Multiple-command alias enters bash shell but fails to navigate to path

Question

I have this alias defined to run bash then navigate to a certain folder but when I run it, it only runs bash and stays in the current path/directory/folder.

I've defined them in two different ways in ~/.bashrc but both methods fail to navigate to the certain folder.

def #1

alias setup_ROR="bash; cd /users/nikeelevet/code/rails;" 

def #2

function setup_ROR() { 
        bash 
        cd /users/nikeelevet/code/rails 
}

Any idea as to why the cd isn't working?

Thanks!

Answer 1

They both open a new shell, wait for it to close, then change directories. Both can be fixed by not trying to run bash.

Answer 2

Why not just:

alias setup_ROR="cd /users/nikeelevet/code/rails" 

And

function setup_ROR() { 
        cd /users/nikeelevet/code/rails 
}

If its in your bashrc, then your already in a bash shell when running the alias, why run another bash?

Answer 3

The alias is working. If you try this one:

~$alias test='ls;ls;'

Then run command test

~$test

You will see command 'ls' is run twice. The reason why you can't navigate into the folder is when it first executes command 'bash', the system will start a bash, which expects your input and will not return until you type 'exit'. I think if you run setup_ROR, then type 'exit', you will navigate into your directory.

I don't get the point why you want to run 'bash' in your alias.

Answer 4

I defer to @chown's answer, but if @Waley really requires a new bash instance, the following should suffice:

alias setup_ROR="pushd /users/nikeelevet/code/rails; bash; popd" 

This will start a new bash in the relevant directory, and then when the user exits that bash process, it will return to the original location

Answer 5

So what you're trying to do is start a new shell with a particular current directory, yes?

As it happens, the current working directory is one of the things that's inherited by new processes. So this should suit your purposes:

setup_ROR() {
    ( cd /users/nikeelevet/code/rails ; bash
}

The parentheses cause the two commands to be executed in a subshell, so the cd doesn't affect your current shell (as you'll see when you exit the subshell).