how to read text from file into an array (bash)

[real smelt]

Hey all, I have this tiny bash script to grab my i3 workspace and set it, the problem I think is scope my X var is not being seen at all by the set function.

#!/bin/bash
    
function main {
    # If the argument is empty then run both functions else only run provided function as argument $1.
    [ -z "$1" ] && { get; set; } || $1     
}
        
function get {    
  X=$(i3-msg -t get_workspaces | jq -r '.[] | select(.visible == true).name')
    for var in "${X[@]}"
    do
        echo "$var"
    done
}
    
function set {    
    sleep 5;
   for var in "${X[@]}"
    do
    echo "$var"
    i3-msg workspace $var
    sleep 1;
  done  
}
    
main "$@"

would declaring the variable outside the function work, and if so why? (If I remember correctly there is local variables).
I am going to test this, but just in case it doesn't work, or even if it does I'm confused.

also why is running the script with get returning my variables but set won't

if the above was the case, and it was a scope issue, this would've worked. Set is still echoing no variables.

#!/bin/bash
X=""
    
function main {
    # If the argument is empty then run both functions else only run provided function as argument $1.
    [ -z "$1" ] && { get; set; } || $1     
}
        
function get {    
  X=$(i3-msg -t get_workspaces | jq -r '.[] | select(.visible == true).name')
    for var in "${X[@]}"
    do
        echo "$var"
    done
}
    
function set {    
    sleep 5;
   for var in "${X[@]}"
    do
    echo "$var"
    i3 workspace "$var"
    sleep 1;
  done  
}
    
main "$@"

could it be that I need to setup environment variables to get the state to be shared between runs.

?

[real smelt]

or would a simple text file work for storing the array in

I've gone with a text file, have been able to write to the file, the script freezes when I run set.

#!/bin/bash
    
function main {
    # If the argument is empty then run both functions else only run provided function as argument $1.
    [ -z "$1" ] && { get; set; } || $1     
}
        
function get {    
  echo "$(i3-msg -t get_workspaces | jq -r '.[] | select(.visible == true).name')" > file
}
    
function set {
     read -a X > file
     sleep 5;
   for var in "${X[@]}"
    do
    echo "$var"
    i3 workspace "$var"
    sleep 1;
  done  
}
    
main "$@"

[real smelt]

how to read text from file into an array (bash)

[real smelt]

this still isn't returning, or running the for loop.