Unix and Linux systems will likely have the
file command
to help you identify the type of the command. A C program,
FileType, is also available to aid with that task.
The developer, Paul L. Daniels, lists the following reasons why you might
want to use FileType instead of the file command:
- file does not work so well for loosely defined filetypes ( ie, vCards )
- file uses a text-based type database which can impose unwanted delays in frequently invoked processes
- file does not have a heirachial type tree (ie, executable->MSDOS->EXE )
- file is not designed to be incorporated at a source level into existing projects
- Simpler and broader type detection engine ( 'file' is very good at pulling out every detail about a file, ie, the resolution of an image, however we do not wish to seek out such fine details )
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