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I have a filename @! in my home folder. When I open it, it has the same content that my other bash file myscript.sh has.

I have not assign execute permission to original bash file. When I have checked properties, the only difference between two file is size. Original file size is 1.1 KB and @! file size is 714 bytes. How is it automatically created?

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  • Does it get recreated if you delete, rename or move it?
    – Videonauth
    May 24, 2018 at 10:58
  • @Videonauth I've not done task of either delete, rename or remove.
    – d a i s y
    May 24, 2018 at 10:59
  • 4
    Which other bash file? Have you checked your command history for @!?
    – muru
    May 24, 2018 at 11:00
  • 3
    Could it be the side-result of some buggy bash code you ran?
    – M. Becerra
    May 24, 2018 at 11:01
  • 1
    @muru other bash file means? Like which command for @! ? any file creation?
    – d a i s y
    May 24, 2018 at 11:01

1 Answer 1

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If you use Vim, this could be because you typed :w@! instead of :wq!. On the US layout, @ is on 2, directly above QW, and right next to ! on 1. Easy to mistype.

You can verify this by running Vim again, and examining the command history by either scrolling up using the up arrow key in command mode, or typing q: in normal mode.

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  • 20
    Well, I do have a bunch of files named cat lying here and there because I typed :'<,'>w! cat instead of :'<,'>w !cat.
    – muru
    May 24, 2018 at 11:17
  • 2
    I've again checked the content of both file again. Size difference is because the original file content is bit modified after mistakenly created @! file. So indeed this should be accepted answer.
    – d a i s y
    May 25, 2018 at 3:20
  • 1
    @muru you should erase your identity and go work as a secret detective. Wow... May 26, 2018 at 5:38
  • 1
    @NickT : Maybe because people are often just taught that "q!" means quit without asking questions, and inserting a w before that will write. (Technically you should ask such a question as a separate question, but I figured that might be downvoted/closed as a not-researched-well-enough question.)
    – TOOGAM
    May 26, 2018 at 20:14
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    and here is my command line history : :wq, :wq@!, :.!:q!,:w@!, :wq!, :q!
    – d a i s y
    May 28, 2018 at 4:57

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