Bash shell question: Error occurs when running a simple shell script

Question

test.sh:

#!/bin/bash
echo "helloworld"

I set the file mode to 755. when I try to run the script by typing "./test.sh", I get this:

helloworld
./test.sh: line 2: /root: is a directory

what's going on???

Are you redirecting the output? How exactly are you executing this? What user? — Mr. Shickadance
– Mr. Shickadance, Commented Apr 24, 2011 at 15:48
Are you sure you are looking at the same test.sh as you are executing? cat ./test.sh;./test.sh would be interesting to see. — Anders Lindahl
– Anders Lindahl, Commented Apr 24, 2011 at 15:52
not redirecting output. I've tried root and a common user also. — catinred
– catinred, Commented Apr 24, 2011 at 15:54

ghostdog74 · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-24 15:41:31Z

1

Put an exit and see

#!/bin/bash
echo "helloworld"
exit

answered Apr 24, 2011 at 15:41

ghostdog74

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Comments

sehe · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-24 16:31:44Z

1

I'd look for funny business in error/signal handlers and or the PROMPT_COMMAND

So,

echo $PS1
echo $PROMPT_COMMAND
trap

would be in order.

Another approach is to make bash run restricted (which disables a whole slew of options)

#!/bin/bash -r

While the latter may resolve the strange behaviour, it wouldn't explain waht happened

answered Apr 24, 2011 at 16:31

sehe

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user unknown · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-24 16:50:48Z

0

I guess edited from Windows/reused a Windows-file with an \r inside, which you moved around with inserting exit?

answered Apr 24, 2011 at 16:50

user unknown

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Bas · Accepted Answer · 2019-05-16 10:42:17Z

0

I got this error when I accidentally put a ~ on the last line of my script while aiming for the escape key in vim. Because vim uses tildes to fill lines outside the file the mistake was nearly invisible. Removing the line containing the tilde got me rid of the

/root: Is a directory

error.

answered May 16, 2019 at 10:42

Bas

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