How to Fix Bash: Bad Substitution on Linux

Introduction

Before we begin talking about how to Fix Bash: Bad Substitution on Linux, let's briefly understand – What is Bash?

Bash is a scripting language used on Linux to automate monotonous operations. The user may encounter the "bad substitution" error while interacting with the bash script. The mistake is generally made when the incorrect syntax is used, such as when curly brackets are used in place of plain brackets or when unnecessary characters are repeated.

In this tutorial, you will Fix Bash: Bad Substitution on Linux. We will also address a few FAQs on how to Fix Bash: Bad Substitution on Linux.

Reason 1: Curly Brackets are Used Instead of Brackets

The most common cause of bad substitutions in a bash script is because the user uses incorrect syntax, such as curly brackets instead of simple brackets. The syntax for saving the command in the variable is incorrect, and the following script is attempting to retrieve the permissions for the "Henry" directory:

#!/bin/bash
 
command=${ls -ld Henry}
echo $command

When the above script is run, the "bad substitution" error appears.

bash script.sh

Solution: Use the Simple Brackets

Simple brackets are used in place of curly brackets to store the command in the variable. Let us apply it to the script and see how it works:

#!/bin/bash
 
command=$(ls -ld Henry)
echo $command

The "bad substitution" error will not appear when running the script above because the proper syntax is used:

bash script.sh

The permissions for the "Henry" directory are displayed as "rwxrwxr-x".

Reason 2: Repetition of Unwanted Characters

Another cause of the error "bad substitution" is the repetition of characters that aren't needed. Look at the script below, where the echo command outputs the "command" variable and the "pwd" command stores its output in the "command" variable. However, the $ sign is used twice, causing the user to see a "bad substitution" error:

#!/bin/bash
 
command=$(pwd)
echo "The Current Directory is ${$command}"

Run the script from above to test it:

bash script.sh

There was a "bad substitution" error on line 4.

Solution: Avoid Repetition

By using the proper syntax in the script to be used, the user can prevent repetition. The script will function correctly if the $ symbol is removed from the following code:

#!/bin/bash
 
command=$(pwd)
echo "The Current Directory is ${command}"

To check the outcomes, run the script after saving it:

bash script.sh

It prints the current directory, "home/vegastack".

Reason 3: Extra White Spaces

The third condition that may result in the "bad substitution" error is the use of excessive white spaces. The script that is provided below runs the command that is specified in the variable "command" for the file "file.txt" to display the file permission. Extra white space is added when writing the "command" variable through echo:

#!/bin/bash
 
command=$(ls -l file.txt)
echo ${command }

To test it, run the aforementioned script in the terminal:

bash script.sh

There was a "bad substitution" error on line 4.

Solution: Remove White Spaces

The issue can be fixed by eliminating any unnecessary white spaces, as demonstrated in the script below:

#!/bin/bash
 
command=$(ls -l file.txt)
echo ${command}

Save the script above, then run it in the terminal:

bash script.sh

The problem is fixed, and the screen displays "rw-rw-r" for the file "file.txt" permissions.

FAQs to Fix Bash: Bad Substitution on Linux

Conclusion

The bash script's "bad substitution" error is caused by incorrect syntax, the repetition of unnecessary characters, and additional white spaces. Use the proper syntax, reduce character repetition, and eliminate excess white spaces from the bash script to prevent such errors. This tutorial discussed the causes and fixes for the "bad substitution" bash script error.