How do I run a program with a different working directory from current, from Linux shell?

How to Run a Program with a Different Working Directory from the Linux Shell 📂

Are you struggling to run a program in the Linux shell with a different working directory? Don't worry, we've got you covered! In this blog post, we'll address this common issue and provide you with easy solutions. Let's dive in!

The Problem 🤔

Imagine you have a binary file called helloworld that creates the file hello-world.txt in the current directory. However, you want to run the program from a different working directory and save the hello-world.txt file in yet another directory. How can you achieve this? Let's find out!

The Solution 💡

To run a program with a different working directory from the current directory, you can use the following command:

cd /c && ../a/helloworld

Let's break down this command:

1. cd /c - This command changes the working directory to /c, where you want to save the hello-world.txt file.

2. && - This is a shell operator that allows you to run multiple commands sequentially. In this case, cd /c will be executed first.

3. ../a/helloworld - This command runs the helloworld program from the directory /a. Since you changed the working directory to /c in the previous step, the program will create the hello-world.txt file in /c.

By combining these commands, you can achieve your goal of running the program with a different working directory and saving the file in the desired location.

Example ⚙️

Let's illustrate this solution with an example.

Assume you are currently in the directory /b and you want to run the helloworld program from the directory /a. You also want to save the hello-world.txt file in the directory /c.

$ pwd
/b
$ cd /c && ../a/helloworld
$ ls /c
hello-world.txt

In this example, you first change the working directory to /c. Then, you run the helloworld program using the ../a/helloworld command. Finally, you can verify that the hello-world.txt file was indeed created in the /c directory.

Get Creative! 🎉

Now that you know how to run a program with a different working directory from the Linux shell, unleash your creativity and start exploring new possibilities. You can run programs from various directories and save files wherever you desire!

Share your coolest ideas and use cases in the comments below. We'd love to hear how you're making the most out of this newfound knowledge!

Conclusion 🏁

Running a program with a different working directory from the Linux shell is no longer a daunting task. By combining the cd command with the && operator, you can effortlessly run programs and save files in any directory you choose.

So, go ahead and give it a try! Let us know if you encounter any issues or have any questions. Happy coding! 👨‍💻

Note: Remember to replace helloworld with the actual name of your program, /a with the directory where your program is located, and /c with the directory where you want to save the file.