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ctags:tldr:a8eae

ctags: Generate tags for all files in the current directory, and output them to a specific file, overwriting the file if it exists.
$ ctags -f ${filename} *
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The command ctags is a program used for generating an index file of source code definitions. It is commonly used for navigating code files in various programming languages.

Here's how the command ctags -f ${filename} * works:

  • ctags: The main command to run the ctags program.
  • -f ${filename}: This option specifies the output file name for the generated index. ${filename} is a placeholder for the actual desired file name. You need to replace it with the desired name when running the command. The file will typically have an extension like .tags.
  • *: This is a wildcard character that represents all the files in the current directory. It tells ctags to generate the index for all the source code files it finds in the current directory.

Combining these elements, the command will execute ctags to generate an index file with the specified name (${filename}) for all the source code files in the current directory. The resulting index file will contain information about definitions (functions, classes, variables, etc.) found in the source code, enabling easy navigation and reference within the codebase.

This explanation was created by an AI. In most cases those are correct. But please always be careful and never run a command you are not sure if it is safe.
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