ls and regexp

ygloo · 10-05-2006, 02:51 PM

i try:
ls /[a-h]* - lists all root dirs recursively!?

ls -d /[a-h]*
/bin /boot /dev /doc /etc /home

tuxdev · 10-05-2006, 02:54 PM

What do you want to do? list out every directory on your system? If so, try "find -type d /"

ygloo · 10-05-2006, 03:03 PM

i wonder why ls /[a-h]* lists directories "a" to "h" recursively

tuxdev · 10-05-2006, 03:10 PM

Is it *really* recursive, or just one level deeper than you expected? Just "ls" is actually uses does "ls ." as a default, and doing say, "ls /var" is equavalent to "cd /var; ls; cd $OLDPWD".

ntubski · 10-05-2006, 03:23 PM

It's not really ls doing the listing here though, it's bash. To see the shell wildcard expansion type
echo /[a-h]* then type Esc followed by * (holding down Alt with * should also work)

ygloo · 10-05-2006, 03:30 PM

.......................................

ygloo · 10-05-2006, 03:31 PM

yes ... it descends one level deeper into directory...
i expected to see

Code:

ls /[a-h]*
/bin
/boot 
/dev 
/doc 
/etc 
/home

Code:

 echo /[a-h]*                 
/bin /boot /dev /doc /etc /home

Alt_* :
(arg: 8) and waiting prompt

ntubski · 10-05-2006, 03:42 PM

ls will give a listing of the directory(ies) you put on the command line, or current directory if you put nothing. eg:

Code:

~% ls /usr /media                                                              
/media:
cdrom  cdrom0  floppy  floppy0  usb  usb0

/usr:
bin  games  include  lib  lib64  libexec  local  sbin  share  src  X11R6

Since type /[a-h]* is equivalent to typing /bin /boot /dev /doc /etc /home (since bash expands it before sending to ls) you get the listing of all of those directories.

Alt+* means you have to hold down shift when typing the 8 key or use the keypad

ygloo · 10-05-2006, 03:50 PM

now tux understand..

ls /[a-h]* = ls /bin /boot /home...