To prevent source test.sh from exiting the current shell when test.sh contains exit, you need to ensure that the exit command in the script does not terminate the parent shell.

Why does this happen?

When you source (or .) a script, it runs in the current shell context. So, if the script contains exit, it will exit the current shell.

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Solutions

1. Replace exit with return

If test.sh is meant to be sourced (not executed as a standalone script), use return instead of exit:

bash
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return

• return exits the current subshell or sourced script, not the parent shell.

2. Use a subshell

If you want to keep exit in the script, run it in a subshell:

bash
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bash test.sh

• This runs the script in a new shell, so exit only affects that subshell.

3. Guard the exit

If you must keep exit and want to source the script, add a guard:

bash
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if [[ "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" == "$0" ]]; then
  exit
fi

• This checks if the script is being executed directly (not sourced). If sourced, exit is skipped.

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Recommendation

For scripts meant to be sourced, use return. For standalone scripts, use exit.