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I'm encountering an issue where I'm unable to execute multiple alias commands at the same time in my shell environment. For example, when I try to run two alias commands together, only one seems to execute, or I get an error.

I've tried defining the aliases separately and then combining them in a single command using && and ;, but it still doesn't work as expected. Here's a simplified version of what I'm trying:

alias1 <command> alias2
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    I really can't reproduce that. I run alias one="echo 1", then alias two="echo 2". Then one;two just works as expected. I've tried both in bash and zsh. This just works. But your question is self-contradicting: you say you combine the aliases with && and ;, but your example shows neither. Commented Jul 28 at 13:49
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    (I fixed your post's formatting, by the way! You should do that yourself next time.) Commented Jul 28 at 13:52
  • Depending on what shell you are using, you may find these relevant: Using multiple alias in a single command and Do global aliases exist in bash and also Difference between alias in zsh and alias in bash Commented Jul 28 at 13:59
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    Please give a full example of the code you are using. Commented Jul 28 at 15:03
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    It'd be easier to understand what you mean if you show a complete real example, and the associated errors, even if you only use trivial commands like echo. Watering it diwn for "simplicity" often also hides the important details. Commented Jul 29 at 5:55

2 Answers 2

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There is not enough code in the question to be sure but this might be the problem, man bash:

Bash always reads at least one complete line of input, and all lines that make up a compound command, before executing any of the commands on that line or the compound command. Aliases are expanded when a command is read, not when it is executed. Therefore, an alias definition appearing on the same line as another command does not take effect until the next line of input is read. The commands following the alias definition on that line are not affected by the new alias.

So make sure your code is like this:

alias cmd1='echo foo'
alias cmd2='echo bar'
cmd1 ; cmd2

or

alias cmd1='echo foo' ; alias cmd2='echo bar'
cmd1 ; cmd2
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You can also use one of these methods, for chaining a sequence of commands:

  • Sequential execution, one after another:

alias1 && alias2

The && makes it only execute subsequent commands if the previous returns successful.

  • Simultaneous execution, in background:

alias1 & alias2 &

  • As a one liner:

alias1; alias2

alias x='command1;command2;command3;'

Or you can do this:

alias x='command1 && command2 && command3'

Also for entering passwords interactively, or interfacing with other programs like that, check out expect. (http://expect.nist.gov/)...

Multiline alias in Bash
alias thing='(
cd "${program_to_update_dir}"
wget "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/USER/PROJECT/BRANCH/update.sh"
source update.sh
rm update.sh
)'

Shell functions may be define in the same initialization file that you define aliases in, and they are used in the same way as aliases, but are more versatile (can take arguments etc.) ...

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