[ ruby-Bugs-3856 ] strange Kernel#exec behavior with bash's source command

Bugs item #3856, was opened at 2006-03-17 17:49
You can respond by visiting: 
http://rubyforge.org/tracker/?func=detail&atid=1698&aid=3856&group_id=426

Category: Core
Group: None
Status: Open
Resolution: None
Priority: 3
Submitted By: Rick Hull (nwallins)
Assigned to: Nobody (None)
Summary: strange Kernel#exec behavior with bash's source command

Initial Comment:
using ruby 1.8.4 (2005-12-24) [i486-linux] on debian/etch
this behavior was informally confirmed by several others in #ruby-lang

# the following commands assume a bash prompt, output follows, starting with #>

cd ~
echo 'echo success' > test.sh
source test.sh
#> success

ruby -e 'exec "source test.sh"'
#> -e:1:in `exec': No such file or directory - source test.sh (Errno::ENOENT)
#>        from -e:1

ruby -e 'exec "source test.sh;"'
#> success

ruby -e 'exec "source test.sh
> "'
#> success

# ok, so we need a trailing semicolon or newline
# yet, there is still another way

ruby -e 'exec "source ~/test.sh"'
#> success

# aha! maybe it's the presence of the slash?

ruby -e 'exec "source ./test.sh"'
#> -e:1:in `exec': No such file or directory - source test.sh (Errno::ENOENT)
#>        from -e:1

# hmm.. WTF? it's not the slash, it's a magic tilde!
-----
some discussion in the channel revolved around whether this is a bash or a ruby issue.  I have no idea, but I want to point out the strange behavior.  Note that 'source' is not a program but a bash command.

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You can respond by visiting: 
http://rubyforge.org/tracker/?func=detail&atid=1698&aid=3856&group_id=426