readlink.sh

#!/bin/sh
# used for MacOS, because readlink -f does not work here.
# see http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1055671/how-can-i-get-the-behavior-of-gnus-readlink-f-on-a-mac

TARGET_FILE=$1

cd `dirname $TARGET_FILE`
TARGET_FILE=`basename $TARGET_FILE`

# Iterate down a (possible) chain of symlinks
while [ -L "$TARGET_FILE" ]
do
    TARGET_FILE=`readlink $TARGET_FILE`
    cd `dirname $TARGET_FILE`
    TARGET_FILE=`basename $TARGET_FILE`
done

# Compute the canonicalized name by finding the physical path
# for the directory we're in and appending the target file.
PHYS_DIR=`pwd -P`
RESULT=$PHYS_DIR/$TARGET_FILE
echo $RESULT