Exercise 8: Moving Around (pushd, popd)
In this exercise you learn how to save your current location and go to a new location with pushd. You then learn how to return to the saved location with popd.
Do This
Linux/macOS
$ cd temp
$ mkdir -p i/like/icecream
$ pushd i/like/icecream
~/temp/i/like/icecream ~/temp
$ popd
~/temp
$ pwd
~/temp
$ pushd i/like
~/temp/i/like ~/temp
$ pwd
~/temp/i/like
$ pushd icecream
~/temp/i/like/icecream ~/temp/i/like ~/temp
$ pwd
~/temp/i/like/icecream
$ popd
~/temp/i/like ~/temp
$ pwd
~/temp/i/like
$ popd
~/temp
$ pushd i/like/icecream
~/temp/i/like/icecream ~/temp
$ pushd
~/temp ~/temp/i/like/icecream
$ pwd
~/temp
$ pushd
~/temp/i/like/icecream ~/temp
$ pwd
~/temp/i/like/icecream
$
Windows
> cd temp
> mkdir i/like/icecream
Directory: C:\Users\zed\temp\i\like
Mode LastWriteTime Length Name
---- ------------- ------ ----
d---- 12/20/2011 11:05 AM icecream
> pushd i/like/icecream
> popd
> pwd
Path
----
C:\Users\zed\temp
> pushd i/like
> pwd
Path
----
C:\Users\zed\temp\i\like
> pushd icecream
> pwd
Path
----
C:\Users\zed\temp\i\like\icecream
> popd
> pwd
Path
----
C:\Users\zed\temp\i\like
> popd
>
Note
In Windows you normally don't need the -p option like you do in Linux. However, I believe this is a more recent development, so you may run into older Windows PowerShell that do require the -p. If you have more information on this please email me at help@learncodethehardway.org, so I can sort out whether to mention -p for Windows or not.
You Learned This
You're getting into programmer territory with these commands, but they're so handy I have to teach them to you. These commands let you temporarily go to a different directory and then come back, easily switching between the two.
The pushd command takes your current directory and "pushes" it into a list for later, then it changes to another directory. It's like saying, "Save where I am, then go here."
The popd command takes the last directory you pushed and "pops" it off, taking you back there.
Finally, on Unix pushd, if you run it by itself with no arguments, it will switch between your current directory and the last one you pushed. It's an easy way to switch between two directories. This does not work in PowerShell.
Do More
- Use these commands to move around directories all over your computer.
- Remove the i/like/icecream directories and make your own, then move around in them.
- Explain to yourself the output that pushd and popd will print out for you. Notice how it works like a stack?
- You already know this, but remember that mkdir -p (on Linux/macOS) will make an entire path even if all the directories don't exist. That's what I did very first for this exercise.
- Remember that Windows will make a full path and does not need the -p.