$Id: bash.txt 1883 2008-07-20 23:13:32Z mjs $

# `bash` tips/tricks/HOWTOs

## HOWTO: Read exit status

You can just do things like:

	 if cp $1 $2 ; then
	   echo succeeded
	 else
	   echo failed
	 fi
  
Alternatively, <tt>$?</tt> holds the exit status of the most recently executed
command.

## TIP: Command substitution

	`command`
  
or

	$(command)

## TIP: Redirection

To redirect stdout to <tt>/dev/null</tt>, and stderr to the tty:

	$ tidy index.html 2>/dev/stdout 1>/dev/null

## TIP: Parameter expansion

    ${foo}
    
or

    $foo