Issue when setting a default path in BASH

Question

I am developing a simple BASH script to watch a given compass project. My script is shown below.

I would like to allow a user to optionally enter a custom path or use the default http_path value. I'm not sure how to set the path variable equal to the http_path variable where my default Apache directory is located using my current script. If any one has better suggestions and/or resources for learning how to write BASH scripts, please share!

Note: I have searched this site, Google, and stackoverflow for an answer. If you find one with a solution to my issue, please let me know!

#!/bin/bash
# This script will watch a given compass project
http_path=/var/www/

echo -n "Enter in a new path and press. To use the default path $http_path press [ENTER] twice"

while read path; do
    if [ -z "${path}" ]; then
        clear  
        # these two lines enable the script to work if I do not
        # I do not prompt for default path. It's been tested and works
        # echo "That was empty, do it again!"
        # echo -n "Enter in a compass project directory and press [ENTER]"
        echo "Are you sure you would like to use the default path? Press [ENTER] to continue..."
        $path=$http_path
    else
        echo "Checking now..."
        break
    fi
done

echo -n "Enter in a project to watch and prss [ENTER]"

while read project; do
    if [ -z "${project}" ]; then
        clear  
        echo "That was empty, do it again!"
        echo -n "Enter in a compass project name and press [ENTER]"
    else
        echo "Checking now..."
        break
    fi
done

echo "Watching" $project "project in directory" $path
echo "To exit project press Command/Control + C"

cd $path
compass watch $project

See problem solution here

Answer 1

When assigning a value to path, leave off the leading $ sign in the first while loop.

You only need to do: path=$http_path.

Edit

I only realized after I posted that you also want resources to learn bash. I personally found Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide to be useful. It is a bit dated if I remember correctly, but it is more than sufficient. Also #bash on Freenode is a great place. They're not always the friendliest but they are definitely extraordinarily knowledgable.

Also, never be afraid to test out something on the command-line. That's your interactive interpreter (if you've done any ruby or python programming).

Edit 2

The actual problem was that after hitting enter the user wouldn't exit the loop so the code needed to be changed to:

while read path; do
    if [ -z "${path}" ]; then
        clear
        echo "Are you sure you would like to ..."
        read prompt
        if [ -n "${prompt}" ] ; then
            continue
        fi
        path=$http_path
        break
    else
        # etc.
    fi
done