Question: Are there any substitutes, alternatives or bash tricks for delaying commands without using `sleep`? For example, performing the below command without actually using sleep:

```
$ sleep 10 && echo "This is a test"

```

Answer: 
Using the bash built-in variable `$SECONDS` and a busy-loop:

```
for((target=$((SECONDS + 10)); SECONDS < target; true)); do :; done

```
A classic from the Land of Windows and Batches:

```
ping -c 11 localhost >/dev/null && echo "This is a test"

```