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get newest file in current directory

Terminal - get newest file in current directory
find . -maxdepth 1 -printf '%A@\t%p\n' | sort -r | cut -f 2,2 | head -1
2011-05-27 11:22:47
User: dullgiulio
Functions: cut find head sort
0
Up
Down
get newest file in current directory

Uses UNIX time for sorting.

Add to favourites | Report as malicious

Alternatives

There are 2 alternatives - vote for the best!

Terminal - Alternatives
find <directory> -type f -printf "%T@\t%p\n"|sort -n|cut -f2|xargs ls -lrt
2012-03-02 12:51:06
User: rik
Functions: cut find ls sort xargs
1
Up
Down
List files in directory tree with newest last
Comments (0) | Add to favourites | Report as malicious
ls -lart
2011-05-28 15:01:39
User: shardservant
Functions: ls
-1
Up
Down
get newest file in current directory

-l for long list, -r for recursive, -a for display of hidden files, and -t for modification date

Comments (0) | Add to favourites | Report as malicious
ls -t1 | head -n1
2011-05-27 09:49:30
User: altern
Functions: head ls
-2
Up
Down
get newest file in current directory
Comments (2) | Add to favourites | Report as malicious

Know a better way?

If you can do better, submit your command here.

What others think

The original command suggested by dullgiulio considers milliseconds while comparing access times of file, unlike other suggested 'ls -t' versions - that is cool.

However, the original command only prints . (current directory) to be the latest modified file./directory (wouldn't that be the case always, I wonder!)

Anyway, I suggest slight modification:

find . -maxdepth 1 -printf '%A@\t%p\n' | sort -r | cut -f 2,2 | head -2 | tail -1

Any corrections/comments welcome.

Comment by b_t 102 weeks and 3 days ago

Ignore the correction in my last comment - instead see my

new post:

http://www.commandlinefu.com/commands/view/8567/get-newest-file-in-current-directory

Comment by b_t 102 weeks and 3 days ago

Thanks, I overlooked that! It prints . only if the newest file has just been created, vs. only modified.

Comment by dullgiulio 102 weeks and 3 days ago

Your point of view

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