Open file in default editor from bash

Question

How do I open a file my script generated with the default GUI editor with bash?

On OS X there is the command open, but as far as I know that doesn't exist on linux. What is a good cross-platform alternative?

(executing open somefile.ext on OS X does the same as if I double clicked the file in Finder).

Is xdg-open file.ext an option?

barti_ddu
– barti_ddu

2012-11-29 14:28:46 +00:00
Commented Nov 29, 2012 at 14:28 — barti_ddu
– barti_ddu, Commented Nov 29, 2012 at 14:28

Slava Semushin · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-29 14:26:17Z

16

Mostly close to this is xdg-open:

$ xdg-open somefile.ext

answered Nov 29, 2012 at 14:26

Slava Semushin

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1 Comment

Ciro Santilli OurBigBook.com Over a year ago

How to change and view associations: askubuntu.com/questions/62585/…

Antoine · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-29 14:34:41Z

5

On linux you have kde-open and gnome-open for specific desktop environments, and xdg-open is more generic but must still be run from a DE.

On windows, (obviously not bash but cmd.exe), I believe the similar command is start.

With bash a cross-platform code could be:

if which xdg-open &> /dev/null; then
    xdg-open $file       # linux
else
    open $file           # mac
fi

edited Nov 29, 2012 at 14:34

answered Nov 29, 2012 at 14:25

Antoine

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Comments

Kamber · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-29 14:43:42Z

1

On your .profile

export EDITOR='~/bin/mate -w'

and your bash use this editor

answered Nov 29, 2012 at 14:43

Kamber

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5 Comments

Antoine Over a year ago

This implies you have to edit .profile of each user, and somehow keep it synchronized with the default application defined in the desktop file-association database.

Kamber Over a year ago

You can use at Bash at any time. Is for that session.

Antoine Over a year ago

If you're writing this for yourself, sure - you could even hardcode your editor in the script. If it's for other users, I don't see how you can assert that mate is what they want. On my system your path isn't even valid.

ken Over a year ago

what does the "-w" indicate? It does have the effect I'm looking for (aka, it writes the file) but it forces a bunch of new windows to open up when using Atom which is highly distracting.

Kamber Over a year ago

In that case editor was TextMate: -w, --wait Wait for file to be closed by TextMate.

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