How can I grep recursively, but only in files with certain extensions?
I'm working on a script to grep certain directories:
{ grep -r -i CP_Image ~/path1/;
grep -r -i CP_Image ~/path2/;
grep -r -i CP_Image ~/path3/;
grep -r -i CP_Image ~/path4/;
grep -r -i CP_Image ~/path5/; }
| mailx -s GREP [email protected]
How can I limit results only to extensions .h and .cpp?
Just use the --include parameter, like this:
grep -inr --include \*.h --include \*.cpp CP_Image ~/path[12345] | mailx -s GREP [email protected]
That should do what you want.
To take the explanation from HoldOffHunger's answer below:
-
grep: command -
-r: recursively -
-i: ignore-case -
-n: each output line is preceded by its relative line number in the file -
--include \*.cpp: all *.cpp: C++ files (escape with \ just in case you have a directory with asterisks in the filenames) -
./: Start at current directory.
Some of these answers seemed too syntax-heavy, or they produced issues on my Debian Server. This worked perfectly for me:
grep -r --include=\*.txt 'searchterm' ./
...or case-insensitive version...
grep -r -i --include=\*.txt 'searchterm' ./
grep: command-r: recursively-i: ignore-case--include: all *.txt: text files (escape with \ just in case you have a directory with asterisks in the filenames)'searchterm': What to search./: Start at current directory.
Source: PHP Revolution: How to Grep files in Linux, but only certain file extensions?