Bug#741402: [bash] Shell functions definitions may require parentheses despite function keyword

[Filipus Klutiero]

Package: bash
Version: 4.3-2
Severity: minor
X-Debbugs-Cc: bug-bash@gnu.org

According to the manual, either the function keyword or parentheses should be 
sufficient to define a function:

> Shell Function Definitions
>
>
>  A shell function is an object that is called like a simple command and 
> executes a compound command with a new set of positional parameters. Shell 
> functions are declared as follows:
> name () compound-command [redirection]
> function name [()] compound-command [redirection]
>  This defines a function named name. The reserved word function is optional. If 
> the function reserved word is supplied, the parentheses are optional. The body 
> of the function is the compound command compound-command  (see Compound 
> Commands above). That command is usually a list of commands between { and }, 
> but may be any command listed under Compound Commands above. compound-command 
> is executed whenever name is specified as the name of a simple command. When in 
> posix mode, name may not be the name of one of the POSIX special builtins. Any 
> redirections (see REDIRECTION below) specified when a function is defined are 
> performed when the function is executed. The exit status of a function 
> definition is zero unless a syntax error occurs or a readonly function with the 
> same name already exists. When executed, the exit status of a function is the 
> exit status of the last command executed in the body. (See FUNCTIONS   below.)

The following definition should therefore be valid:
> $ function bar (echo x)

...but it's not:
> bash: syntax error near unexpected token `echo'

However, an identical function can be defined with the following definition:

> $ function bar () (echo x)

I suspect this is an upstream bug.

--- System information. ---
Architecture: i386
Kernel: Linux 3.12-1-amd64

Debian Release: jessie/sid
990 testing debian.mirror.iweb.ca
500 unstable debian.mirror.iweb.ca
1 experimental ftp3.nrc.ca

--- Package information. ---
Depends (Version) | Installed
===========================-+-============
base-files (>= 2.1.12) | 7.2
debianutils (>= 2.15) | 4.4


Recommends (Version) | Installed
===================================-+-================
bash-completion (>= 20060301-0) | 1:2.1-2


Suggests (Version) | Installed
=======================-+-===========
bash-doc | 4.3-2

--
Filipus Klutiero
http://www.philippecloutier.com