startup problem

I'll be the first to admit I'm new to coding but I'm trying to learn. I set up a server with the help of a friend but I must be missing something.

I will get a codebase, do a make and it comes back compiled without so much as a warning -- Yay...

Or so I think. I do ./startup& only to have my servers brain melt and send back:

-bash: line 6: syntax error near unexpected token `;'
-bash: line 6: `./startup& ; echo "WinSCP: this is end-of-file:$?"'

I have no idea what is wrong with it and what's keeping it from working, I'll feel like a real idiot if it is something simple but that's all part of learning so I don't mind.

Message me back here or send me a message PLEASE

Thanks,
Wungar

--- Almost forgot, i'm running the latest debian from the website with a ton of packages my friend said I would need and all seem to be working unless there is a conflict or I'm missing one... or maybe something is configured wrong

If you don't mind my asking, which codebase are you using, and have you made any modifications to it yet?

And you might try typing it as:

nohup ./startup &

with or without the nohup.