Bash script to change parent shell directory

Question

What I'm trying to do

I've created a shell script that I've added to my $PATH that will download and get everything setup for a new Laravel project. I would like the script to end by changing my terminal directory into the new project folder.

From what I understand right now currently it's only changing the directory of the sub shell where the script is actually running. I can't seem to figure out how to do this. Any help is appreciated. Thank you!

#! /usr/bin/env bash

echo -e '\033[1;30m=========================================='

## check for a directory
if test -z "$1"; then
  echo -e ' \033[0;31m✖ Please provide a directory name'
  exit
fi

## check if directory already exist
if [ ! -d $1 ]; then
  mkdir $1
else
  echo -e ' \033[0;31m✖ The '"$1"' directory already exists'
  exit
fi

# move to directory
cd $1

## Download Laravel
echo -e ' \033[0;32m+ \033[0mDownloading Laravel...'
curl -s -L https://github.com/laravel/laravel/zipball/master > laravel.zip

## Unzip, move, and clean up Laravel
echo -e ' \033[0;32m+ \033[0mUnzipping and cleaning up files...'
unzip -q laravel.zip
rm laravel.zip
cd *-laravel-*
mv * ..
cd ..
rm -R *-laravel-*

## Make the /storage directory writable
echo -e ' \033[0;32m+ \033[0mMaking /storage directory writable...'
chmod -R o+w storage

## Download and install the Generators
echo -e ' \033[0;32m+ \033[0mInstalling Generators...'
curl -s -L https://raw.github.com/JeffreyWay/Laravel-Generator/master/generate.php > application/tasks/generate.php

## Update the application key
echo -e ' \033[0;32m+ \033[0mUpdating Application Key...'
MD5=`date +”%N” | md5`
sed -ie 's/YourSecretKeyGoesHere!/'"$MD5"'/' application/config/application.php
rm application/config/application.phpe

## Create .gitignore and initial git if -git is passed
if [ "$2" == "-git" ]; then
  echo -e ' \033[0;32m+ \033[0mInitiating git...'
  touch .gitignore
  curl -s -L https://raw.github.com/gist/4223565/be9f8e85f74a92c95e615ad1649c8d773e908036/.gitignore > .gitignore

  # Create a local git repo
  git init --quiet
  git add * .gitignore
  git commit -m 'Initial commit.' --quiet
fi

echo -e '\033[1;30m=========================================='
echo -e ' \033[0;32m✔ Laravel Setup Complete\033[0m'

## Change parent shell directory to new directory
## Currently it's only changing in the sub shell
filepath=`pwd`
cd "$filepath"

Answer 1

You can technically source your script to run it in your parent shell instead of spawning a subshell to run it. This way whatever changes you make to your current shell (including changing directories) persist.

source /path/to/my/script/script

or

. /path/to/my/script/script

But sourcing has its own dangers, use carefully.

(Peripherally related: how to use scripts to change directories)