[techtalk] BASH command return value

[Dan Nguyen]

On Fri, Aug 04, 2000 at 11:34:07AM -0400, Subba Rao wrote:
> 
> PS1='($?)\u@\h:\w =>'
> PS1='($?)`whoami`@\h:\w =>'
> In BASH, why does the "\u" and "whoami" make a big difference for
> the $? value in PS1 string? The BASH version is 2.04.

My assumption is that using whoami with the ` ` causes it to need to
reevaulate the PS1 enviroment variable every time.  During the
reevaulation of PS1, it updates $? along with it.  While using \u is
handled internally by the shell.  $? is only evaluated when PS1 is
set.  


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     Dan Nguyen     |  It is with true love as it is with ghosts;
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