Linux Find Binary File

Question

I am attempting to find a binary file in a Linux system using something like this:

if [ -f `which $1` ] then
    echo "File Found"
else
    echo "File not Found"
fi

while the code works fine the problem is "which" will return a null operator which BASH interprets as something existing so a file always comes back found. Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks

Community · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-20 09:12:55Z

6

Update

After a bit more thought, there is no reason to use [[ ]] (or [ ] for that matter). There is even no reason to use command substitution either $()

if which "$1" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
  echo "found"
else
  echo "not found"
fi

If you're using bash then please use the [[ ]] construct. One of the benefits (among many) is that it doesn't have this problem

[[ -f $(which $1) ]] && echo found

Also, `` is deprecated, use $() instead

edited Jun 20, 2020 at 9:12

CommunityBot

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answered Jan 26, 2012 at 5:31

SiegeX

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2 Comments

synthesizerpatel Over a year ago

What are you rich? We don't just have square brackets to give away with these economic times.. (which "/bin/ls") .. silent on failure, prints the path on success.

SiegeX Over a year ago

@synthesizerpatel I think you meant hash "/bin/ls". But you're right, the new answer is sans two parens and four braces. Now everybody can afford to run it!

Borealid · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-26 05:28:05Z

3

if [ `which "$1"` != "" ]; then

which won't return "" when it finds the binary.

answered Jan 26, 2012 at 5:28

Borealid

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Comments

synthesizerpatel · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-09 05:56:43Z

1

I like 'hash' for this (if you're a bash user..) (and it's actually more portable behavior than which)

hash blahblah

bash: hash: lklkj: not found

hash /bin/ls <-- silently successful

This method works on Linux and OSX similarly, where-as 'which' has different behavior.

edited Jul 9, 2015 at 5:56

answered Jan 26, 2012 at 5:31

synthesizerpatel

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