CODEWITHSUNDEEP
bashshellrecursionsubdirectory
Topher Fangio
Topher Fangio

Reputation: 20667

How can I create nonexistent subdirectories recursively using Bash?

I am creating a quick backup script that will dump some databases into a nice/neat directory structure and I realized that I need to test to make sure that the directories exist before I create them. The code I have works, but is there a better way to do it?

[ -d "$BACKUP_DIR" ] || mkdir "$BACKUP_DIR"
[ -d "$BACKUP_DIR/$client" ] || mkdir "$BACKUP_DIR/$client"
[ -d "$BACKUP_DIR/$client/$year" ] || mkdir "$BACKUP_DIR/$client/$year"
[ -d "$BACKUP_DIR/$client/$year/$month" ] || mkdir "$BACKUP_DIR/$client/$year/$month"
[ -d "$BACKUP_DIR/$client/$year/$month/$day" ] || mkdir "$BACKUP_DIR/$client/$year/$month/$day"

Upvotes: 239

Views: 143471

Answers (4)

y2k-shubham
y2k-shubham

Reputation: 11607

While existing answers definitely solve the purpose, if you’re looking to replicate a nested directory structure under two different subdirectories, then you can do this:

mkdir -p {main,test}/{resources,scala/com/company}

It will create the following directory structure under the directory from where it is invoked:

├── main
│   ├── resources
│   └── scala
│       └── com
│           └── company
└── test
    ├── resources
    └── scala
        └── com
            └── company

The example was taken from this link for creating an SBT directory structure.

Upvotes: 28

Jonathan Feinberg
Jonathan Feinberg

Reputation: 45324

mkdir -p "$BACKUP_DIR/$client/$year/$month/$day"

Upvotes: 73

nitrohuffer2001
nitrohuffer2001

Reputation: 11

mkdir -p newDir/subdir{1..8}
ls newDir/
subdir1 subdir2 subdir3 subdir4 subdir5 subdir6 subdir7 subdir8

Upvotes: 0

bmargulies
bmargulies

Reputation: 100040

You can use the -p parameter, which is documented as:

-p, --parents

no error if existing, make parent directories as needed

So:

mkdir -p "$BACKUP_DIR/$client/$year/$month/$day"

Upvotes: 533

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