latest_recursive_pathlib.py

import argparse
from pathlib import Path
import os


def get_latest_file(directory: Path) -> Path:
    """
    Finds the most recently modified file in a directory and its subdirectories.

    Args:
        directory: A pathlib.Path object representing the directory to search.

    Returns:
        The pathlib.Path object of the most recently modified file, or None if no files are found.
    """
    latest_file = None
    latest_mtime = None

    for item in directory.rglob("*"):
        if item.is_file():
            try:
                mtime = item.stat().st_mtime
            except OSError:
                ...  # Ignore errors caused by broken symlinks
            if latest_file is None or mtime > latest_mtime:
                latest_file = item
                latest_mtime = mtime

    return latest_file


if __name__ == "__main__":
    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Find the latest modified file.")
    parser.add_argument("directory", type=Path, help="Path to the directory to search.")
    args = parser.parse_args()

    latest_file = get_latest_file(args.directory)

    if latest_file:
        print(f"The most recently modified file is: {latest_file}")
    else:
        print("No files found in the directory or its subdirectories.")