Pick-a-File

pick-a-file is a command-line utility written in Rust that allows users to select a random file from a specified directory based on one or more given file extensions. It supports an optional command-line switch to control output behavior.

Features

• File Selection: Choose a file from a specified directory that matches one or more given file extensions.
• Output Control: Use the --bare flag to return only the selected file's path to stdout. This is great for command substitution or integration into scripts.

Usage

cargo run [--bare] <path> <file_extension1> <file_extension2> ...

• <path>: The directory to search for files.
• <file_extension1>, <file_extension2>: The file extensions to filter files by (e.g., .txt, .jpg, .git).

Example

To run the program and select files with .txt and .jpg extensions from the documents directory:

cargo run /path/to/documents .txt .jpg

To return only the selected file's path using the --bare option:

cargo run --bare /path/to/documents .txt .jpg

Integration with Unix/Linux Terminals

This tool is particularly handy when used in conjunction with Unix(-like) terminals. It allows for seamless integration into scripts or workflows, for when you want to test another tool with a random file of a specific type.

Examples

1. Direct Invocation: You can invoke pick-a-file directly in the terminal to select a random file of a specified type from your home directory:

   pick-a-file ~ .ext

2. Command Substitution: Use command substitution to pass the selected file as an argument to another command. For example, if you want to open a random .txt file with nano:

   nano "$(pick-a-file --bare ~/documents .txt)"

Or, if you prefer the backtick syntax:

nano "`pick-a-file --bare ~/documents .txt`"

Note that double quotes will make sure paths with spaces are handled correctly.

3. Scripting: Incorporate pick-a-file into shell scripts for automated tasks. For instance, you can create a script that processes a random image file:

   #!/bin/bash
   image="$(pick-a-file --bare ~/images .jpg)"
   display "$image"  # Assuming you have a command to display images

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/pick-a-file.git

2. Navigate to the project directory:

   cd pick-a-file

3. Build the project:

   cargo build