Recursively look for files with a specific extension

Matheus Mello
Matheus Mello
September 2, 2023
Cover Image for Recursively look for files with a specific extension

Recursive File Search: Finding Files with a Specific Extension

šŸ”šŸ’»šŸ—‚ļø

Are you looking for a way to find files with a specific extension in a directory and its subdirectories? šŸ¤”

In this blog post, we will address a common issue developers face when trying to recursively search for files with a specific extension using Bash. We will provide you with easy solutions and explanations to solve this problem effortlessly. Let's dive in! šŸŠā€ā™€ļø

The Problem

The user who brought this question was trying to find all files with the ".in" extension in a directory and its subdirectories using a Bash script. However, they encountered an error message when running the script. Let's understand why this error occurred.

The Script

Here's the script as mentioned by the user:

#!/bin/bash

directory="/home/flip/Desktop"
suffix="in"

browsefolders ()
  for i in "$1"/*;
  do
    echo "dir :$directory"
    echo "filename: $i"
    extension=`echo "$i" | cut -d'.' -f2`
    echo "Erweiterung $extension"
    if [ -f "$i" ]; then
        if [ $extension == $suffix ]; then
            echo "$i ends with $in"
        else
            echo "$i does NOT end with $in"
        fi
    elif [ -d "$i" ]; then
    browsefolders "$i"
    fi
  done
}
browsefolders "$directory"

The Error Message

When executing this script in a terminal, the user received the following error message:

[: 29: in: unexpected operator

The Explanation

The error message points towards line 29 in the script. Let's analyze the issue and determine the cause of this error. šŸ•µļøā€ā™‚ļø

Unexpected Operator

The script uses the variable $i to store each file name as it iterates through the directory and its subdirectories. On line 29, the script attempts to check if the file extension is equal to the value stored in the $suffix variable using the [...] syntax. However, instead of comparing the extension to "in," the script compares it to $in, which is an unexpected operator.

The Solution

To fix the error and achieve the desired result, we need to make a small adjustment to the script. Follow these steps:

  1. Open the script file in a text editor.

  2. Locate line 29, which contains the following code:

if [ $extension == $suffix ]; then
  1. Replace $in with $suffix to compare the correct variable with the extension:

if [ $extension == $suffix ]; then
  1. Save the changes to the script file.

Final Thoughts

Finding files with a specific extension recursively can become complex, especially when encountering unexpected errors. However, by understanding the problem, learning from the error message, and following simple solutions, you can overcome these challenges with ease. Now you're equipped to find those files you've been searching for!

We hope this blog post provided valuable insights and solutions for your file search needs. If you have any questions or faced any other issues, feel free to reach out or leave a comment. Happy searching! 😊🌟

Note: Remember to always backup your important files before making any changes to avoid unintentional data loss.


Don't forget to share this blog post with your fellow developers who might find it helpful! šŸš€āœØ

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