What does if [-f file]; mean?

Question

I have an if statement in a bash file:

if [ -f bin/post_compile ]; then
    echo "-----> Running post-compile hook"
    chmod +x bin/post_compile
    sub-env bin/post_compile
fi

what does the -f mean?

Answer 1

If the file exists and is a regular file.

http://www.tldp.org/LDP/Bash-Beginners-Guide/html/sect_07_01.html

your statement in English:

If the file "/bin/post_compile" exists and is a regular file then:

1. Print message
2. Make the file executable
3. Execute the file using sub-env

end if (fi)