Test recursing into parent .env files. $ source $TESTDIR/setup.sh Setup env actions / output. $ AUTOENV_LOOK_UPWARDS=1 Create env files in root dir. $ echo 'echo ENTERED_root: PWD:${PWD:t} from:${_autoenv_from_dir:t} to:${_autoenv_to_dir:t}' > .env $ echo 'echo LEFT_root: PWD:${PWD:t} from:${_autoenv_from_dir:t} to:${_autoenv_to_dir:t}' > .env.leave $ test_autoenv_auth_env_files Create env files in sub dir. $ mkdir -p sub/sub2 $ cd sub ENTERED_root: PWD:sub from:recurse-upwards.t to:sub $ echo 'echo ENTERED_sub: PWD:${PWD:t} from:${_autoenv_from_dir:t} to:${_autoenv_to_dir:t}' > .env $ echo 'echo LEFT_sub: PWD:${PWD:t} from:${_autoenv_from_dir:t} to:${_autoenv_to_dir:t}' > .env.leave $ test_autoenv_auth_env_files The actual tests. $ cd . ENTERED_sub: PWD:sub from:sub to:sub $ cd .. LEFT_sub: PWD:sub from:sub to:recurse-upwards.t $ cd sub/sub2 ENTERED_sub: PWD:sub2 from:recurse-upwards.t to:sub2 $ cd .. Changing the .env file should re-source it. $ echo 'echo ENTER2' >> .env Set timestamp of auth file into the past, so it gets seen as new below. $ touch -t 201401010101 .env $ test_autoenv_auth_env_files $ cd . ENTERED_sub: PWD:sub from:sub to:sub ENTER2 Add sub/sub2/.env file, with a call to autoenv_source_parent. $ echo -e "echo autoenv_source_parent_from_sub2:\nautoenv_source_parent\necho done_sub2\n" > sub2/.env $ test_autoenv_add_to_env sub2/.env $ cd sub2 autoenv_source_parent_from_sub2: ENTERED_sub: PWD:sub from:sub to:sub2 ENTER2 done_sub2 Move sub/.env away, now the root .env file should get sourced. $ mv ../.env ../.env.out $ touch -t 201401010102 .env $ cd . autoenv_source_parent_from_sub2: ENTERED_root: PWD:recurse-upwards.t from:sub2 to:sub2 done_sub2 $ mv ../.env.out ../.env Prepend call to autoenv_source_parent to sub/.env file. $ cd .. $ echo -e "echo autoenv_source_parent_from_sub:\nautoenv_source_parent\n$(< .env)\necho done_sub" > .env $ touch -t 201401010103 .env $ test_autoenv_auth_env_files $ cd . autoenv_source_parent_from_sub: ENTERED_root: PWD:recurse-upwards.t from:sub to:sub ENTERED_sub: PWD:sub from:sub to:sub ENTER2 done_sub Add sub/sub2/.env file. $ echo -e "echo autoenv_source_parent_from_sub2:\nautoenv_source_parent\necho done_sub2\n" > sub2/.env $ test_autoenv_add_to_env sub2/.env $ cd sub2 autoenv_source_parent_from_sub2: autoenv_source_parent_from_sub: ENTERED_root: PWD:recurse-upwards.t from:sub to:sub ENTERED_sub: PWD:sub from:sub to:sub ENTER2 done_sub done_sub2 Go to root. $ cd ../.. LEFT_sub: PWD:sub from:sub2 to:recurse-upwards.t ENTERED_root: PWD:recurse-upwards.t from:sub2 to:recurse-upwards.t Changing the root .env should trigger re-authentication via autoenv_source_parent. First, let's answer "no". $ echo "echo NEW" > .env $ _autoenv_read_answer() { echo 'n' } $ cd sub autoenv_source_parent_from_sub: Attempting to load unauthorized env file: /tmp/cramtests-*/recurse-upwards.t/.env (glob) ********************************************** echo NEW ********************************************** Would you like to authorize it? [y/N] ENTERED_sub: PWD:sub from:recurse-upwards.t to:sub ENTER2 done_sub Now with "yes". This currently does not trigger re-execution of the .env file. $ _autoenv_read_answer() { echo 'y' } $ cd . Touching the .env file will now source the parent env file. $ touch -t 201401010104 .env $ cd . autoenv_source_parent_from_sub: Attempting to load unauthorized env file: /tmp/cramtests-*/recurse-upwards.t/.env (glob) ********************************************** echo NEW ********************************************** Would you like to authorize it? [y/N] NEW ENTERED_sub: PWD:sub from:sub to:sub ENTER2 done_sub