bash

How to prevent direct bash script execution and allow only usage from other script?

I have one script with common functions that is included in other my scripts with:

. ~/bin/fns

Since my ~/bin path is on the PATH, is there a way to prevent users to execute fns from command line (by returning from the script with a message), but to allow other scripts to include this file?

(Bash >= 4)

Solution

  • Just remove the executable bit with chmod -x . ~/bin/fns. It will still work when sourced, but you can't call it (accidentally) by its name anymore.