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bashshellmkdir

mkdir: omit leading pathname when creating multiple directories?

I'm sure this question has been asked elsewhere but I can't seem to phrase it in a way that returns a useful Google result.

I am creating a dozen directories that all have the same root path and I don't want to have to cd into it to be able to make these directories. The current command looks like something like, which is awful and repetitive:

$ mkdir frontend/app/components/Home frontend/app/components/Profile \ 
  frontend/app/components/Post frontend/app/components/Comment

An ideal syntax would be something along the lines of:

$ mkdir frontend/app/components/{Home, Profile, Post, Comment}

Is there something like this already that I just haven't found? I don't want to have to run a for loop just to make a few directories.

Solution

  • Your wish is granted :-).

    mkdir doesn't know and doesn't have to, but shells like bash or zsh understand the syntax {...,...,...}.

    Just remove the spaces from your "along the lines of" and it works:

    mkdir frontend/app/components/{Home,Profile,Post,Comment}

    The shell will expand it to

    mkdir frontend/app/components/Home frontend/app/components/Profile frontend/app/components/Post frontend/app/components/Comment

    Since it is done by the shell, it works with any command.