Executive TL;DR:

• The shell colon can be useful for error handling and permission tests.
• It is often used with redirections, but this is not always necessary.
• Some developers prefer alternative methods for achieving similar results.

The Buzz Score:

The Internet’s Verdict: 60% Hyped, 40% Skeptical

Forum Voices:

Developers have mixed opinions about the shell colon. Some find it useful, while others prefer alternative methods.

I am not a huge fan of most of these, but a few do seem useful.

    : "${1:?missing argument, aborting!}"

Others point out that the shell colon is not always necessary.

> ( : >> result.json ) && echo YES # is result.json writable? As a go-to idiom for a writability test, it gives me pause.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the shell colon can be a useful tool for error handling and permission tests, but it is not always necessary and can be replaced with alternative methods.

Focus Keyword: Shell Colon