Hi Matthew !

>> [ -f SCRIPTFILE ] && source SCRIPTFILE || error action
>> (also -r instead of -f may be used)
>
>-r is preferable because then your script won't fail if the file is
>unreadable

Depends on usage. If the script runs as user root (e.g. as linuxrc on
initramfs), every file/device is readable, so you are more likely
interested to test if it is a regular file (think of source /dev/zero).

If you run scripts as normal user, the readable test may be
preferable ... or you tend to use both tests:

[ -f SCRIPTFILE -a -r SCRIPTFILE ] && ...

will only succeed if it's a readable regular file :) ... but depending
on usage this extra text could be overdone (make things slower).

>> [For the novice: ". SCRIPTFILE" is same as "source SCRIPTFILE"; just
>> an alias syntax]
>
>I've heard rumors that backticks are discouraged in favor of $( )...
>Can we do the same for . in favor of source?  You can't exactly grep
>for '.'

It was just a hint for novices that both syntax forms behave identical
and description may be used for both. There was no preference which
form shall be used, otherwise you are right. I prefer $() and source
within scripts and tend to use backticks and dot on command line.

--
Harald
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