Re: [ in /usr/bin Question

[bdeferme <bdeferme@paradize.be>]

Joe Hart <j.hart@orange.nl> wrote:

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> Tom Grove wrote:
> > Hello all...I am new to this Debian thing :-)  I used it in the Woody
> > days but moved over to the FreeBSD world for the last few years.  I
> > recently installed Testing (Lenny) and see the left bracket in my
> > /usr/bin directory and do not know what it is.  When I ls -al it I get:
> >
> > -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 24752 2007-01-30 13:51 /usr/bin/[
> >
> > This leads me to believe that it was installed with the base system or
> > some package because I just installed the system earlier this week.  Any
> > help is much appreciated.  Thanks.
>
> I also have this file, and when I type man [, the manual for test shows
> up.  Now why this is I have no idea.  If I try the command (since it is
> executable) I get :  bash: [: missing `]'
>
> This is beyond my comprehension.
>
> Joe

Now I get it, it's as said before "test" and it's used to test something.
It is used mostly for bash scripting

e.g. if [`command`=="outputwewant"]
       do something
     fi
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