bash subshells vs bash -c

Question

Bash subshells (cmd1;cmd2) whill run in a sub bash process, while it can access the variable not exported, how this can be? Meanwhile, bash -c structure can not access unexported variable but it also run in a new shell,so what's the difference?

x=1
(echo $x)
bash -c 'echo $x'

In `(echo $x)` the variable `x` is expanded and replaced with `1` by the shell before running `echo` in a subshell. So the subshell runs the command `echo 1`, not the `echo $x`. — M. Nejat Aydin, Jul 30 '22 at 08:44
In `bash -c 'echo $x'`, the argument `echo $x` is passed literally, without expansion. Since `x` is not exported, `$x` expands to nothing in the subshell. — M. Nejat Aydin, Jul 30 '22 at 08:55

ahi324 · Answer 1 · 2022-07-30T03:20:35.627

Both subshell and bash -c contexts can access exported variables. To export a variable, one declares the variable as exported (e.g., declare -x VAR) or specifically exports it (export VAR). Your example, it seems, does not export x.

More of the parent context is inherited by subshells (e.g., ( ... )), than are by specific command executions (e.g., bash -c ...).

For example, the following items are inherited by subshells:

Current working directory; e.g., as set with cd, pushd, and/or popd
Directory stack (DIRSTACK); e.g., as affected by cd, pushd, popd
File creation mask; e.g., as set with umask
File handles/descriptors; e.g., initially and as affected by exec redirections
Settings; e.g., as affected by set, shopt, and alias
Shell variables and functions; e.g., as set with declare and =
Exported variables and functions; e.g., as declared with declare -x or exported with export
Signal traps for ERR; e.g., as set with trap ... ERR
Certain special shell parameters; e.g., PPID

For example, the following items are inherited by command executions (w. bash -c):

Current working directory; e.g., as set with cd, pushd, and/or popd
File creation mask; e.g., as set with umask
File handles/descriptors; e.g., initially and as affected by exec redirections
Exported variables and functions; e.g., as declared with declare -x or exported with export

For additional detail, check out the Bash manpage, starting with the COMMAND EXECUTION ENVIRONMENT section.

Note: Each command in a pipeline executes in dedicated processes/subshells. With lastpipe enabled, the final pipeline command may run within the outer shell process.

Note: Other than when a command list is fully backgrounded with a trailing &, command lists are executed within the current shell process. When backgrounded, command lists are executed in a dedicated process/subshell.

score -3 · Answer 2 · edited Jul 30 '22 at 03:29

Assume that I have written following line inside $HOME/.bashrc file using cygwin in Windows.
```
export testing="testing$$"
```
After this I do Windows+R => bash.exe
```
$ echo $testing
testing7853
```
I open "cmd.exe"

Inside that command prompt, I type
```
C:> bash.exe -c "echo [$testing]"
[]

C:>
```
Reason:

When we execute bash.exe it'll execute ~/.bashrc and other related dependent default profile files. If we execute bash.exe -c "related command" then .bashrc is not executed.

We are informing bash to execute related command. If you need that environment variable available inside bash.exe -c execute:
```
C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe sysdm.cpl,EditEnvironmentVariables
```
Set your required environment variable. For example I set certs environment variable.
```
C:>bash.exe -c "echo [$certs]"
[C:\apache-tomcat\certs]
```
When we execute bash.exe it is a process waiting for the user input to exit from that process.

When we execute bash.exe -c, a process is created. It will execute required commands and exit from that process.
```
C:\Windows\System32\tasklist.exe | grep bash
```
The above command will display related output of running process.

bash subshells vs bash -c

2 Answers2