LPIC-1 Shells, Scripting and Data Management Practice Question
A user wants to set a shell variable named DEPLOY_ENV to the value 'staging' in the current Bash session so that child processes can read it. Which command accomplishes this?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse a shell variable with an environment variable and assuming that any assignment automatically makes the value available to child processes.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
export DEPLOY_ENV=staging
To make a variable available to child processes, it must be exported into the environment. The export builtin, used together with an assignment, both sets the variable in the current shell and ensures it is inherited by subsequently launched commands. A plain assignment stays local to the shell, set controls shell options, and env without a command only displays the environment.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
DEPLOY_ENV=staging
Why it's wrong here
This assigns the value only to a shell variable, which is not automatically part of the environment passed to child processes. While the current shell can read it, commands launched from this shell will not see DEPLOY_ENV unless it is explicitly exported. It does not satisfy the requirement that child processes can read the value.
- ✗
set DEPLOY_ENV=staging
Why it's wrong here
In Bash, set is used to set or unset shell options and positional parameters, not to assign arbitrary variable values. Writing set DEPLOY_ENV=staging would treat the string as a positional parameter or produce unexpected behavior; it does not create an environment variable that child processes can read.
- ✓
export DEPLOY_ENV=staging
Why this is correct
The export builtin marks the variable for inclusion in the environment of subsequently executed commands. Combining assignment and export in one statement sets the value and makes it available to child processes, exactly matching the scenario's requirement that child processes can read DEPLOY_ENV in the current session.
- ✗
env DEPLOY_ENV=staging
Why it's wrong here
The env command runs a program with a modified environment, but without a command argument it merely prints the environment. It does not modify the current shell's variables or export anything to future child processes. This leaves the current session unchanged and fails the requirement.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official LPI exam blueprint
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