🐮 COWcase.sh & JUSTcase.sh

Overview

COWcase.sh and JUSTcase.sh standardize file and directory naming by batch converting the first character case. COWcase provides rich visual feedback and logging; JUSTcase is a lean alternative for speed and scripting integration.

Key Features

• Case Conversion Modes: Lowercase by default; uppercase with −u flag
• Selective Processing: Process directories only (−d), files only (−f), or both
• Custom Path Targeting: Specify target directory with −p flag (defaults to current directory)
• Safe Renaming: Only renames items when new name differs from original
• Visual Feedback: Cowsay/lolcat messages when available (graceful fallback)
• Comprehensive Logging: Detailed output of all rename operations
• Error Handling: Robust recovery with clear error messages

Installation & Setup

# No dependencies required (optional cowsay/lolcat for COWcase.sh visual feedback)
cd BASHparaphernalia/scripts/COWcase
chmod +x COWcase.sh JUSTcase.sh

# View help
./COWcase.sh -h
        

Command-Line Options

COWcase.sh [OPTIONS]

OPTIONS:
-u Convert to UPPERCASE (default: lowercase)
-d Process directories only
-f Process files only
-r Enable recursive processing (all subdirectories)
-n Dry-run mode (preview without applying)
-p PATH Specify target directory (default: current directory)

EXAMPLES:
./COWcase.sh # Lowercase directories in current
./COWcase.sh -f # Lowercase files only
./COWcase.sh -f -u # Uppercase files only
./COWcase.sh -r # Recursive: lowercase all dirs
./COWcase.sh -f -r -n # Preview recursive file rename (dry-run)
./COWcase.sh -d -u -p ~/Documents # Uppercase dirs in ~/Documents

Practical Examples

Standardize Directory Names to Lowercase

# Convert all directories in current folder to lowercase
./COWcase.sh -d

# Before: MyPhotos, OldBackups, WebContent
# After: myPhotos, oldBackups, webContent
      

Uppercase All Files Recursively (Preview First)

# Dry-run preview of recursive file rename
./COWcase.sh -f -u -r -n

# Then apply the changes:
./COWcase.sh -f -u -r
      

Mixed Processing in Nested Directories

# Convert all files and directories recursively to lowercase
./COWcase.sh -r -p ~/my_project

# Before: README.md, SrcCode/, HelpDocs/, config.json
# After: rEADME.md, srcCode, helpDocs, config.json
      

Note: Only the first character is converted; the rest remains unchanged.

How It Works

COWcase.sh iterates through files/directories in the specified path and:

1. Extracts the first character of the filename using Bash parameter expansion
2. Converts it to uppercase (${var^}) or lowercase (${var,})
3. Reconstructs the name with the converted character
4. Renames only if the new name differs from the original
5. In recursive mode, processes directories deepest-first to avoid path conflicts
6. Logs each operation for auditing (COWcase.sh only)

Dependencies

• Required: Bash 4.0+, mv command
• Optional (COWcase.sh): cowsay, lolcat (for visual feedback)
• Optional (JUSTcase.sh): None

COWcase.sh works without cowsay/lolcat but will gracefully skip visual messages if they're unavailable. JUSTcase.sh has zero external dependencies.

Troubleshooting

• Permission denied: Make scripts executable with chmod +x COWcase.sh JUSTcase.sh
• Command not found: Use full path to script or ensure it's in your PATH
• No renaming occurs: Check target directory exists; verify files match mode (-f or -d)
• Rename fails: Check file permissions; ensure you have write access to the directory
• Special characters in names: Scripts handle most special characters safely
• Recursive mode slow: JUSTcase.sh is faster for large trees (no logging overhead)
• Very long filenames: Script works with standard Unix filename limits

Safety Notes

• Non-destructive: Only changes the first character; preserves file extensions and rest of name
• Skip identical names: Won't rename if new name would be identical to original
• Error reporting: Clear messages for failures; continues on individual errors
• Logging: All operations logged for auditing and recovery

Use Cases

• Project standardization: Enforce consistent naming conventions across teams
• Bulk cleanup: Quickly normalize naming in large directories
• Automation: Include in deployment scripts to standardize file structures
• Media organization: Standardize photo/video folder names
• Documentation: Enforce consistent documentation directory naming