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Shell variable ~-
·
John Cook
·
March 1, 2026, 6:38 p.m.
Computing
Bash
shell-scripting
command line
Productivity Tips
Summary
The post discusses a lesser-known shortcut in bash, specifically the use of the ~- variable, which functions as a shortcut for the $OLDPWD variable, allowing users to easily return to their previous working directory.
Read full post on www.johndcook.com →
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