How can I create nonexistent subdirectories recursively using Bash?

Question

I am creating a quick backup script that will dump some databases into a nice/neat directory structure and I realized that I need to test to make sure that the directories exist before I create them. The code I have works, but is there a better way to do it?

[ -d "$BACKUP_DIR" ] || mkdir "$BACKUP_DIR"
[ -d "$BACKUP_DIR/$client" ] || mkdir "$BACKUP_DIR/$client"
[ -d "$BACKUP_DIR/$client/$year" ] || mkdir "$BACKUP_DIR/$client/$year"
[ -d "$BACKUP_DIR/$client/$year/$month" ] || mkdir "$BACKUP_DIR/$client/$year/$month"
[ -d "$BACKUP_DIR/$client/$year/$month/$day" ] || mkdir "$BACKUP_DIR/$client/$year/$month/$day"

Solution 1

You can use the -p parameter, which is documented as:

-p, --parents

no error if existing, make parent directories as needed

So:

mkdir -p "$BACKUP_DIR/$client/$year/$month/$day"

Solution 2

mkdir -p "$BACKUP_DIR/$client/$year/$month/$day"

Solution 3

While existing answers definitely solve the purpose, if you’re looking to replicate a nested directory structure under two different subdirectories, then you can do this:

mkdir -p {main,test}/{resources,scala/com/company}

It will create the following directory structure under the directory from where it is invoked:

├── main
│   ├── resources
│   └── scala
│       └── com
│           └── company
└── test
    ├── resources
    └── scala
        └── com
            └── company

The example was taken from this link for creating an SBT directory structure.

Comments

[Ciro Santilli OurBigBook.com]

unix.stackexchange.com/questions/49263/recursive-mkdir

[Topher Fangio]

@bmargulies - Holy crap that was way simpler than I thought =P

[Russia Must Remove Putin]

Upvoted because you're a deletionist. Oops, already did about a year ago!

[David C. Rankin]

You may want to explain what {...,...} is in bash and why what your doing makes sense. A short explanation of the brace expansion would be beneficial to other users. A "you can do this" and get "this" leaves a bit to the imagination.

[TheKitMurkit]

It doesn't work if user has no right to read one of intermittent folders

[dr jerry]

alias mkdirs=mkdir -p

[Delali]

I agree with @DavidC.Rankin. This answer is perfect IMHO, but it needs explaining what the bracket notation actually does.

[csabinho]

This will just create 8 sub-directories in newDir/.

[Saeed Neamati]

Is there a way to set permissions recursively too?