Question about why a command does this


 
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# 1  
Old 08-24-2010
Question about why a command does this

Code:
$ echo 2 * 3 > 5 is a valid inequality.

This will create a file in the current directory named '5' with the number '2' in it, the names of all the files in the current directory, followed by the number '3' and 'is a valid inequality.'

What I do not understand is why 'is a valid inequality' gets written to this file. I thought it would write '2', all the file names in the current directory, then '3' into the file called '5'. Why does the 'is a valid inequality.' get written to the file also?


Code:
$ echo 2 * 3 > 5 is a valid inequality.
$
$ cat 5
2 somefolder somefiles 3 is a valid inequality.
$


Last edited by guitarscn; 08-24-2010 at 11:20 AM..
# 2  
Old 08-24-2010
It's because the shell redirection happens before all the rest. You can put it wherever you like:

Code:
% >infile echo ok
% cat infile 
ok
% echo >infile ok 
% cat infile     
ok

This User Gave Thanks to radoulov For This Post:
# 3  
Old 08-24-2010
Thanks, I looked up shell redirection and understand it now
 
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