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Make File Executable

2 min read

Tldr

Step-by-step guide to making a file executable in Linux, including setting permissions, verifying execution rights, and troubleshooting common issues.

🔗 Quick links

🔧 Manual

1️⃣ Check File Permissions

First, verify the current permissions of the file using:

ls -l filename.sh

Note

If the file lacks executable permissions, you will need to modify them in the next step.

2️⃣ Grant Execute Permissions

Use the chmod command to make the file executable:

chmod +x filename.sh

For a more restrictive approach (only for the owner):

chmod u+x filename.sh

3️⃣ Verify Permissions

Check if the execute flag (x) is set:

ls -l filename.sh

Expected output should resemble:

-rwxr-xr-x 1 user user 1234 Feb 12 12:34 filename.sh

4️⃣ Run the Executable File

Execute the file using:

./filename.sh

Note

If the file is not in a directory listed in $PATH, you need to use ./ before the filename.

5️⃣ Move to a System Path (Optional)

If you want to run the script from anywhere, move it to a system directory:

sudo mv filename.sh /usr/local/bin/

Now, you can run it simply with:

filename.sh

6️⃣ Troubleshooting Execution Issues

If execution is blocked, try the following:

  • Remove macOS quarantine flag (if applicable): 
    xattr -d com.apple.quarantine filename.sh
  • Ensure the file is on an executable file system: 
    mount | grep noexec
  • Run with the appropriate shell manually: 
    bash filename.sh

Summary

By following these steps, you can ensure your script is executable and accessible as needed. For further details, refer to the Linux File Permissions Documentation.

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