• @gaterush
    link
    98 months ago

    The other command could just be printf '' >> file to not overwrite it. Or even simpler >>file and then interrupt

      • @[email protected]
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        fedilink
        68 months ago

        .“:>>” is “append null” right? Do you get a file with a single ASCII NUL or is it truly empty?

        • Trailblazing Braille Taser
          link
          fedilink
          148 months ago

          Not really. I believe : is the “true” builtin. So it’s like running a program that exits with zero and writes nothing to stdout. The >> streams the empty stdout into the named file.

      • @gaterush
        link
        38 months ago

        that’s awesome, did not know about that handy operator!

        • @[email protected]
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          fedilink
          38 months ago

          Yeah!

          it’s basically a noop, I use it as a placeholder when I’m writing a script, since bash doesn’t accept code blocks with no commands