[Happy BASH] BASH的loop学习笔记

1. For Loop:

BASH中for loop有以下几种写法：

The for loop syntax is as follows:

            for var in item1 item2 ... itemN
            do
                    command1
                    command2
                    ....
                    ...
                    commandN
            done

The for loop numerical explicit list syntax:

            for var in list-of-values
            do
                    command1
                    command2
                    ....
                    ...
                    commandN
            done

The for loop explicit file list syntax:

            for var in file1 file2 file3 fileN
            do
                    command1
                    command2
                    ....
                    ...
                    commandN
            done

The for loop variable's contents syntax:

            for var in $fileNames
            do
                    command1
                    command2
                    ....
                    ...
                    commandN
            done

The for loop command substitution syntax:

            for var in $(Linux-command-name)
            do
                    command1
                    command2
                    ....
                    ...
                    commandN
            done

The for loop explicit file list using bash array syntax:

            # define an array   
            ArrayName=(~/.config/*.conf)
            for var in "${ArrayName[@]}" 
            do
                    command1 on $var
                    command2
                    ....
                    ...
                    commandN
            done

The for loop three-expression syntax ( this type of for loop share a common heritage with the C programming language ):

for (( EXP1; EXP2; EXP3 ))
do
	command1
	command2
	command3
done

The for loop execute a command line once for every new value assigned to a var (variable) in specified list (item1...itemN) i.e. repeat all statement between do and done till condition is not satisfied. The lists or values are normally:

1. Strings
2. Numbers
3. Command line arguments
4. File names
5. Linux command output

Example

Create a shell script called testforloop.sh:

#!/bin/bash
for i in 1 2 3 4 5
do
  echo "Welcome $i times."
done

Save and close the file. Run it as follows:

chmod +x testforloop.sh
./testforloop.sh

The for loop first creates i variable and assigned a number to i from the list of number from 1 to 5. The shell execute echo statement for each assignment of i. This is known as iteration. This process will continue until all the items in the list were not finished. See bash for loop examples page for more information.

The For Loop Using Strings

Create a shell script called forcars.sh

#!/bin/bash
# A simple shell script to print list of cars
for car in bmw ford toyota nissan
   do
   echo "Value of car is: $car"
done

Another example, create a shell script called forcmds.sh:

#!/bin/bash
# A simple shell script to run commands 
for command in date pwd df 
   do
   echo
   echo "*** The output of $command command >"
   #run command 
   $command
   echo
done

Save and close the file. Run it as follows:

chmod +x forcmds.sh
./forcmds.sh

Sample outputs:

*** The output of date command >
Sun Sep  6 14:32:41 IST 2009


*** The output of pwd command >
/1.5/share/data/songs


*** The output of df command >
Filesystem           1K-blocks      Used Available Use% Mounted on
/dev/sdb2             96116904  27589760  63644592  31% /
tmpfs                  4149972         0   4149972   0% /lib/init/rw
varrun                 4149972       272   4149700   1% /var/run
varlock                4149972         0   4149972   0% /var/lock
udev                   4149972      2808   4147164   1% /dev
tmpfs                  4149972       356   4149616   1% /dev/shm
/dev/sdb5            286374908 274733944  11640964  96% /share
/dev/sdc2            240402848 159452732  68738308  70% /disk1p2
/dev/sda5            1341352436 412128756 861086932  33% /1.5
/dev/sdd1            1442145212  26365188 1342523224   2% /media/backup

The For Loop Using Variable's Contents

Create a shell script called forfilenames.sh

#!/bin/bash
# A shell script to verify user password database
files="/etc/passwd /etc/group /etc/shadow /etc/gshdow"
for f in $files
do
	[  -f $f ] && echo "$f file found" || echo "*** Error - $f file missing."
done

The For Loop Using Command-line Arguments

Create a shell script called forcmdargs.sh:

#!/bin/bash
# A simple shell script to display a file on screen passed as command line argument
[ $# -eq 0 ] && { echo "Usage: $0 file1 file2 fileN"; exit 1; }
 
# read all command line arguments via the for loop
for f in $*
   do
   echo
   echo "< $f >"
   [ -f $f ] && cat $f || echo "$f not file."
   echo "------------------------------------------------"
done

Save and close the file. Run it as follows:

chmod +x forcmdargs.sh
./forcmdargs.sh /etc/resolv.conf /etc/hostname

Sample outputs:

< /etc/resolv.conf >
nameserver 127.0.0.1
nameserver 4.2.2.1
nameserver 4.2.2.2
------------------------------------------------

< /etc/hostname >
vivek-desktop
------------------------------------------------

The for loop using command substitution

Command substitution is nothing but a shell command output stored in into a string or a variable. The command is a shell command and must be enclosed between grave accents or $(..). The syntax is as follows:

$(command-name)
`command-name`
var=$(command-name)
NOW=$(date)
echo $NOW

Create a shell script called forcmdsub.sh:

#!/bin/bash
echo "Printing file names in /tmp directory:"
for f in $(ls /tmp/*)
do
	echo $f
done

The for loop using ranges or counting

The for loop can be set using the numerical range. The range is specified by a beginning and ending number. The for loop executes a sequence of commands for each member in a list of items. A representative example in BASH is as follows to display multiplication table with for loop (multiplication.sh):

#!/bin/bash
n=$1
# make sure command line arguments are passed to the script
if [ $# -eq 0 ]
then
	echo "A shell script to print multiplication table."
	echo "Usage : $0 number"
	exit 1
fi
 
# Use for loop
for i in {1..10}
do
	echo "$n * $i = $(( $i * $n))"
done

Save and close the file. Run it as follows:

chmod +x multiplication.sh
./multiplication.sh 
./multiplication.sh 13

Sample outputs:

13 * 1 = 13
13 * 2 = 26
13 * 3 = 39
13 * 4 = 52
13 * 5 = 65
13 * 6 = 78
13 * 7 = 91
13 * 8 = 104
13 * 9 = 117
13 * 10 = 130

2. while loop

The while loop syntax

The syntax is:

           while [ condition ]
           do
                 command1
                 command2
                 ..
                 ....
                 commandN
           done

Command1..commandN will execute while a condition is true. To read a text file line-by-line, use the following syntax:

           while IFS= read -r line
           do
                 command1 on $line
                 command2 on $line
                 ..
                 ....
                 commandN
           done < "/path/to/filename"

OR

           while IFS= read -r field1 filed2 field3 ... fieldN
           do
                 command1 on $field1
                 command2 on $field1 and $field3
                 ..
                 ....
                 commandN on $field1 ... $fieldN
           done < "/path/to dir/file name with space"

IFS is used to set field separator (default is while space). The -r option to read command disables backslash escaping (e.g., \n, \t). This is failsafe while read loop for reading text files.

while loop Example

Create a shell script called while.sh:

#!/bin/bash
# set n to 1
n=1
 
# continue until $n equals 5
while [ $n -le 5 ]
do
	echo "Welcome $n times."
	n=$(( n+1 ))	 # increments $n
done

Save and close the file. Run it as follows:

chmod +x while.sh
./while.sh

Sample outputs:

Welcome 1 times.
Welcome 2 times.
Welcome 3 times.
Welcome 4 times.
Welcome 5 times.

The script initializes the variable n to 1, and then increments it by one. The while loop prints out the "Welcome $n times" until it equals 5 and exit the loop.

Using ((expression)) Format With The While Loop

You can use ((expression)) syntax to test arithmetic evaluation (condition). If the value of the expression is non-zero, the return status is 0; otherwise the return status is 1. To replace while loop condition while [ $n -le 5 ] with while (( num <= 10 )) to improve code readability:

#!/bin/bash
n=1
while (( $n <= 5 ))
do
	echo "Welcome $n times."
	n=$(( n+1 ))	
done

Reading A Text File

You can read a text file using read command and while loop as follows (whilereadfile.sh):

#!/bin/bash
file=/etc/resolv.conf
while IFS= read -r line
do
        # echo line is stored in $line
	echo $line
done < "$file"

Save and close the file. Run it as follows:

chmod +x whilereadfile.sh
./whilereadfile.sh

Sample outputs:

nameserver 127.0.0.1
nameserver 192.168.1.254
nameserver 4.2.2.1

Reading A Text File With Separate Fields

You can store above output in two separate fields as follows (whilereadfields.sh):

#!/bin/bash
file=/etc/resolv.conf
while IFS= read -r f1 f2
do
	echo "field # 1 : $f1 ==> field #2 : $f2"
done < "$file"

Run it as follows:

chmod +x whilereadfields.sh
./whilereadfields.sh

Sample outputs:

field # 1 : nameserver ==> field #2 : 127.0.0.1
field # 1 : nameserver ==> field #2 : 192.168.1.254
field # 1 : nameserver ==> field #2 : 4.2.2.1

Another useful example for reading and phrasing /etc/passwd file using the while loop (readpasswd.sh):

#!/bin/bash
file=/etc/passwd
# set field delimiter to : 
# read all 7 fields into 7 vars 
while IFS=: read -r user enpass uid gid desc home shell
do
    # only display if UID >= 500 
	[ $uid -ge 500 ] && echo "User $user ($uid) assigned \"$home\" home directory with $shell shell."
done < "$file"

Save and close the file. Run it as follows:

chmod +x readpasswd.sh
./readpasswd.sh

3. until loop

Syntax

The until loop continues running commands as long as the item in list continues to evaluate true. Once an item evaluates false, the loop is exited. The syntax is:

until [ condition ]
do
   command1
   command2
   ...
   ....
   commandN
done

The while loop vs the until loop

1. The until loop executes until a nonzero status is returned.
2. The while command executes until a zero status is returned.
3. The until loop always executes at least once.

Example

Create a shell script called until.sh:

#!/bin/bash
i=1
until [ $i -gt 6 ]
do
	echo "Welcome $i times."
	i=$(( i+1 ))
done

Save and close the file. Run it as follows:

chmod +x until.sh
./until.sh

Sample outputs:

Welcome 1 times.
Welcome 2 times.
Welcome 3 times.
Welcome 4 times.
Welcome 5 times.
Welcome 6 times.

The loop in the above example initializes the variable i to 1, and then increments and displays out the message until it equals 6.

4. select loop

The Bash Shell also offer select Loop, the syntax is:

select varName in list
do
    command1
    command2
    ....
    ......
    commandN
done

OR (combine both select and case statement)

select varName in list
do
	case $varName in
		pattern1)
			command1;;
		pattern2)
			command2;;
		pattern1)
			command3;;
		*)
			echo "Error select option 1..3";;
	esac			
done

• Select command use PS3 variable to print its prompt.
• Each word in list is printed on screen preceded by a number.
• If the line consists of the number corresponding to one of the displayed words (from the list), then varName is set to that word. You can use if..else.fi or case..in..esacto make a decision.
• If the line is empty, WORDS and the prompt are redisplayed.
• If EOF (end of file) is read, the command completes.
• The loop continues until a break (CTRL+C) is encountered.

Example

Create a shell script called select.sh:

#!/bin/bash
# Set PS3 prompt
PS3="Enter the space shuttle to get more information : "
 
# set shuttle list
select shuttle in columbia endeavour challenger discovery atlantis enterprise pathfinder
do
    echo "$shuttle selected"
done

Save and close the file. Run it as follows:

chmod +x select.sh
./select.sh

Sample outputs:

/tmp/x.sh
1) columbia    3) challenger  5) atlantis    7) pathfinder
2) endeavour   4) discovery   6) enterprise
Enter the space shuttle name to get more information : 1
columbia selected
Enter the space shuttle name to get more information : 

Combining the select and the case statement

Another select loop example and decision making does with case..in..esac statement (selectshuttle.sh):

#!/bin/bash
# The default value for PS3 is set to #?.
# Change it i.e. Set PS3 prompt
PS3="Enter the space shuttle to get quick information : "
 
# set shuttle list
select shuttle in columbia endeavour challenger discovery atlantis enterprise pathfinder
do
	case $shuttle in
		columbia)
			echo "--------------"
			echo "Space Shuttle Columbia was the first spaceworthy space shuttle in NASA's orbital fleet."
			echo "--------------"
			;;
		endeavour)
			echo "--------------"		
			echo "Space Shuttle Endeavour is one of three currently operational orbiters in the Space Shuttle." 
			echo "--------------"		
			;;
		challenger) 
			echo "--------------"				
		    echo "Space Shuttle Challenger was NASA's second Space Shuttle orbiter to be put into service."
			echo "--------------"				    
			;;		
		discovery) 
			echo "--------------"		
			echo "Discovery became the third operational orbiter, and is now the oldest one in service."
			echo "--------------"							
			;;		
		atlantis)
			echo "--------------"		
			echo "Atlantis was the fourth operational shuttle built."
			echo "--------------"							
			;;
		enterprise)
			echo "--------------"		
			echo "Space Shuttle Enterprise was the first Space Shuttle orbiter."
			echo "--------------"							
			;;		
		pathfinder)
			echo "--------------"		
			echo "Space Shuttle Orbiter Pathfinder is a Space Shuttle simulator made of steel and wood."
			echo "--------------"							
			;;
		*)		
			echo "Error: Please try again (select 1..7)!"
			;;		
	esac
done

Save and close the file. Run it as follows:

chmod +x selectshuttle.sh
./selectshuttle.sh

You can exiting the select loop statement either pressing Ctrl+C or by adding the exit option as follows:

#!/bin/bash
# Set PS3 prompt
PS3="Enter the space shuttle to get quick information : "
 
# set shuttle list
# exit option 
select shuttle in columbia endeavour challenger discovery atlantis enterprise pathfinder exit
do
	case $shuttle in
		columbia)
			echo "--------------"
			echo "Space Shuttle Columbia was the first spaceworthy space shuttle in NASA's orbital fleet."
			echo "--------------"
			;;
		endeavour)
			echo "--------------"		
			echo "Space Shuttle Endeavour is one of three currently operational orbiters in the Space Shuttle." 
			echo "--------------"		
			;;
		challenger) 
			echo "--------------"				
		    echo "Space Shuttle Challenger was NASA's second Space Shuttle orbiter to be put into service."
			echo "--------------"				    
			;;		
		discovery) 
			echo "--------------"		
			echo "Discovery became the third operational orbiter, and is now the oldest one in service."
			echo "--------------"							
			;;		
		atlantis)
			echo "--------------"		
			echo "Atlantis was the fourth operational shuttle built."
			echo "--------------"							
			;;
		enterprise)
			echo "--------------"		
			echo "Space Shuttle Enterprise was the first Space Shuttle orbiter."
			echo "--------------"							
			;;		
		pathfinder)
			echo "--------------"		
			echo "Space Shuttle Orbiter Pathfinder is a Space Shuttle simulator made of steel and wood."
			echo "--------------"							
			;;
                exit)
        	        echo "Bye!"
                        break
                        ;;
		*)		
			echo "Error: Please try again (select 1..8)!"
			;;		
	esac
done

Sample output:

1) columbia    3) challenger  5) atlantis    7) pathfinder
2) endeavour   4) discovery   6) enterprise  8) exit
Enter the space shuttle to get quick information : 5
--------------
Atlantis was the fourth operational shuttle built.
--------------
Enter the space shuttle to get quick information : 8
Bye!