How to write a bash alias for `cd` that also `ls` the directories contents after?

Question

Basically, how to make this two step process:

$:/ cd Users
$:/Users ls
user1 user2 user3

A one step process:

$/ cd Users
$:/Users
user1 user2 user3

The pseudo code for the bash script could be :

after changing directories, pause the input state and take another command
command('ls')

edit Here is a great bash reference - http://cb.vu/unixtoolbox.xhtml#scripting

edit-2 http://bhami.com/rosetta.html

edit-3 What are the special dollar sign shell variables?

Possible duplicate: http://askubuntu.com/questions/16106/how-can-i-create-an-alias-for-cd-and-ls — Johnson Steward, Nov 08 '15 at 06:02
It is not very clear what your alias should do that normal `cd` doesn't. Besides, aliases are deprecated in favour of functions. — n. m. could be an AI, Nov 08 '15 at 06:57
@n.m. `cd` doesn't display the contents of the new directory. — chepner, Nov 08 '15 at 13:34
You said it should not display the contents of the new directory right away, but pause and take another command, and only then execute `ls`. It is not very clear what exactly you mean. — n. m. could be an AI, Nov 08 '15 at 13:40
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is a duplicate to http://askubuntu.com/q/16106/419557 — alk, Nov 08 '15 at 16:53

Cyrus · Accepted Answer · 2015-11-08T08:31:50.307

0

alias mycd='cd $(history 1 | sed "s/.*mycd \(.*\)/\1/") && ls #'

edited Nov 08 '15 at 08:31

answered Nov 08 '15 at 07:06

Cyrus

This doesn't work properly. For `mycd somedir`, it expands to `cd somedir && ls somedir` and complains about `somedir` not existing. Neat idea with the history manipulation, though. – Benjamin W. Nov 08 '15 at 07:18
This is the desired behavior when somedir not exists. – Cyrus Nov 08 '15 at 07:54
No, I don' think it is: if `somedir` exists, your command does `cd somedir` into it and then issue `ls somedir` instead of just `ls`. DV not from me, btw. – Benjamin W. Nov 08 '15 at 08:25
Or you can flip it around: `alias mycd='ls $(history 1 | sed "s/.*mycd $.*$/\1/") && cd\'` so you don't have unexpected behaviour by commenting out the rest of the line. – Benjamin W. Nov 08 '15 at 08:33
3

Seriously, why do you need to fiddle with aliases and history to produce some broken code, while just this is robust (and is portable)? `mycd() { cd "$@" && ls; }`. – gniourf_gniourf Nov 08 '15 at 08:50
That works! Very cool...I'll need to locate a bash reference to decode : ) – just another profile name Nov 08 '15 at 18:45

1 Answers1