what does echo $status means??

can someone explain this?

"echo" prints the value of its arguments to its output, which is usually the screen. "$status" evaluates to the value of the variable "status". Here's a bash example.

Code:

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$ status=something
$ echo Hello, World!
Hello, World!
$ echo $status
something
$ status='something else'
$ echo $status
something else
$

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so if my main function returns one calling echo $status directly after that will print 1
??

so when will echo $status return 1 when called?

Quote:

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so if my main function returns one calling echo $status directly after that will print 1
??

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It would, if $status were set -- however, I think the variable you're looking for is $?, in bash at least.

Quote:

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$? Expands to the exit status of the most recently executed foreground pipeline.

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From http://tldp.org/LDP/Bash-Beginners-G...ml#table_03_03

how do i set $status??

Quote:

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Originally Posted by -EquinoX-

so if my main function returns one calling echo $status directly after that will print 1
??

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If you are on an operating system/in a shell where the status environment variable is defined, then yes.

Edit: Google says $status is a C-shell variable; bash uses $? as pointed out below. We may seem smart, but we don't actually have a clue what shell you're running.

because I typed in echo $status and it doesn't print anything, just a blank line

I did the echo $status just directly after I run the main

Well, try $?. If that doesn't work, tell us what shell you are using.

I am using a korn shell

Quote:

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Originally Posted by -EquinoX-

I am using a korn shell

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According to Google, the korn shell uses $? to hold the last return value.

thank you