sh: Syntax error: "(" unexpected (expecting "fi")

Question

I am getting an error when using sh, but not bash. Any idea why?

$ sh test.sh
test.sh: 5: test.sh: Syntax error: "(" unexpected (expecting "fi")
#!/bin/bash
if [ 1 -eq 1 ]
    then
    declare -a methods=(Method1 Method2 Method3)
    for i in "${methods[@]}"
       do
          echo $i
      done
    else
      echo not found
fi

see also: Does the shebang determine the shell which runs the script? — ilkkachu, Sep 03 '21 at 15:36

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 03 '21 at 14:34

2

You have a bash hashbang and are running the script with sh. POSIX sh does not support arrays, and while they will still work on some systems there is no guarantee of such, hence the error about the parenthesis.

Use bash test.sh or just make it executable and let the hashbang decide the interpreter.

Also 1 will always equal 1 so your whole if construct is unnecessary.

answered Sep 03 '21 at 14:34

jesse_b

37,005

Thanks. 1 -eq 1 was a place holder to show the issue. This is actually an 'at' job and when I schedule it I get a warning message saying that it will be run using sh. – SEU Sep 03 '21 at 14:44

sh: Syntax error: "(" unexpected (expecting "fi")

1 Answers1