Module 3 - System Access and File System

find vs locate

find iterates over the entire filesystem or the path that is given, while locate uses a prebuilt database that is updated using updatedb.

locate is much faster thanks to its database, but does not find new files until the database is updated. Meanwhile, find scans in realtime so it will find new files easily.

Wildcards

Can be used as a substitute for characters in a command or search.

Types

* - represents zero or more characters ? - represents a single character [] - represents a range of characters

  • inode - Pointer or number of a file on the drive.
  • You cannot create soft or hard links within the same directory with the same name.
  • Link will be removed if the linked file is removed or renamed.
  • Link will have different inode from linked file.
ln -s /home/user/file.txt /home/user/my-dir/soft-link
  • Removing or renaming the linked file will not affect the hardlink.
  • Link will point to file inode, i.e. will have the same inode.
  • Hard links only work within the same partition.
ln /home/user/file.txt /home/user/my-dir/hard-link
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