Show a rotating cursor while running long commands

commandSpinner.sh

#!/bin/bash

# Spinner Source:          http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/locutus/bash-bits-nibbles-and-bytes-a-rotating-cursor-while-you-wait-22867
# Parallel process Source: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/6384013/run-bash-commands-in-parallel-track-results-and-count#6384467
# Hide job status source:  http://superuser.com/questions/377775/how-do-i-keep-background-jobs-from-telling-me-theyre-done

# Spin the spinner. Must be called repeatedly to animate
function spin() {
	case $toggle
	in
		1)
			echo -n " \ "$1
			echo -ne "\r"
			toggle="2"
		;;

		2)
			echo -n " | "$1
			echo -ne "\r"
			toggle="3"
		;;

		3)
			echo -n " / "$1
			echo -ne "\r"
			toggle="4"
		;;

		*)
			echo -n " - "$1
			echo -ne "\r"
			toggle="1"
		;;
	esac
}

# Close off the spinner
function complete() {
	echo \* $1 [$?]
}

# Run a command and spin the spinner
function run() {
	command=${1}
	(sleep 1 && $command) 2> errors.log & disown
	pid1=$!
	running1=`ps -p $pid1 --no-headers | wc -l`
	while ( [ $running1 !=  0 ] ) do
		spin "$command"
		sleep 1
		running1=`ps -p $pid1 --no-headers | wc -l`
	done
	complete "$command"
}

#usage
command="command constructed as a string"
run $command