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environment-variablesbuffergnu-screen

GNU Screen: Environment variables

[Updated] The question is related to the questions GNU Screen: Programmers quotes in Readbuf and GNU Screen: files to numbered buffers?. Since they are not solved, the question targets more general concept about environment variables. My belief is that they are the key to make Screen more efficient.

1. How can I use Bash's variables in Screen like:

$ export path=`pwd`
$ ^a :readbuf `echo $path`/debugging_code.php

2. How can I reuse Screen's buffers like:

$ ^a :readreg a `echo $path`
$ ^a :readbuf $a/debugging_code.php
$ ^a ]

3. How can I use Screen's buffers like environment variables?

Solution

  • The following command does not create a new screen session, but it will create a screen internal variable. Running it on the command line allow you to use the shell expansion:

    $ screen -X setenv a "$PWD/debugging_code.php"

    Then use the new variable:

    C-a :readbuf $a