Question 1

How to install slugify on Ubuntu or Linux?

Accepted Answer

Since slugify is a Bash script, you can clone the GitHub repository and copy the script to a directory in your PATH, like /usr/local/bin, then make it executable with chmod +x. Alternatively, check if it's available in package managers for easier installation.

Question 2

What's the difference between slugify and the Linux rename command?

Accepted Answer

Slugify is specialized for creating web-friendly slugs by converting spaces and special characters to underscores or dashes, with safe dry-run mode. The rename command is more general, supporting Perl regex for complex patterns, but slugify offers simpler, focused syntax for slug transformations.

Question 3

How to rename all files in a folder to use dashes instead of spaces with slugify?

Accepted Answer

Use the command 'slugify -d *' in the target directory to replace spaces with dashes. For better control, combine with -c to consolidate spaces, e.g., 'slugify -dc *', and use dry-run first to preview changes.

Question 4

Does slugify work with files that have emojis or non-English characters?

Accepted Answer

The README does not mention support for Unicode or non-ASCII characters. Slugify likely handles basic special characters, but for emojis or accents, it may not normalize them properly, requiring additional tools or preprocessing.

Question 5

Can I use slugify in a shell script to automate file cleanup?

Accepted Answer

Yes, slugify is scriptable and integrates well into Bash scripts. Use flags like -n for dry-run testing and -v for verbose output, then apply changes in batch mode, making it suitable for automated workflows like sanitizing uploaded files.

Question 6

Is there a way to undo renames if I make a mistake with slugify?

Accepted Answer

No, slugify does not have an undo feature. Always use dry-run mode (-n) to preview changes. For recovery, you must manually rename files back or rely on backups, as there's no built-in reversal mechanism.

Question 7

How to use slugify's dry run mode to test filename changes safely?

Accepted Answer

Add the -n flag to any slugify command, e.g., 'slugify -n *.txt'. This outputs planned renames without altering files, and it automatically enables verbose mode for clear feedback, as shown in the README examples.

slugify

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