Re: [Help-bash] Why bash does not recoganize array type smartly?

[Chris F.A. Johnson]

On Wed, 9 Mar 2016, Peng Yu wrote:

> Hi, Bash requires one explicitly declare associative array before it
> can be used. It seems that this requirement may be too strictly given
> no other types need to be declared first before being used.
>
> Is there any rationale why bash is defined in this way. Wouldn't it
> better to allow users define associative array just by using something
> like `x=([a]=1 [b]=2)` without having to declare it?

  Because a and b are read as variables.

> x=([a]=1 [b]=2)
> declare -A x
> ./main.sh: line 6: declare: x: cannot convert indexed to associative array



--
Chris F.A. Johnson, <http://cfajohnson.com>