write a file, append if it exists otherwise create in bash
#! /bin/bash VAR="something to put in a file" OUT=$1 if [ ! -f "$OUT" ]; then mkdir -p "`dirname \"$OUT\"`" 2>/dev/null fi echo $VAR >> $OUT # the important step here is to make sure that the folder for the file exists # and create it if it does not. It will remain silent if the folder exists.$ sh out hello/how/are/you/file.outgeee: ~/src/bash/moo$ sh out hello/how/are/you/file.outgeee: ~/src/bash/moo$ sh out another/file/lol.hmzgeee: ~/src/bash/moo$ find . ../out./another./another/file./another/file/lol.hmz./hello./hello/how./hello/how/are./hello/how/are/you./hello/how/are/you/file.outgeee: ~/src/bash/moo$ cat ./hello/how/are/you/file.outsomething to put in a filesomething to put in a filegeee: ~/src/bash/moo$ cat ./another/file/lol.hmz something to put in a filethe escaped " for dirname are needed if the folder of file has spaces in the name.