1

I can't figure it out. As I read in documentaion, {} doesn't create a subshell. However, looks like that sometimes it does:

  $ unset T; echo "T_bfr=$T"; echo $$; { echo $$; export T=1; }; echo "T_afr=$T"
T_bfr=
4874
4874
T_afr=1

 $ unset T; echo "T_bfr=$T"; echo $$; { echo $$; export T=1 ; }|cat; echo "T_afr=$T"
T_bfr=
4874
4874
T_afr=

What is the difference? Why T is missing in the second case?

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2

The second case is different because that pipe runs in a subshell, where T_aft=$T is unset.

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  • But why pipe with subshell wipes variable from curly braces? – rush Dec 11 '12 at 11:43
  • Good question. The short answer is that the subshell is unaware of the newly set variable. Long answer - mywiki.wooledge.org/BashGuide/InputAndOutput#Pipes – lurker Dec 11 '12 at 12:11
  • You may wish to expand your answer with the comment you've given. – EightBitTony Dec 11 '12 at 15:14
  • See BashFAQ 24 about pipes, subshells, and shell variables. – jw013 Dec 11 '12 at 15:35

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