How to change argv0 in bash so command shows up with different name in ps?

Question

In a C program I can write argv[0] and the new name shows up in a ps listing.

How can I do this in bash?

Answer 1

Copy the bash executable to a different name.

You can do this in the script itself...

cp /bin/bash ./new-name
PATH=$PATH:.
exec new-name $0

If you are trying to pretend you are not a shell script you can rename the script itself to something cool or even " " (a single space) so

exec new-name " "

Will execute bash your script and appears in the ps list as just new-name.

OK so calling a script " " is a very bad idea :)

Basically, to change the name

bash script

rename bash and rename the script.

If you are worried, as Mr McDoom. apparently is, about copying a binary to a new name (which is entirely safe) you could also create a symlink

ln -s /bin/bash ./MyFunkyName
./MyFunkyName

This way, the symlink is what appears in the ps list. (again use PATH=$PATH:. if you dont want the ./)