beneficial.

pan64 · 10-29-2021, 02:04 AM

the same people will answer here and there. There is no reason to duplicate a thread. Otherwise I think the answer is there, just you need to learn bash. This is not the easiest part of the shell.