linux - Using commands in Bash Script Variables -

i have bash script checks current status of dropbox

#!/bin/bash while true     echo dropbox status:      ~/bin/dropbox.py status     sleep 1     clear done 

this produces output can this.

dropbox status:  date 

however this. on 1 line

dropbox status: update 

i have tried scripts such as

#!/bin/bash while true     status=~/bin/dropbox.py status     echo dropbox status: $status     sleep 1     clear done 

however creates errors such dropbox status.sh: status: not found

is there way after?

also if blatantly obvious apologize since new bash script

thanks help.

use printf , command substitution:

printf "dropbox status: %s\n" "$(~/bin/dropbox.py status)" 

or intermediate variable:

status=$(~/bin/dropbox.py status) printf "dropbox status: %s\n" "$status" 

also remember quote variables or undergo word splitting

why doesn't status=~/bin/dropbox.py status work? whats happens command status called environment variable status set ~/bin/dropbox.py, sort of same running:

_status=$status export status=~/bin/dropbox.py status export status=_status 

but without temporary variables