Whenever you touch the file, you also touch the directory. And since the file depends on the directory, the file consequently appears to be out of date, forcing it to be rebuilt. However, you can easily break this loop by telling make to ignore the timestamp of the directory. This is done by declaring the directory as an order-only prerequsite:

Do note that you have to use a full path for this syntax. I wound up having to use ln "$(pwd)/relative_path" xxx in order to get an absolute link for xxx using a relative path.

May 20, 2014 · Trying mkdir() directly instead of doing a stat() first is faster, as it saves one system call, if the directory is created. If the directory does already exit, then the successful stat() will still be slower than the unsuccessful mkdir(), as stat() has to do more work to complete. –

As an aside, when you only need to create a single directory in an existing hierarchy, rsync can do it in one operation. I'm quite a fan of rsync as a much more versatile cp replacement, in fact: rsync -a myfile /foo/bar/ # works if /foo exists but /foo/bar doesn't. bar is created.

Aug 1, 2013 · Directory can be nested multiple times. Like I may want to create B/C/D and then "myfile.txt" inside that. I do not also want to repeat the directory part. Following command will create directory at any level. mkdir -p B/C/D and . mkdir -p B/C/D && touch B/C/D/myfile.txt will create the directory and the file.

Oct 29, 2012 · I want to make all files (and directories) under a certain directory world readable without having to chmod each file on its own. it would be great if there is an option to also do this recursively (look under folders and chmod 666 all files under it)

Apr 26, 2011 · mkdir -p -m is broken, since the mode is only applied to the last directory in the path you type. For example, mkdir -p -m 707 one/two/three. Even if all three directories are newly created, only the last one will have the requested permissions, and the others, default. install -d -m is broken the same way.

Sep 12, 2020 · You raise a valid point thought:: the logic is a bit contradictory, as when this command fails, it can mean two things: 1.) the directory exists or 2.) the directory could not be created. This is not true for the operation itself, therefore a simple post-check on the directory path can give the confirmation, or the next command that operates on.

Dec 13, 2017 · PS it should be a function, not a script (if it was a script, the cd would affect only the [sub-] shell running the script, not the interactive parent shell); it is impossible to make a single command or executable (not a shell function) which would change the directory of the invoking interactive parent shell (because each process has its own ...

Jul 31, 2013 · @bashboy, probably because you have no directory with that name. ~/some/path was an example, you should substitute the actual path you want to use. I'll change it to use your example directory so it's clearer. As to how to unassign an alias, you use the unalias command. I've also updated the answer with a transcript, including the use of that ...