How to use the command "yes" (with examples)
The “yes” command is a simple utility that repeatedly outputs a specified message or the letter “y” until interrupted. It is commonly used to automatically answer “yes” to prompts by installation commands like “apt-get”. This article will provide examples of different use cases for the “yes” command.
Use case 1: Repeatedly output “message”
Code:
yes message
Motivation: This use case is helpful when you want to repeatedly output a specific message, such as for testing purposes or generating repetitive data.
Explanation: The “yes” command followed by the desired message will continuously output the message until interrupted.
Example output:
message
message
message
message
...
Use case 2: Repeatedly output “y”
Code:
yes
Motivation: This use case is useful when you need to automatically answer “yes” to prompts that require confirmation, without manual intervention.
Explanation: The “yes” command without any arguments will continuously output the letter “y” until interrupted.
Example output:
y
y
y
y
...
Use case 3: Accept everything prompted by the “apt-get” command
Code:
yes | sudo apt-get install program
Motivation: When using the “apt-get” command for package installation on Linux systems, there may be prompts to confirm the installation. This use case allows you to automatically answer “yes” to all prompts.
Explanation: The “|” (pipe) symbol is used to redirect the output of the “yes” command as input to the “apt-get install” command. The “sudo” command is used to run the installation command with administrative privileges. This combination allows all prompts to be automatically answered with “yes”.
Example output:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
...
Setting up program (version) ...
...
Conclusion:
The “yes” command is a versatile utility that can be used in various scenarios where repetitive output or automatic affirmation is required. Whether you need to continuously output a specific message, answer “yes” to prompts, or automate installation commands, the “yes” command can be a handy tool in your command-line arsenal.
