Bash stepping xtrace

Bash script that debug bash scripts and functions by stepping xtrace

Installation

Copy xtrace.sh to $HOME/bin

Usage

xtrace.sh command arg1 arg2 ...

# Example 1 : shell script trace

$ xtrace.sh ./twolines.sh "linux" data.txt


# Example 2 : shell function trace

$ f1() { __trace_ON__; echo $1; date; echo $2 ;}
$ export -f f1
$ xtrace.sh f1 111 222

Place __trace_ON__, __trace_OFF__ in the scripts and functions that you want to debug

1 . If you want debug whole script then just place __trace_ON__ on the top of the script

#!/bin/bash

__trace_ON__

arr=() flag=0
while read -r line; do  
    if [[ $line =~ $regex ]]; then 
        if [ $flag -eq 0 ]; then
            echo ${arr[0]}
            echo ${arr[1]}
...
...

2 . If you want debug script partially then place __trace_ON__ , __trace_OFF__ appropriately

#!/bin/bash
...
...
        echo $line
        flag=2
    else
__trace_ON__
        arr[0]=${arr[1]}
        arr[1]=$line
        if [ $flag -gt 0 ]; then
            echo $line
            let flag--
            : :: flag = $flag
        fi
__trace_OFF__
    fi  
done < "$datafile"
...
...

3 . Stepping key : Enter

4 . Exit key : Ctrl-c