Bash script parameter substitution

[elija]

I have a simple bash script to automate database creation for a new development branch.

It is run using ./branch-db from to

mysqldump -u root -pPASSWORD_IS_HERE $1 > $2.sql

works fine but

mysql -u root -pPASSWORD_IS_HERE -e 'create schema $2'

simply creates a schema called $2 instead of being called to in the example. I have also tried

mysql -u root -pPASSWORD_IS_HERE -e 'create schema ${2}'

but that gives a syntax error.

How do I get the $2 to substitute correctly?

[Irithori]

Use doublequotes instead of single.
Doublequotes allow variable evaluation.

mysql -u root -pPASSWORD_IS_HERE -e "create schema $2"

Depending on what and how much you want to pass, the quoting and escaping can be a nightmare.
It might be a better approach to write a file with all the sql code and just do:

mysql -u root -pPASSWORD_IS_HERE  < initialize.sql

P.S. The pw on the commandline is a big NoNo, as it will show in the processlist.
You can use an option file instead.

[elija]

Double quotes like PHP. I didn't even thing of that even after all my years with PHP

It's a dev box with no access to the outside workd and no important data so the command line password isn't a problem. It also shows the password in the mysql history - and that's in plain text

Passing only alphanumeric and underscores so escaping shouldn't be an issue I would hope?

[Irithori]

Alphanumeric and underscores are not a problem.

<preacher mode>
Is it an option for you to invest time and thought into a systemmanagement tool like puppet or chef?
A mysql server manifest can: install all needed packages (even cross platform), config the daemon according to env, host or even dynamically accordding to e.g. ram or number of cores, initialize databases, take care of db dump crons, configure logging, etc

In short: it offers repeatability and consistency

I even use it for my private machines and vms.
Deploy a new one, install puppet, copy my private key and a (very hackish) manifest to the box.

puppet apply hackish_manifest

and the new workstation has all my usual tools, configured correctly.
</preacher mode>

[elija]

Not for me - I'm a humble developer who only gets to play on the dev server occasionally as needed. It may be worth mentioning to the guys who look after the live boxes but I suspect they will have something like that in place anyway.

[edit]If I get time I may look into it at home. More knowledge is more knowledge after all[/edit]

[Irithori]

There is this tutorial:
Learning Puppet ? Documentation ? Puppet Labs

It can be done in half a day (max) and it will give you a first impression and overview.
Especially as a dev you might find it appealing, as it is not scripting any more but programmatically designing and maintaining a dev/work/production environment.

[Mudgen]

This is just wonderful to observe, two major contributors having this conversation without hubris.

[elija]

There is this tutorial:
Learning Puppet ? Documentation ? Puppet Labs

Bookmarked. Thank you.