Comparing variables in shell scripts

Question

I have got a project that involves shell scripts and comparing values/variables within them. I have looked here and elsewhere on comparing variables and I have tried all the various examples given but I am running into something that is not as advertised. OS is Solaris10

I have created the following script as a learning experience-

#!/bin/ksh

stest()
{
if $X = $Y
then echo they're the same
else echo they're notthe same
fi
}


X=a
Y=a

stest

echo completed

I keep getting some variation of the following-

using shell sh or ksh-

#./test.sh
./test.sh[2]: a:  not found
completed

using shell bash-

#./test.sh
./test.sh: line 5: a: command not found
completed

I have tried enclosing the if $X = $Y line in brackets and double brackets and I get back

[a:  not found  

or

[[a:  not found

If I change the variables X and Y to the numeral "1" I get the same thing-

./test.sh[2]: 1:  not found

I have tried enclosing things in single quotes, double quotes & backwards quotes.

Any help is appreciated.

Answer 1

This KornShell (ksh) script should work:

soExample.ksh

#!/bin/ksh 

#Initialize Variables
X="a"
Y="a"

#Function to create File with Input
#Params: 1}
stest(){
    if [ "${X}" == "${Y}" ]; then
        echo "they're the same"
    else 
        echo "they're not the same"
    fi
}

#-----------
#---Main----
#-----------
echo "Starting: ${PWD}/${0} with Input Parameters: {1: ${1} {2: ${2} {3: ${3}"
stest #function call#
echo "completed"
echo "Exiting: ${PWD}/${0}"

Output :

user@foo:/tmp $ ksh soExample.ksh
Starting: /tmp/soExample.ksh with Input Parameters: {1:  {2:  {3:
they're not the same
completed
Exiting: /tmp/soExample.ksh

ksh version:

user@foo:/tmp $ echo $KSH_VERSION
@(#)MIRBSD KSH R48 2013/08/16