---
name: "shtool-mkshadow"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "shtool"
version: "2.0.8-10"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/shtool-mkshadow"
---

# shtool-mkshadow(1)

GNU shtool create shadow tree using symlinks

## NAME

shtool-mkshadow - GNU shtool create shadow tree using symlinks

## SYNOPSIS

**shtool mkshadow** \[**-v**\|**--verbose**\] \[**-t**\|**--trace**\] \[**-a**\|**--all**\] *src-dir* *dst-dir*

## DESCRIPTION

This command creates a shadow tree of *src-dir* under *dst-dir* by recreating the directory hierarchy of *src-dir* under *dst-dir* and by creating the files of *src-dir* by linking them into the corresponding directories under *dst-dir* via symbolic links. When *src-dir* can be reached via relative paths from *dst-dir*, relative symbolic links are used, too. This high-level functionality is originally designed for developers to create copies of source trees.

## OPTIONS

The following command line options are available.

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  Display some processing information.

- **-t**, **--trace**

  Enable the output of the essential shell commands which are executed.

- **-a**, **--all**

  Really shadow all files and directories in *src-dir*. Default is to skip CVS related files and directories, backup files, object files, etc.

## EXAMPLE

```
 #   shell script
 shtool mkshadow -v -a . /tmp/shadow
```

## HISTORY

The **GNU shtool** **mkshadow** command was originally written by Ralf S. Engelschall \<rse@engelschall.com\> in 1998 for **Apache**. It was later revised and taken over into **GNU shtool**.

## SEE ALSO

[**shtool**(1)](/shtool/1.md), [**ln**(1)](/ln/1.md).