Bash set +x without it being printed

Question

Does anyone know if we can say set +x in bash without it being printed:

set -x
command
set +x

traces

+ command         


        

Answer 1

This is a combination of a few ideas that can enclose a block of code and preserves the exit status.

#!/bin/bash
shopt -s expand_aliases
alias trace_on='set -x'
alias trace_off='{ PREV_STATUS=$? ; set +x; } 2>/dev/null; (exit $PREV_STATUS)'

trace_on
echo hello
trace_off
echo "status: $?"

trace_on
(exit 56)
trace_off
echo "status: $?"

When executed:

$ ./test.sh 
+ echo hello
hello
status: 0
+ exit 56
status: 56