bash - alias for cp with arguments

How do I modify bashrc to include a readme file with the pwd to original source every time I use cp or mv?

It should be something like this:

alias cp="pwd $1 > readme & cp $1 $2"

or

alias cp="pwd $1 > readme | cp $1 $2"

But instead of the path of the source, it gives me the path of the directory I am in.

Answer

You can't have aliases with arguments. Since you probably don't have $1 defined, pwd $1 just expands to pwd.

Also, pwd doesn't actualy take any positional arguments. If you want the source to appear in readme, use echo.

Create a function

cp() {
    echo $1 > readme
    /bin/cp $1 $2

}

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Also,

• & does not mean AND – it sends processing to background


• | does not mean OR – it pipes output of left side to input of right side