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Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:45:57 +0200
From: meino.cramer@gmx.de
To: gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org
Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] "/usr/bin/[" and coreutils
Message-ID: <20111012054557.GA2859@solfire>
References: <1318397707.15637.3.camel@moriah>
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William Kenworthy <billk@iinet.net.au> [11-10-12 07:40]:
> I have been checking my system for some deep seated problems and in the
> process, ran across the fact that "equery files sys-apps/coreutils-8.7"
> shows a file included called "/usr/bin/[" - thats right, left square
> bracket!
> 
> Is that a bug or if real, what would you use it for?  It doesnt seem to
> be on the file system ...
> 
> moriah ~ # /usr/bin/[
> /usr/bin/[: missing `]'
> moriah ~ #
> 
> doesnt show much!
> 
> BillK
> 
> 

Hi Wiiliam,

this is a convenient 'abbreviation' or 'alias' for cobnstructs such this one

if [ foo ] 
then
    bar
fi

in shell scripting.

Most shells have implemented this as a builtin (and 'test' also)
though.

HTH!

Best regards,
mcc