How to pass argument to alias/function in bash and fish at once

Question

My question is very similar to: How to pass command line arguments to a shell alias?

I want to create alias that will accept arguments. Guys in above question suggested functions and indeed this is solution.

However, I am using at once fish (Friendly Interactive SHell) and bash. I keep all my custom aliases in single file, that I load no matter if I am using fish or bash.

I know how to create alias/functions in bash, and I know how to create alias/functions in fish. I do not know, how to create alias/function at once for both fish and bash.

It doesn't have to be alias/function (it can be edgy hack), just end effect should work like expected.

alias rmi="function _rmi() { docker ps -a | grep $1 | awk '{print $1}' | xargs --no-run-if-empty docker rm -f ; docker images | grep $1 | awk '{print $3}' | xargs --no-run-if-empty docker rmi -f }; _rmi()"

Above one is accepted by bash, but not fish.

function go sudo service $argv restart end

Above is accepted by fish, but now bash.

alias apts="aptitude search"

Plain aliases as above one are accepted by both bash and fish, but argument cannot be inside (must be at very end).

How to unify it?

If you are trying to remove images look at docker system prune --help. This command is better at what you are doing with aliases. Not related to question you asked but might help build a better solution — Tarun Lalwani

faho faho · Accepted Answer · 2017-08-01T15:45:51

There is no proper general solution to this, fish is not compatible with bash.

Also, the alias something="function" is unnecessary. You can just define the function directly.

If what you wish to execute does not change anything about the shell's internal state, you can make a script instead.

E.g. create a file called "rmi" that contains

#!/bin/bash
docker ps -a | grep $1 | awk '{print $1}' | xargs --no-run-if-empty docker rm -f
docker images | grep $1 | awk '{print $3}' | xargs --no-run-if-empty docker rmi -f

somewhere in $PATH (in both bash and fish).

How to pass argument to alias/function in bash and fish at once

1 Answers