Is there any shortcut to reference the path of the first argument in a MV command?

Question

I often find myself using mv to rename a file. E.g.

mv app/models/keywords_builder.rb app/models/keywords_generator.rb

Doing so I need to w

Answer 1

or cd apps/models && mv keywords_builder.rb keywords_generator.rb && cd -

Answer 2

And another way: brace expansion.

mv app/models/keywords_{builder,generator}.rb

In general,

before{FIRST,SECOND}after

expands to

beforeFIRSTafter beforeSECONDafter

So it's also useful for other renames, e.g.

mv somefile{,.bak}

expands to

mv somefile somefile.bak

It works in bash and zsh.

More examples:

• Eric Bergen > Bash Brace Expansion
• Bash Brace Expansion | Linux Journal

Answer 3

You can use history expansion like this:

mv app/modules/keywords_builder.rb !#^:h/keywords_generator.rb

1. ! introduces history expansion.
2. # refers to the command currently being typed
3. ^ means the first argument
4. :h is a modifier to get the "head", i.e. the directory without the file part

It's supported in bash and zsh.

Docs:

• bash history expansion
• zsh history expansion

Answer 4

One way is to type the first file name and a space, then press Ctrl+w to delete it. Then press Ctrl+y twice to get two copies of the file name. Then edit the second copy.

For example,

mv app/models/keywords_builder.rb <Ctrl+W><Ctrl+Y><Ctrl+Y><edit as needed>

Answer 5

Combined answers of Mikel and geekosaur with additonal use of ":p"

use brace expansion to avoid first argument repetition:

mv -iv {,old_}readme.txt # 'readme.txt' -> 'old_readme.txt'

mv -iv file{,.backup} # 'file' -> 'file.backup'

use history expansion to avoid first argument repetition:

mv -iv "system file" !#$.backup # 'system file' -> 'system file.backup'

the filename can be printed using the "p" designator for further edition:

mv -iv "file with a long name" !#$:p

then press "↑" to edit the command