mf

Create a file or refresh its modification time, with an optional editor handoff.

FilesVersion 1.2.3Stable
lil-terminal

Overview

mf notes.txt creates an empty file. If it already exists, its contents stay intact and only its modification time is refreshed. You can also set permissions, as in mf private.txt -0600, or open the file directly in edit or code when that module is installed. Unlike md, mf requires the parent folder to exist.

Create a file ready for the next step

A simple workflow is md project, then mf project/README.txt, then edit project/README.txt. Use mf project/README.txt -edit to combine the last two actions. If the requested editor is missing, mf reports it before changing the file.

Syntax

lil-terminal
mf <file> [-MODE|-m MODE|-edit|-code]

Reference

mf <file>

create a file (or update its modification time)

mf <file> -0644

create (or touch) the file and set octal permissions

mf <file> -m 0644

set permissions in UNIX mode format (with the mode option)

mf <file> -edit @edit

create (or touch) the file and open it in the text editor

mf <file> -code @code

create (or touch) the file and open it in the Code Editor

Workflow

A simple workflow is md project, then mf project/README.txt, then edit project/README.txt. Use mf project/README.txt -edit to combine the last two actions. If the requested editor is missing, mf reports it before changing the file.

Safety

The parent directory must already exist. Directories are never replaced by files. Editor handoff is available only when the corresponding module is installed. After a normal successful change mf returns the compact flat view of the current directory.

Editor availability

If edit or code is missing, mf -edit or mf -code reports the dependency before touching the file.

Interactive sandbox preview

Run the prepared examples directly on the page. Their results are prebuilt and shown in the browser; no terminal command is executed on the server.

Create a file (or update its modification time)

Install and manage

Install the current compatible version. Choose Base for the complete feature set or Minimum for the reduced package; use upgrade to update a module that is already installed.

Base and Minimum are two packages of the same current module release, not separate command versions.

Base package

Install the complete package with local command reference and every published mode.

install mf
Minimum package

Install the reduced package. Local reference is omitted; help <cmd> -i opens the current server reference.

install mf -m
Exact public version

Install exactly this published version.

install mf -v 1.2.3
Check or update

Ask upgrade to check compatibility and replace the installed block only when needed.

upgrade mf
Remove module

Remove the extension block while leaving the core and unrelated modules intact.

install mf -u

Examples

Examples are copyable command lines, not actions executed by this website. Review paths, permissions and destructive flags before running them on a real project.

Create a file (or update its modification time)
cd \sandbox\tmp | mf notes.txt | cd
README.txt
current.txt
draft.txt
notes.txt
Create (or touch) the file and set octal permissions
mf report.txt -0644
README.txt
notes.txt
Set permissions in UNIX mode format (with the mode option)
mf private.txt -m 0600
README.txt
notes.txt
Create (or touch) the file and open it in the text editor
mf draft.txt -edit
Text editor opened
Create (or touch) the file and open it in the Code Editor
mf script.php -code
Code editor opened
Create a file (or update its modification time)
mf missing/notes.txt
Parent directory not found

File used in this example: sandbox/tmp/README.txt

The example uses a file or directory from the protected /sandbox/ documentation workspace.

lil-terminal sandbox temporary workspace

Commands in the public documentation use this directory for disposable copies,
archives, uploads and files created during examples. Review destructive commands
before running them and restore the sandbox from the release package when needed.

Related documentation

How are filesystem operations protected? →Why are large files or outputs limited? →

Current public release

v1.2.32026-10-31

Production refinement

Current stable release of mf. Create a file or refresh its modification time, with an optional editor handoff.

# Version history