Bash script: syntax error near unexpected token?

Question

function nvis()
{
    while true; do
    nvidia-smi
    sleep $1 
    done
}

I'm trying to use it like:

nvis 2

and I get an error like:

bash: syntax error near unexpected token `2'

Sorry if this is obvious; I am kind of stumped.

this is similar to: stackoverflow.com/questions/1289026/…, but they don't take a command line argument, which seems to be causing my problem — capybaralet
– capybaralet, Commented Jan 31, 2015 at 19:20
Please write a title that summarizes the specific problem. For example: Why is that bash function doesn't expect parameters ? Or something like that. — Laurent Jalbert Simard
– Laurent Jalbert Simard, Commented Jan 31, 2015 at 19:24
Is that what is going on? It doesn't expect parameters for some reason? I've used similar syntax in other bash functions with no problem.... $1 is the first command line argument, no? I changed the title, but I'm not sure what the most descriptive thing would be. — capybaralet
– capybaralet, Commented Jan 31, 2015 at 19:58
your function is perfectly fine. pls post the entire script. — shiv garg
– shiv garg, Commented Jan 31, 2015 at 20:17

Cyrus · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-31 20:02:56Z

3

With your information, the error is not reproducible. This works fine:

#!/bin/bash

function nvis()
{
  while true; do
    echo nvidia-smi
    sleep $1 
  done
}

nvis 2

answered Jan 31, 2015 at 20:02

Cyrus

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Comments

Dale_Reagan · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-01 04:53:14Z

2

I also tried your code - works fine. I will guess that your file contains 'hidden' control codes. Try:

cat -v yourfile  # OR
cat -vE yourfile

See any special codes? - remove them

Also, try:

bash -nv yourfile

:)

answered Feb 1, 2015 at 4:53

Dale_Reagan

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