Understanding environment variable / shell syntax

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I was just following the install instructions for zsh-autosuggestions and I don't understand what part of the following command is doing:



git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions $ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom/plugins/zsh-autosuggestions


  • What does the $ZSH_CUSTOM:- ... do?

  • Why not just clone directly into ~/.oh-my-zsh/...?









share|improve this question


























    1















    I was just following the install instructions for zsh-autosuggestions and I don't understand what part of the following command is doing:



    git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions $ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom/plugins/zsh-autosuggestions


    • What does the $ZSH_CUSTOM:- ... do?

    • Why not just clone directly into ~/.oh-my-zsh/...?









    share|improve this question
























      1












      1








      1








      I was just following the install instructions for zsh-autosuggestions and I don't understand what part of the following command is doing:



      git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions $ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom/plugins/zsh-autosuggestions


      • What does the $ZSH_CUSTOM:- ... do?

      • Why not just clone directly into ~/.oh-my-zsh/...?









      share|improve this question














      I was just following the install instructions for zsh-autosuggestions and I don't understand what part of the following command is doing:



      git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions $ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom/plugins/zsh-autosuggestions


      • What does the $ZSH_CUSTOM:- ... do?

      • Why not just clone directly into ~/.oh-my-zsh/...?






      terminal zsh git






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      share|improve this question











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      share|improve this question










      asked Jan 27 at 18:20









      skubeskube

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      1083




















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          The parameter substitution $variable:-value would be replaced by $variable if that variable was set and not empty, otherwise it's replaced by value. This is a standard parameter expansion.



          In this case, it allows the user to set ZSH_CUSTOM to where they keep their oh-my-zsh customisation files, or to not set it and use the default location of ~/.oh-my-zsh/custom.



          Not using this construct would make the life of users who have tailor made setups a bit awkward as they would have to either manually modify the command, or move the files to the correct place after installation (and possibly run the risk of having pre-existing files overwritten by git clone).






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            1 Answer
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            The parameter substitution $variable:-value would be replaced by $variable if that variable was set and not empty, otherwise it's replaced by value. This is a standard parameter expansion.



            In this case, it allows the user to set ZSH_CUSTOM to where they keep their oh-my-zsh customisation files, or to not set it and use the default location of ~/.oh-my-zsh/custom.



            Not using this construct would make the life of users who have tailor made setups a bit awkward as they would have to either manually modify the command, or move the files to the correct place after installation (and possibly run the risk of having pre-existing files overwritten by git clone).






            share|improve this answer





























              1














              The parameter substitution $variable:-value would be replaced by $variable if that variable was set and not empty, otherwise it's replaced by value. This is a standard parameter expansion.



              In this case, it allows the user to set ZSH_CUSTOM to where they keep their oh-my-zsh customisation files, or to not set it and use the default location of ~/.oh-my-zsh/custom.



              Not using this construct would make the life of users who have tailor made setups a bit awkward as they would have to either manually modify the command, or move the files to the correct place after installation (and possibly run the risk of having pre-existing files overwritten by git clone).






              share|improve this answer



























                1












                1








                1







                The parameter substitution $variable:-value would be replaced by $variable if that variable was set and not empty, otherwise it's replaced by value. This is a standard parameter expansion.



                In this case, it allows the user to set ZSH_CUSTOM to where they keep their oh-my-zsh customisation files, or to not set it and use the default location of ~/.oh-my-zsh/custom.



                Not using this construct would make the life of users who have tailor made setups a bit awkward as they would have to either manually modify the command, or move the files to the correct place after installation (and possibly run the risk of having pre-existing files overwritten by git clone).






                share|improve this answer















                The parameter substitution $variable:-value would be replaced by $variable if that variable was set and not empty, otherwise it's replaced by value. This is a standard parameter expansion.



                In this case, it allows the user to set ZSH_CUSTOM to where they keep their oh-my-zsh customisation files, or to not set it and use the default location of ~/.oh-my-zsh/custom.



                Not using this construct would make the life of users who have tailor made setups a bit awkward as they would have to either manually modify the command, or move the files to the correct place after installation (and possibly run the risk of having pre-existing files overwritten by git clone).







                share|improve this answer














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                edited Jan 27 at 19:04

























                answered Jan 27 at 18:58









                KusalanandaKusalananda

                130k17246406




                130k17246406



























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