ask_variable (bash-only)

ask_variable.sh

#!/bin/bash
# 1. Text
# 2. variableName
# 3. additonal parameters for read
function ask_variable() {
	askText="$1"
	varName="$2"
	eval default="\$$varName"
	bashVersionMajor=$(echo ${BASH_VERSION:-3.0.0} | cut -d "." -f1)

	if [ "$bashVersionMajor" -ge "4" ]; then
		# use -i for bash-versions >= 4
		read $3 -e -p "$askText > " -i "$default" "$varName"
	else
		# set to default when string is empty for older bashs
		read $3 -e -p "$askText [$default]> " "$varName"
		eval "$varName=\${$varName:-$default}"
	fi
}