Using pathchk Command (with examples)
The pathchk command is a handy utility for checking the validity and portability of one or more pathnames. It is useful when working with file and directory pathnames and can help ensure that the paths are valid and compatible with different systems.
Check pathnames for validity in the current system
The command pathchk path1 path2 … is used to check the validity of pathnames in the current system. It verifies if the given paths are correctly formatted and valid in the current environment.
Code:
pathchk path1 path2 …
Motivation:
This command is useful when you want to quickly verify if the pathnames used in your script or program are valid in the current system. It helps in avoiding errors and prevents potential issues that may arise due to incorrect pathnames.
Explanation:
path1 path2 …: The pathnames that you want to check for validity.
Example Output:
Let’s assume we have two pathnames ~/documents/file.txt and mydir/subdir. We can use the following command to check their validity:
pathchk ~/documents/file.txt mydir/subdir
If both pathnames are valid in the current system, the output will be empty. If any of the pathnames are invalid, an error message will be displayed specifying the issue with the pathname.
Check pathnames for validity on a wider range of POSIX compliant systems
The command pathchk -p path1 path2 … is used to check the validity of pathnames on a wider range of POSIX compliant systems. It ensures that the given paths are not only valid in the current system but also compatible with POSIX compliance.
Code:
pathchk -p path1 path2 …
Motivation:
When developing software or scripts that need to be portable across different POSIX compliant systems, it is essential to ensure that the pathnames used are valid and compatible in a wider range of environments. Using this option can help detect any issues in advance and ensure better compatibility.
Explanation:
-p: A flag that specifies checking for validity in a wider range of POSIX compliant systems.path1 path2 …: The pathnames that you want to check for validity.
Example Output:
Let’s assume we have two pathnames ~/documents/file.txt and mydir/subdir. We can use the following command to check their validity on a wider range of POSIX compliant systems:
pathchk -p ~/documents/file.txt mydir/subdir
If both pathnames are valid in the current system and also compatible with POSIX compliance, the output will be empty. If any of the pathnames are invalid or not portable, an error message will be displayed specifying the issue with the pathname.
Check pathnames for validity on all POSIX compliant systems
The command pathchk --portability path1 path2 … is used to check the validity of pathnames on all POSIX compliant systems. It ensures that the given paths are valid and compatible in all POSIX compliant environments.
Code:
pathchk --portability path1 path2 …
Motivation:
When developing software or scripts that need to be highly portable and compatible across all POSIX compliant systems, it is crucial to ensure that the pathnames used are valid and portable in all environments. Using this option provides a stricter validation to ensure better compatibility.
Explanation:
--portability: A flag that specifies checking for validity in all POSIX compliant systems.path1 path2 …: The pathnames that you want to check for validity.
Example Output:
Let’s assume we have two pathnames ~/documents/file.txt and mydir/subdir. We can use the following command to check their validity on all POSIX compliant systems:
pathchk --portability ~/documents/file.txt mydir/subdir
If both pathnames are valid and portable in all POSIX compliant systems, the output will be empty. If any of the pathnames are invalid or not portable, an error message will be displayed specifying the issue with the pathname.
Only check for empty pathnames or leading dashes (-)
The command pathchk -P path1 path2 … is used to check for empty pathnames or leading dashes (-) in the given pathnames. It ensures that the pathnames do not have any empty values or illegal leading dashes.
Code:
pathchk -P path1 path2 …
Motivation:
Sometimes, it is essential to validate pathnames for specific conditions, such as checking for empty pathnames or leading dashes. This option allows you to focus on these specific validations and ensures the given pathnames adhere to the desired format.
Explanation:
-P: A flag that specifies checking for empty pathnames or leading dashes.path1 path2 …: The pathnames that you want to check for the specified conditions.
Example Output:
Let’s assume we have two pathnames ~/documents/file.txt and -mydir/subdir. We can use the following command to check for empty pathnames or leading dashes:
pathchk -P ~/documents/file.txt -mydir/subdir
If all pathnames are valid and do not have any empty values or leading dashes, the output will be empty. If any of the pathnames have issues, an error message will be displayed specifying the problem with the pathname. For example, if the second pathname is -mydir/subdir, an error message will be displayed indicating that it has a leading dash.
Conclusion
The pathchk command provides a convenient way to check the validity and portability of pathnames. By understanding and utilizing its different options, you can ensure that your pathnames are valid, portable, and compatible across different systems.
