DOKK / manpages / debian 12 / libbash / libbash.7.en
LIBBASH(7) 7 (libbash manual) LIBBASH(7)

libbash — A bash shared libraries package.

libbash is a package that enables bash dynamic-like shared libraries. Actually its a tool for managing bash scripts whose functions you may want to load and use in scripts of your own.

It contains a ‘dynamic loader’ for the shared libraries ( ldbash(1)), a configuration tool (ldbashconfig(8)), and some libraries.

Using ldbash(1) you are able to load loadable bash libraries, such as getopts(1) and hashstash(1). A bash shared library that can be loaded using

ldbash(1) must answer 4 requirments:

  1. It must be installed in $LIBBASH_PREFIX/lib/bash (default is /usr/lib/bash).
  2. It must contain a line that begins with ‘#EXPORT=’. That line will contain (after the ‘=’) a list of functions that the library exports. I.e. all the function that will be usable after loading that library will be listed in that line.
  3. It must contain a line that begins with ‘#REQUIRE=’. That line will contain (after the ‘=’) a list of bash libraries that are required for our library. I.e. every bash library that is in use in our bash library must be listed there.
  4. The library must be listed (For more information, see ldbashconfig(8)).

  1. Be aware, that your library will be actually sourced. So, basically, it should contain (i.e define) only functions.
  2. Try to declare all variables intended for internal use as local.
  3. Global variables and functions that are intended for internal use (i.e are not defined in ‘#EXPORT=’) should begin with:
    For example, internal function of library should be named as
    This helps to avoid conflicts in global name space when using libraries that come from different vendors.
  4. See html manual for full version of this guide.

Hai Zaar ⟨haizaar@haizaar.com⟩
Gil Ran ⟨ril@ran4.net⟩

ldbash(1), ldbashconfig(8), getopts(1), hashstash(1) colors(1) messages(1) urlcoding(1) locks(1)

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