POSIX-compliant implementation of arrays in shell
If you have suggestions for improvements feel free to send a pull request.
Usage
# load the library (better than `source`)
$ . array
# Create a new array
$ A=$(array ' bob' 'ross' '' 'khan')
# Get the length
$ echo "$A" | array_len
4
# Get the element at index 0
$ echo "$A" | array_nth 0
bob%
# Get the element at index 2 (= empty string)
$ echo "$A" | array_nth 2
%
# Get the element at (the invalid) index -1
$ echo "$A" | array_nth -1
# The error code is set to 1
$ echo $?
1
# Append item to array
A=$(array "$A" 'lolwut')
# Iterate over the array
$ echo "$A" | while IFS= read element; do printf '%s, \n' "$(echo "$element" | array_element_decode)"; done
bob,
ross,
,
khan,
# Get the index of the element khan
$ echo "$A" | array_indexof khan
3%Notes
This is a PoC that arrays 'can' be implemented in posix shell, nothing more, nothing less.
If you want full-fledged data structures in your shell i suggest you either rewrite your script in a more powerful scripting language or you use jq which lets you work with json in your shell.