alt Hacker NewsThe utility of $_ is often voided by tab-completion in the subsequent command, at least in bash. You won't know what it contains, which makes it dangerous, unless you first check it in a way that also carries it forwards:
printf %s\\n "$_"
The utility of $_ is often voided by tab-completion in the subsequent command, at least in bash. You won't know what it contains, which makes it dangerous, unless you first check it in a way that also carries it forwards:
printf %s\\n "$_"
Even without tab completion, the variable can hold unexpected values due to user error (you don't see the command as a whole), multiple shell windows, or forgotten context.
Relying on it even in limited scenarios can train an invisible habit that would backfire at the least expected moment.
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