#!/bin/bash

trap 'echo "VARIABLE-TRACE> \$variable = \"$variable\""' DEBUG
# Echoes the value of $variable after every command.

variable=29

echo "  Just initialized \$variable to $variable."

let "variable *= 3"
echo "  Just multiplied \$variable by 3."

exit

#  The "trap 'command1 . . . command2 . . .' DEBUG" construct is
#+ more appropriate in the context of a complex script,
#+ where inserting multiple "echo $variable" statements might be
#+ awkward and time-consuming.

# Thanks, Stephane Chazelas for the pointer.


Output of script:

VARIABLE-TRACE> $variable = ""
VARIABLE-TRACE> $variable = "29"
  Just initialized $variable to 29.
VARIABLE-TRACE> $variable = "29"
VARIABLE-TRACE> $variable = "87"
  Just multiplied $variable by 3.
VARIABLE-TRACE> $variable = "87"