dpkg-realpath - Linux
Overview
dpkg-realpath
resolves symbolic links or other indirections in a file path given as an argument. It is a command-line tool used primarily within the Debian package management system to resolve paths to actual files or directories.
Syntax
dpkg-realpath [options] [file ...]
Options/Flags
- –canonicalize (-C): Canonicalizes paths by removing duplicate path elements and resolving symlinks.
- –expand-symlinks (-e): Expands symlinks in paths.
- –list (-l): Lists each symlink in a path, as well as its target.
- –help (-h): Displays help information.
Examples
-
Resolve a symlink:
dpkg-realpath /path/to/symlink
-
Canonicalize a path:
dpkg-realpath --canonicalize /path/to/file
-
Expand symlinks while listing each one:
dpkg-realpath --list -e /path/to/linked/file
Common Issues
- Path not found: Ensure the path specified actually exists.
- Permission denied: Check file permissions and ensure you have read access to the specified path.
- Symbolic link loop: If a loop exists in the symbolic links,
dpkg-realpath
will continuously follow the loop.
Integration
dpkg-realpath
can be used in scripts or command chains to handle paths involving symbolic links or indirections. For example:
- Check if a file is a symbolic link:
if [ "$(dpkg-realpath /path/to/file)" != "/path/to/file" ]; then echo "File is a symlink" fi
Related Commands
readlink
: Reads the target of a symbolic link.realpath
: Similar todpkg-realpath
, but part of the GNU Coreutils package.find
: Finds files or directories based on various criteria, including symbolic links.