fun linux fact:
the `if` shell built-in just executes the command you give it and looks at its exit code
so how can you do stuff like `if [ $a -gt 10 ]`?
well, [ is just a program usually in /bin/[ that takes the arguments ($a, -gt, 10, ]) and returns an exit code accordingly
this is also why you need the spaces between everything as well as quoting - they're ordinary arguments and need to be provided as such
also note that many shells do actually have similar shell built-ins such as [[ ]] and (( )), which are not stand-alone programs like [ is
Rebane
npub1d9…xm606
2026-03-09 15:46:42 UTC
Author Public Key
npub1d9mts2hhu2jx5kzmvapmpdtlzzvh3ppgfqe777uanflz5sw9ruqqrxm606Seen on
wss://relay.ditto.pubPublished at
2026-03-09 15:46:42 UTCEvent JSON
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"content": "fun linux fact:\nthe `if` shell built-in just executes the command you give it and looks at its exit code\n\nso how can you do stuff like `if [ $a -gt 10 ]`?\n\nwell, [ is just a program usually in /bin/[ that takes the arguments ($a, -gt, 10, ]) and returns an exit code accordingly\n\nthis is also why you need the spaces between everything as well as quoting - they're ordinary arguments and need to be provided as such\n\nalso note that many shells do actually have similar shell built-ins such as [[ ]] and (( )), which are not stand-alone programs like [ is",
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