How to use the command dot_clean (with examples)

This article will provide several use cases for the dot_clean command, which is used to merge .DS_Store and ._* files with their corresponding native files on macOS.

Use case 1: Merge all ._* files recursively

Code:

dot_clean path/to/directory

Motivation: When transferring files between macOS and other operating systems, such as Windows or Linux, hidden files starting with ._ may be created. These files can be annoying and clutter the file system. By using the dot_clean command with the directory path, all ._* files will be merged with their corresponding native files.

Explanation: The path/to/directory argument specifies the directory where the command should be executed. The dot_clean command will recursively search for all ._* files within the directory and merge them with the native files.

Example output:

Merging: path/to/directory/file._name
Merged: path/to/directory/file_name

Use case 2: Don’t recursively merge all ._* in a directory (flat merge)

Code:

dot_clean -f path/to/directory

Motivation: Sometimes, it’s desired to only merge the ._* files in the specified directory without descending into subdirectories. This is useful when dealing with a directory containing many subdirectories and you want to avoid long-running operations.

Explanation: The -f argument tells the dot_clean command to perform a flat merge, only merging the ._* files present in the specified directory, without recursively traversing subdirectories.

Example output:

Merging: path/to/directory/file._name
Merged: path/to/directory/file_name

Use case 3: Merge and delete all ._* files

Code:

dot_clean -m path/to/directory

Motivation: In addition to merging ._* files with their corresponding native files, it may be desired to also delete the ._* files afterwards to clean up the directory.

Explanation: The -m argument instructs the dot_clean command to merge all ._* files with their corresponding native files and then delete the ._* files.

Example output:

Merging: path/to/directory/file._name
Merged: path/to/directory/file_name
Deleting: path/to/directory/file._name

Use case 4: Only delete ._* files if there’s a matching native file

Code:

dot_clean -n path/to/directory

Motivation: When cleaning up a directory, it may be desirable to only delete the ._* files if there is a matching native file. This can prevent accidentally deleting needed files if there are ._* files without corresponding native files.

Explanation: The -n argument ensures that the dot_clean command only deletes ._* files if there is a matching native file present.

Example output:

Deleting: path/to/directory/file._name

Use case 5: Follow symlinks

Code:

dot_clean -s path/to/directory

Motivation: If the specified directory contains symbolic links, it may be desired to follow those links and perform the merge operation on the linked files or directories.

Explanation: The -s argument tells the dot_clean command to follow symlinks and perform the merge operation on the files or directories pointed to by the symlinks.

Example output:

Merging: path/to/directory_symlink/file._name
Merged: path/to/directory_symlink/file_name

Use case 6: Print verbose output

Code:

dot_clean -v path/to/directory

Motivation: Verbose output can be helpful for understanding which files are being merged and deleted, especially when dealing with large directories or multiple operations.

Explanation: The -v argument enables verbose output, which provides detailed information about the files being processed, merged, and deleted.

Example output:

Processing: path/to/directory/file._name
Merging: path/to/directory/file._name
Merged: path/to/directory/file_name

Conclusion:

The dot_clean command on macOS is a useful tool for merging .DS_Store and ._* files with their corresponding native files. It provides various options for fine-tuning the merging and deletion behavior, allowing users to tailor the command to their specific needs. By familiarizing yourself with the different use cases presented in this article, you will be equipped to effectively utilize the dot_clean command in your macOS workflow.