Must copy and rename file

Hi all i was asked to find the terminal command that will make a copy of a file lets call it program3.cpp and give to the copy the name homework6.cpp. After that you will have two files with different names, but identical contents.

I know how to copy the file but i cant figure out how to create a second identical file with a different name. All help is appreciated. Thanks!

2 Answers

Copy and rename in the same time (also change filename, not only path):

cp program3.cpp homework6.cpp

Rename only:

mv program3.cpp homework6.cpp

If you want to have the files permanently linked use the ln command instead of cp

ln program3.cpp homework6.cpp

This puts a file descriptor (hard link) under the name homework6.cpp to the same file location as program3.cpp