The issue you're encountering with set +m not working in ~/.bashrc on Debian 13 (GNOME Terminal) is likely due to how .bashrc is sourced and the context in which it runs. Here’s why this happens and how to fix it:

Why set +m Fails in .bashrc

1. .bashrc is Sourced, Not Executed as a Script

   • When you open a terminal, .bashrc is sourced (run in the current shell environment) rather than executed as a standalone script.
   • The set +m command (which disables job control) is typically ignored in interactive shells because job control is enabled by default and often required for proper terminal behavior (e.g., Ctrl+Z, fg, bg).

2. GNOME Terminal and Interactive Shells

   • GNOME Terminal starts an interactive login shell (or interactive non-login shell, depending on configuration).
   • In interactive shells, Bash ignores certain commands in .bashrc if they conflict with the shell's default behavior (e.g., job control).

3. Order of Sourcing

   • If .bashrc is sourced after the shell initializes job control, set +m may be overridden by the shell's defaults.

How to Fix It

Option 1: Force set +m in .bashrc

Add this to your ~/.bashrc:

if [[ $- == *m* ]]; then
    set +m
fi

• This checks if job control (m flag) is enabled and explicitly disables it.

Option 2: Use .bash_profile or .profile

If you're using a login shell, .bashrc might not be the right place. Instead, add set +m to:

• ~/.bash_profile (for login shells)
• ~/.profile (for all shells)

Option 3: Disable Job Control Globally (Not Recommended)

If you really want job control disabled for all interactive shells, you can:

1. Edit /etc/bash.bashrc (system-wide) or your user's .bashrc.
2. Add:
   bash

   Copy

   set +m

   Warning: This may break terminal features like background jobs (&, Ctrl+Z).

Option 4: Use a Terminal-Specific Hook

GNOME Terminal allows running custom commands on startup. You can:

1. Open Terminal Preferences > Command tab.
2. Add a custom command like:
   bash

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   bash --rcfile ~/.custom_bashrc

   Then put set +m in ~/.custom_bashrc.

Debugging Steps

1. Check if .bashrc is Sourced Add this to .bashrc:

   bash

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   echo "Bashrc loaded, job control: $-"

   • If you see m in the output (e.g., himBH), job control is enabled.

2. Test in a Non-Interactive Shell Run:

   bash

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   bash -c "set +m; echo $-"

   • If m is missing, the command works, but the issue is with interactive shells.

3. Override Bash Defaults If you must disable job control, try forcing it in ~/.bashrc with:

   bash

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   shopt -u monitor  # Disables job control

Key Takeaway

• .bashrc is for interactive shells, and some settings (like set +m) may be overridden by Bash defaults.
• Use ~/.bash_profile or ~/.profile for login-specific tweaks.
• GNOME Terminal may reset job control—test with echo $- to confirm.

Try Option 1 first. If it doesn’t work, share the output of echo $- from your terminal, and we can debug further.