Clobbering a File

Clobbering the files will  helps in keeping the files safe from Accidental over writing. It can be too easy to mistype a filename and find that you’ve redirected output into a file that you meant to save.

To be on safer side you can set clobber for your important files using the bellow command.


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$ set -o noclobber

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If you decide you don’t want to be so careful after all, then turn the option off:

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 $ set +o noclobber
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Example:
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vinoth.sk@3wing18:~$ set -o noclobber
vinoth.sk@3wing18:~$ echo b >a
-bash: a: cannot overwrite existing file
vinoth.sk@3wing18:~$ set +o noclobber
vinoth.sk@3wing18:~$ echo b >a
vinoth.sk@3wing18:~$
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Clobbering a File on Purpose

Use >| to redirect your output. Even if noclobber is set, bash ignores its setting and overwrites the file.

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$ echo something > my.file

$ set -o noclobber

$ echo some more >| my.file

$ cat my.file

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