Why is a duplicate file sometimes created after editing a file?

Question

I use gedit to modify/create files in my system, and sometimes I see that after editing, a duplicate file is created by the name of samename~

Just that ~ is extra. Why does this happen? Is there any significance of this file or is it okay if I delete it (I usually do)?

It's not _sometimes_... It's either _always_ or _never_, based on your settings (_Preferences > File Saving > Create a backup copy of files before saving_) — don_crissti, Nov 17 '17 at 13:34

score 7 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 17 '17 at 11:55

7

Some editors backs up the original file with a suffix, usually ~ but sometimes .bak, when saving the new file.

Vim, for example, does this if the backup option is enabled. With Vim, you may also modify the suffix used for the backup files:

set backup
set backupext=.bak

See also :help backup in Vim.

Refer to the documentation for your particular text editor.

answered Nov 17 '17 at 11:55

Kusalananda

2

Old school local machine version control. And it has saved me several times over the decades – ivanivan Nov 17 '17 at 13:10

1 Answers1