Re: test -v difference between bash 5.1 and 5.2

[Kerin Millar]

On Tue, 29 Aug 2023 11:44:13 -0400
Chet Ramey <chet.ramey@case.edu> wrote:

> On 8/29/23 11:38 AM, Kerin Millar wrote:
> > On Tue, 29 Aug 2023 11:24:43 -0400
> > Chet Ramey <chet.ramey@case.edu> wrote:
> > 
> >> If you want to check whether an array variable is set, you can check
> >> whether it has any set elements:
> >>
> >> (( ${#assoc[@]} > 0 ))
> > 
> > This doesn't check whether an "array variable is set".
> 
> It checks whether there are any set elements. You have to assign a value
> to set a variable.

I conflated the property of being set with that of being declared. Sorry about 
that. So, what I really meant to say was that the existing test does not prove 
that it's declared. I initially thought that Christian might be concerned with 
that distinction, but do hope it's not the case.

> 
> > Not only that, but the test will be true in the case that assoc has been 
> > defined as a variable that is not an array.
> 
> One hopes that the shell programmer knows what variable types he's
> using, and uses the appropriate constructs.

Some elect to source shell code masquerading as configuration data (or are 
using programs that elect to do so). Otherwise, yes, definitely.

-- 
Kerin Millar