Just want to note down what I found out to run bash command in npm script.

Problem

Suppose we have a demand to use cross-env to set environment variables hash before running jest, so you added this content to package.json.

{
  // ...
  "scripts": {
      "test": "cross-env hash=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD) && jest",
  },
  //...
}

This actually works in Linux but not in Windows(powershell/cmd/MinGW)!

if you run npm test What you’ll likely get is this error:

> cross-env hash=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD) && jest

'rev-parse' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
node:events:491
      throw er; // Unhandled 'error' event
      ^

Error: spawn rev-parse ENOENT
...

I spent a lot of time to search online but no luck at all. I tried to add double quote/single quote/back quote but none of are ideal.

Double quote works for Windows but ended up with emitting an error in Linux!

{
  "scripts": {
      "test": "cross-env hash=$(\"git rev-parse --short HEAD\") && jest",
  },
}

Takeaway

Finally I figured a way out after spending a long time, so I want to share and also remind myself in case I forgot.

{
  "scripts": {
      "test": "sh -c \"cross-env hash=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)\" && jest",
  },
}

This works both in Windows and Linux! You are welcome.

BTW, also want to share a bash cheat sheet where you can learn a lot of bash tricks https://devhints.io/bash

Using bash $() in npm command

Problem

Takeaway