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bashsetenv

set env variable in bash for t seconds

Is there a way to set env variable for certain number of seconds and then reset. I have a script that reads the env variable. If it is set, script should exit. Basically I am trying to build a snooze algorithm. eg. It keeps on sending messages as it receives it. However sometimes I need to snooze them for say t seconds, during these t seconds it would buffer all incoming messages and when timer t expires, send the buffer contents. My approach is to use an

if [ $MY_ENV=set ]
  then 
  buffer
fi

However this env variable must not be shell specific. It should be for every user logged in from different locations on the same machine.

Solution

  • Regardless of the timing part, there's no way to set a variable in the environment of an already-running process from outside that process.

    You need to use the file system for this. If it's user-specific, it can be a file in the user's home directory, for example.