How to create a permanent alias without resourcing the .bashrc-like file?

Question

I really like bash aliases, it annoys me that every time I want to add a new alias I have type two commands:

echo "alias \"short-cmd\"='long-command'" >> ~/.bash_aliases
source ~/.bash_aliases

Any way I can create an alias permanently with a single command?

Solution

Here is my workaround, the function palias (aka permanent alias):

function palias ()  {

    if [ $# -ne "2" ] ; then
        error "Usage: palias short-alias \'long-alias\'"
        return
    fi

    alias $1="$2"
    alias $1 >> ~/.bash_aliases
}

Comments

[n.st]

You can use . instead of source and press [Alt]+[.] to insert the last argument of the previous command, so you can do the equivalent of source ~/.bash_aliases.sh in just four keystrokes without the need for any custom functions.

[RSFalcon7]

The point is do everything in a single command

[RSFalcon7]

I know that! The point is to make it permanent without resourcing any file

[derobert]

FYI: Running alias without a definition will show the current definition. You can use this to make sure the quoting works right—e.g., your current method fails if the definition contains single-quote. alias "$1" >> ~/.bash_aliases does not. I suggest switching (in both your answer and on your systems). Also, you shouldn't be using echo -e there; you want plain echo (if you don't want to switch to alias for some reason).

[RSFalcon7]

@derobert I solved some expansion problems and applied the alias trick you told me. Thanks a lot