How to limit depth for recursive file list?

📝 Limiting Depth for Recursive File List in Linux

🤔 Have you ever found yourself needing to get a file listing in Linux but only interested in the ownership and permissions information for the first level subdirectories? 📂

🔍 Fear not! We've got an easy solution for you. Let's dive right in! 🏊‍♂️

💻 The command you're currently using, ls -laR, lists all files and directories recursively, but it's not suitable in your scenario. With approximately 200 directories, each containing tens of directories, it would consume too much time and system resources. 🐢💨

🌟 Instead, let's use the find command with the -maxdepth option, which limits the depth of the search. Here's the final command you should go for:

find -maxdepth 2 -type d -ls > dirlist

👆 This will provide you with the ownership and permissions information for the first level subdirectories, without getting lost in the abyss of deep recursion. 🕳️

👉 Now, let's break down the find command and its options:

• -maxdepth 2: Specifies the maximum depth of the search. In this case, it limits the search to a depth of 2, which includes only the first level subdirectories.

• -type d: Filters the search to only include directories.

• -ls: Displays ownership, permissions, and other information for the found directories.

🚀 By utilizing find with the -maxdepth option, you can achieve your desired file listing efficiently and quickly. No more wasting time and system resources! 🎉

📚 Feel free to explore more about the find command and its various options in the Linux manual (man find) for additional flexibility and customization.

📢 Have you ever encountered a similar situation? How did you overcome it? Share your experiences and solutions with us in the comments below! Let's learn from each other and make our Linux journeys smoother together. 💪🤝

Happy file listing! 📂💫