Move with regex

Let’s say you want to move a file between two adjacent folders. The most straightforward way would be as such:

mv ~/app/models/builder.rb ~/app/services/builder.rb

For years now, this is how I moved my files. Then I paired with a coworker who gave me a strange look when I ran this command. In ZSH there is a faster way to make this change:

mv ~/app/{models,services}/builder.rb

Using the glob {models,services} ZSH will make the exact same move with nearly half the typing! This is all made possible through the wonderful power of expansion.

There are so many more tricks available in the shell, it is well worth some time spent reading the manpages!

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