Shell script: redirect output

Question

Our shell script contains the header

#!/bin/bash -x

that causes the commands to also be listed. Instead of having to type

$ ./script.sh &> log.txt

I would like to add a command to this script that will log all following output (also) to a log file. How this is possible?

anubhava · Accepted Answer · 2016-05-06 10:34:25Z

6

You can place this line at the start of your script:

# redirect stdout/stderr to a file
exec &> log.txt

EDIT: As per comments below:

#!/bin/bash -x

# redirect stdout/stderr to a file and still show them on terminal
exec &> >(tee log.txt; exit)

answered May 6, 2016 at 10:15

anubhava

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4 Comments

Do you mean I have to replace the #!/bin/bash -x with exec &> log.txt? If yes, how is ensured /bin/bash is launched?

@ThomasS no you don't

Just after #!/bin/bash -x line insert exec &> log.txt

Would exec 2>&1 | tee log.txt do the same, but also continue printing?