Create copy of file in the same location

Question

I often need to create copy of files in varios locations(, and want to avoid excessive typing). (Then I will edit them)

Basically commands are like:

cp very/long/path/to/file/my-file_with-long.name very/long/path/to/file/my-file_with-long-another.name
vim very/long/path/to/file/my-file_with-long-another.name
cp even/longer/path/to/other/location/with_another-file_and-stupid.name even/longer/path/to/other/location/with_another-file_and-stupid-copy.name
vim even/longer/path/to/other/location/with_another-file_and-stupid-copy.name

I really want to avoid changing workdir with cd and typing the same path twice. Basically I can add command into bashrc like mydup, so it will create new file and return its name, so I cam use:

vim $(mydup very/long/path/to/file/my-file_with-long.name -another)
vim $(mydup even/longer/path/to/other/location/with_another-file_and-stupid.name -copy)

But maybe I invent bicycle and there is easier way to do the same?

Answer 1

cp /very/long/file/path{,.bak}

vim !$

or

cpvi() {
    name=$1
    cp "${name}" "${name}.bak"
    $EDITOR "${name}.bak"
}

cpvi /very/long/file/path

Answer 2

You can copy a file in-place, without changing directories. E.g.

cp very-long-file-name very-long-file-name.copy
vim very-long-file-name.copy

In this case, bash-completion and tab key is your friend. I do it all the time and I never write too much.