recursively give directories/files read&execute privileges

gistfile1.c

To recursively give directories read&execute privileges:

  find /path/to/base/dir -type d -exec chmod 755 {} +

To recursively give files read privileges:

  find /path/to/base/dir -type f -exec chmod 644 {} +

Or, if there are many objects to process:

  chmod 755 $(find /path/to/base/dir -type d)
  chmod 644 $(find /path/to/base/dir -type f)

Or, to reduce chmod spawning:

  find /path/to/base/dir -type d -print0 | xargs -0 chmod 755 
  find /path/to/base/dir -type f -print0 | xargs -0 chmod 644

via http://superuser.com/a/91938