find : how to search executable files ?

[bcostacurta]

Hello,

I'm trying to search executable files (from current and sub-directories included) using find.
What is the correct syntax ?
Or other preferred tools for a such research ?

Thanks for help.
Bruno

[kewlharsh]

Hope this helps -
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...ble-files.html

ofcourse u will need to change the code a little bit, to make the search exclusive for the directory or sub directory want to check.

[matonb]

You'll want to use find with -perm

man is your friend

[Cabhan]

find is indeed the correct program for this. However, you will run into an issue here.

When you say "executable", what exactly do you mean? Do you mean executable for you? Or executable for anyone? Remember, a file can have its executable permission set for any combination of the owner, controlling group, or others.

As a result, you'll have to play with the "-perm" flag to make sure that it's checking for _any_ of the permissions, not the exact permission.

[vickey_20]

use the find command with the -perm tag as pointed by others. If you want to search the current dir then put the path in the find commmand as the same.

[Rubberman]

I'm trying to search executable files (from current and sub-directories included) using find.
What is the correct syntax ?
Or other preferred tools for a such research ?

Are you just searching for executable files, or for data inside executable files? The code to do the latter is VERY much different than the former, though they will have some similarities in the syntax used with the find command.

[bcostacurta]

Precisely, I'm looking for a way to search executable files only.

[Rubberman]

Precisely, I'm looking for a way to search executable files only.

Assuming you want to find particular strings inside of executables, then use the find command with the -perm option (read the find man page) and -exec option in conjunction with the strings command piped to grep -l to end up with a list of executable that contain the specific strings you are interested. I leave the exact syntax up to you as a learning exercise. Read the docs and man pages for details how to do this.

[bcostacurta]

(note: as described I'm not looking for a specific string inside executables).

Indeed usage of 'find' with parameter -exec + needed options allows the research of only executables files.
Thanks for attention.

Bruno