env_parallel - export environment to GNU parallel
env_parallel [--record-env|--session|--end-session] [options for GNU Parallel]
env_parallel is a shell function that exports the current environment to GNU parallel.
If the shell function is not loaded, a dummy script will be run instead that explains how to install the function.
env_parallel is 100 ms slower at startup than pure GNU parallel, and takes up to 30% longer to start a job (typically 15 ms).
Due to the problem with environment space (see below) you are recommended only to transfer the environment that you need.
To help you do that, you can mark names that should not be transferred. This can be done with either --session or --record-env.
# Record the "clean" environment (this only needs to be run once)
env_parallel --record-env
# Optionally edit ~/.parallel/ignored_vars (only needed once)
# Define whatever you want to use
myfunc() { myalias and functions $myvar work. $1.; }
alias myalias='echo Aliases'
myvar='and variables'
# Use --env _ to only transfer the names not in the "empty" environment
env_parallel --env _ -S localhost myfunc ::: HoorayOr:
# Do --record-env into $PARALLEL_IGNORED_NAMES
env_parallel --session
# Define whatever you want to use
myfunc() { myalias and functions $myvar work. $1.; }
alias myalias='echo Aliases'
myvar='and variables'
# env_parallel will not export names in $PARALLEL_IGNORED_NAMES
env_parallel -S localhost myfunc ::: Hooray
# Optionally
env_parallel --end-sessionIn csh --session is not supported:
# Record the "clean" environment - this only needs to be run once
env_parallel --record-env
# Optionally edit ~/.parallel/ignored_vars - only needed once
# Define whatever you want to use
alias myalias 'echo Aliases $myvar \!*.'
set myvar='and variables'
# Use --env _ to only transfer the names not in the "empty" environment
env_parallel --env _ -S localhost myalias ::: workBy default env_parallel will export all environment variables, arrays, aliases, functions and shell options (see details for the individual shells below).
But this only works if the size of the current environment is smaller than the maximal length of a command and smaller than half of the max if running remotely. E.g. The max size of Bash's command is 128 KB, so env_parallel will fail if 'set | wc -c' is bigger than 128 KB. Technically the limit is in execve(1) which IPC::open3 uses.
Bash completion functions are well-known for taking up well over 128 KB of environment space and the primary reason for causing env_parallel to fail.
Instead you can use --env to specify which variables, arrays, aliases and functions to export as this will only export those with the given name. Or follow the recommended usage in shown in DESCRIPTION.
Same as GNU parallel in addition to these:
Undo last --session
Record all names currently defined to be ignored every time running env_parallel in the future.
Ignore all names currently defined. Aliases, variables, arrays, and functions currently defined will not be transferred.
But names defined after running parallel --session will be transferred.
This is only valid in the running shell, and can be undone with parallel --end-session.
You can run multiple --session inside each other:
env_parallel --session
var=not
# var is transferred
env_parallel -Slocalhost 'echo var is $var' ::: ignored
env_parallel --session
# var is not transferred
env_parallel -Slocalhost 'echo var is $var' ::: ignored
env_parallel --end-session
# var is transferred again
env_parallel -Slocalhost 'echo var is $var' ::: ignoredPut this in $HOME/.profile:
. env_parallel.ashE.g. by doing:
echo '. env_parallel.ash' >> $HOME/.profile--env is supported to export only the variable, or alias with the given name. Multiple --envs can be given.
--session is supported.
alias myecho='echo aliases'
env_parallel myecho ::: work
env_parallel -S server myecho ::: work
env_parallel --env myecho myecho ::: work
env_parallel --env myecho -S server myecho ::: work
alias multiline='echo multiline
echo aliases'
env_parallel multiline ::: work
env_parallel -S server multiline ::: work
env_parallel --env multiline multiline ::: work
env_parallel --env multiline -S server multiline ::: workash cannot list defined functions - thus is not supported.myvar=variables
env_parallel echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel -S server echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel --env myvar echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel --env myvar -S server echo '$myvar' ::: workArrays are not supported by Ash.
Put this in $HOME/.bashrc:
. env_parallel.bashE.g. by doing:
echo '. env_parallel.bash' >> $HOME/.bashrc--env is supported to export only the variable, alias, function, or array with the given name. Multiple --envs can be given.
--session is supported.
alias myecho='echo aliases'
env_parallel myecho ::: work
env_parallel -S server myecho ::: work
env_parallel --env myecho myecho ::: work
env_parallel --env myecho -S server myecho ::: work
alias multiline='echo multiline
echo aliases'
env_parallel 'multiline {};
echo but only when followed by a newline' ::: work
env_parallel -S server 'multiline {};
echo but only when followed by a newline' ::: work
env_parallel --env multiline 'multiline {};
echo but only when followed by a newline' ::: work
env_parallel --env multiline -S server 'multiline {};
echo but only when followed by a newline' ::: workmyfunc() { echo functions $*; }
env_parallel myfunc ::: work
env_parallel -S server myfunc ::: work
env_parallel --env myfunc myfunc ::: work
env_parallel --env myfunc -S server myfunc ::: workmyvar=variables
env_parallel echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel -S server echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel --env myvar echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel --env myvar -S server echo '$myvar' ::: workmyarray=(arrays work, too)
env_parallel -k echo '${myarray[{}]}' ::: 0 1 2
env_parallel -k -S server echo '${myarray[{}]}' ::: 0 1 2
env_parallel -k --env myarray echo '${myarray[{}]}' ::: 0 1 2
env_parallel -k --env myarray -S server \
echo '${myarray[{}]}' ::: 0 1 2Due to a bug in Bash, aliases containing newlines must be followed by a newline in the command. Some systems are not affected by this bug, but will print a warning anyway.
env_parallel for csh breaks $PARALLEL, so do not use $PARALLEL.
Put this in $HOME/.cshrc:
source `which env_parallel.csh`E.g. by doing:
echo 'source `which env_parallel.csh`' >> $HOME/.cshrc--env is supported to export only the variable, alias, or array with the given name. Multiple --envs can be given.
alias myecho 'echo aliases'
env_parallel myecho ::: work
env_parallel -S server myecho ::: work
env_parallel --env myecho myecho ::: work
env_parallel --env myecho -S server myecho ::: workNot supported by csh.
set myvar=variables
env_parallel echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel -S server echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel --env myvar echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel --env myvar -S server echo '$myvar' ::: workset myarray=(arrays work, too)
env_parallel -k echo \$'{myarray[{}]}' ::: 1 2 3
env_parallel -k -S server echo \$'{myarray[{}]}' ::: 1 2 3
env_parallel -k --env myarray echo \$'{myarray[{}]}' ::: 1 2 3
env_parallel -k --env myarray -S server \
echo \$'{myarray[{}]}' ::: 1 2 3Put this in $HOME/.profile:
. env_parallel.dashE.g. by doing:
echo '. env_parallel.dash' >> $HOME/.profile--env is supported to export only the variable, or alias with the given name. Multiple --envs can be given.
--session is supported.
alias myecho='echo aliases'
env_parallel myecho ::: work
env_parallel -S server myecho ::: work
env_parallel --env myecho myecho ::: work
env_parallel --env myecho -S server myecho ::: work
alias multiline='echo multiline
echo aliases'
env_parallel multiline ::: work
env_parallel -S server multiline ::: work
env_parallel --env multiline multiline ::: work
env_parallel --env multiline -S server multiline ::: workdash cannot list defined functions - thus is not supported.myvar=variables
env_parallel echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel -S server echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel --env myvar echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel --env myvar -S server echo '$myvar' ::: workdash does not support arrays.Put this in $HOME/.config/fish/config.fish:
source (which env_parallel.fish)E.g. by doing:
echo 'source (which env_parallel.fish)' \
>> $HOME/.config/fish/config.fish--env is supported to export only the variable, alias, function, or array with the given name. Multiple --envs can be given.
--session is supported.
alias myecho 'echo aliases'
env_parallel myecho ::: work
env_parallel -S server myecho ::: work
env_parallel --env myecho myecho ::: work
env_parallel --env myecho -S server myecho ::: workfunction myfunc
echo functions $argv
end
env_parallel myfunc ::: work
env_parallel -S server myfunc ::: work
env_parallel --env myfunc myfunc ::: work
env_parallel --env myfunc -S server myfunc ::: workset myvar variables
env_parallel echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel -S server echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel --env myvar echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel --env myvar -S server echo '$myvar' ::: workArrays normally work, but fail intermitently.
set myarray arrays work, too
env_parallel -k echo '$myarray[{}]' ::: 1 2 3
env_parallel -k -S server echo '$myarray[{}]' ::: 1 2 3
env_parallel -k --env myarray echo '$myarray[{}]' ::: 1 2 3
env_parallel -k --env myarray -S server \
echo '$myarray[{}]' ::: 1 2 3Put this in $HOME/.kshrc:
source env_parallel.kshE.g. by doing:
echo 'source env_parallel.ksh' >> $HOME/.kshrc--env is supported to export only the variable, alias, function, or array with the given name. Multiple --envs can be given.
--session is supported.
alias myecho='echo aliases'
env_parallel myecho ::: work
env_parallel -S server myecho ::: work
env_parallel --env myecho myecho ::: work
env_parallel --env myecho -S server myecho ::: work
alias multiline='echo multiline
echo aliases'
env_parallel multiline ::: work
env_parallel -S server multiline ::: work
env_parallel --env multiline multiline ::: work
env_parallel --env multiline -S server multiline ::: workmyfunc() { echo functions $*; }
env_parallel myfunc ::: work
env_parallel -S server myfunc ::: work
env_parallel --env myfunc myfunc ::: work
env_parallel --env myfunc -S server myfunc ::: workmyvar=variables
env_parallel echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel -S server echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel --env myvar echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel --env myvar -S server echo '$myvar' ::: workmyarray=(arrays work, too)
env_parallel -k echo '${myarray[{}]}' ::: 0 1 2
env_parallel -k -S server echo '${myarray[{}]}' ::: 0 1 2
env_parallel -k --env myarray echo '${myarray[{}]}' ::: 0 1 2
env_parallel -k --env myarray -S server \
echo '${myarray[{}]}' ::: 0 1 2Put this in $HOME/.mkshrc:
source env_parallel.mkshE.g. by doing:
echo 'source env_parallel.mksh' >> $HOME/.mkshrc--env is supported to export only the variable, alias, function, or array with the given name. Multiple --envs can be given.
--session is supported.
alias myecho='echo aliases'
env_parallel myecho ::: work
env_parallel -S server myecho ::: work
env_parallel --env myecho myecho ::: work
env_parallel --env myecho -S server myecho ::: work
alias multiline='echo multiline
echo aliases'
env_parallel multiline ::: work
env_parallel -S server multiline ::: work
env_parallel --env multiline multiline ::: work
env_parallel --env multiline -S server multiline ::: workmyfunc() { echo functions $*; }
env_parallel myfunc ::: work
env_parallel -S server myfunc ::: work
env_parallel --env myfunc myfunc ::: work
env_parallel --env myfunc -S server myfunc ::: workmyvar=variables
env_parallel echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel -S server echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel --env myvar echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel --env myvar -S server echo '$myvar' ::: workmyarray=(arrays work, too)
env_parallel -k echo '${myarray[{}]}' ::: 0 1 2
env_parallel -k -S server echo '${myarray[{}]}' ::: 0 1 2
env_parallel -k --env myarray echo '${myarray[{}]}' ::: 0 1 2
env_parallel -k --env myarray -S server \
echo '${myarray[{}]}' ::: 0 1 2Put this in $HOME/.profile:
source env_parallel.pdkshE.g. by doing:
echo 'source env_parallel.pdksh' >> $HOME/.profile--env is supported to export only the variable, alias, function, or array with the given name. Multiple --envs can be given.
--session is supported.
alias myecho="echo aliases";
env_parallel myecho ::: work;
env_parallel -S server myecho ::: work;
env_parallel --env myecho myecho ::: work;
env_parallel --env myecho -S server myecho ::: workmyfunc() { echo functions $*; };
env_parallel myfunc ::: work;
env_parallel -S server myfunc ::: work;
env_parallel --env myfunc myfunc ::: work;
env_parallel --env myfunc -S server myfunc ::: workmyvar=variables;
env_parallel echo "\$myvar" ::: work;
env_parallel -S server echo "\$myvar" ::: work;
env_parallel --env myvar echo "\$myvar" ::: work;
env_parallel --env myvar -S server echo "\$myvar" ::: workmyarray=(arrays work, too);
env_parallel -k echo "\${myarray[{}]}" ::: 0 1 2;
env_parallel -k -S server echo "\${myarray[{}]}" ::: 0 1 2;
env_parallel -k --env myarray echo "\${myarray[{}]}" ::: 0 1 2;
env_parallel -k --env myarray -S server \
echo "\${myarray[{}]}" ::: 0 1 2Put this in $HOME/.profile:
. env_parallel.shE.g. by doing:
echo '. env_parallel.sh' >> $HOME/.profile--env is supported to export only the variable, or alias with the given name. Multiple --envs can be given.
--session is supported.
sh does not support aliases.myfunc() { echo functions $*; }
env_parallel myfunc ::: work
env_parallel -S server myfunc ::: work
env_parallel --env myfunc myfunc ::: work
env_parallel --env myfunc -S server myfunc ::: workmyvar=variables
env_parallel echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel -S server echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel --env myvar echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel --env myvar -S server echo '$myvar' ::: worksh does not support arrays.env_parallel for tcsh breaks $PARALLEL, so do not use $PARALLEL.
Put this in $HOME/.tcshrc:
source `which env_parallel.tcsh`E.g. by doing:
echo 'source `which env_parallel.tcsh`' >> $HOME/.tcshrc--env is supported to export only the variable, alias, or array with the given name. Multiple --envs can be given.
alias myecho 'echo aliases'
env_parallel myecho ::: work
env_parallel -S server myecho ::: work
env_parallel --env myecho myecho ::: work
env_parallel --env myecho -S server myecho ::: workNot supported by tcsh.
set myvar=variables
env_parallel echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel -S server echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel --env myvar echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel --env myvar -S server echo '$myvar' ::: workset myarray=(arrays work, too)
env_parallel -k echo \$'{myarray[{}]}' ::: 1 2 3
env_parallel -k -S server echo \$'{myarray[{}]}' ::: 1 2 3
env_parallel -k --env myarray echo \$'{myarray[{}]}' ::: 1 2 3
env_parallel -k --env myarray -S server \
echo \$'{myarray[{}]}' ::: 1 2 3Put this in $HOME/.zshrc:
. env_parallel.zshE.g. by doing:
echo '. env_parallel.zsh' >> $HOME/.zshenv--env is supported to export only the variable, alias, function, or array with the given name. Multiple --envs can be given.
--session is supported.
alias myecho='echo aliases'
env_parallel myecho ::: work
env_parallel -S server myecho ::: work
env_parallel --env myecho myecho ::: work
env_parallel --env myecho -S server myecho ::: work
alias multiline='echo multiline
echo aliases'
env_parallel multiline ::: work
env_parallel -S server multiline ::: work
env_parallel --env multiline multiline ::: work
env_parallel --env multiline -S server multiline ::: workmyfunc() { echo functions $*; }
env_parallel myfunc ::: work
env_parallel -S server myfunc ::: work
env_parallel --env myfunc myfunc ::: work
env_parallel --env myfunc -S server myfunc ::: workmyvar=variables
env_parallel echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel -S server echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel --env myvar echo '$myvar' ::: work
env_parallel --env myvar -S server echo '$myvar' ::: workmyarray=(arrays work, too)
env_parallel -k echo '${myarray[{}]}' ::: 1 2 3
env_parallel -k -S server echo '${myarray[{}]}' ::: 1 2 3
env_parallel -k --env myarray echo '${myarray[{}]}' ::: 1 2 3
env_parallel -k --env myarray -S server \
echo '${myarray[{}]}' ::: 1 2 3Same as GNU parallel.
When using GNU env_parallel for a publication please cite:
O. Tange (2018): GNU Parallel 2018, March 2018, ISBN 9781387509881, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1146014.
This helps funding further development; and it won't cost you a cent. If you pay 10000 EUR you should feel free to use GNU Parallel without citing.
Copyright (C) 2007-10-18 Ole Tange, http://ole.tange.dk
Copyright (C) 2008-2010 Ole Tange, http://ole.tange.dk
Copyright (C) 2010-2024 Ole Tange, http://ole.tange.dk and Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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env_parallel uses GNU parallel.
parallel(1), ash(1), bash(1), csh(1), dash(1), fish(1), ksh(1), pdksh(1) tcsh(1), zsh(1).