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My system creates a new text file every time a certain event occurs.
The files should be named file_a.txt file_b.txt file_c.txt etc.

In a Bash shell script,how to find out what filename should be used next?

For instance, if file_a.txt and file_b.txt exist but not file_c.txt, then the next available filename is file_c.txt.

This could be a number if it is easier.
I started designing an algorithm but there is probably an easier way?

Note: Files get removed each day, so the probability of reaching z is zero. So, after z than any strategy is acceptable: aa, using integers, or even using UUIDs.

My system creates a new text file every time a certain event occurs.
The files should be named file_a.txt file_b.txt file_c.txt etc.

In a Bash shell script,how to find out what filename should be used next?

For instance, if file_a.txt and file_b.txt exist but not file_c.txt, then the next available filename is file_c.txt.

This could be a number if it is easier.
I started designing an algorithm but there is probably an easier way?

Note: Files get removed each day, so the probability of reaching z is zero. So, after z any strategy is acceptable: aa, using integers, or even using UUIDs.

My system creates a new text file every time a certain event occurs.
The files should be named file_a.txt file_b.txt file_c.txt etc.

In a Bash shell script,how to find out what filename should be used next?

For instance, if file_a.txt and file_b.txt exist but not file_c.txt, then the next available filename is file_c.txt.

This could be a number if it is easier.
I started designing an algorithm but there is probably an easier way?

Note: Files are also ventilated by date, so the probability of reaching z is zero. So, after z than any strategy is acceptable: aa, using integers, or even using UUIDs.

My system creates a new text file every time a certain event occurs.
The files should be named file_a.txt file_b.txt file_c.txt etc.

In a Bash shell script,how to find out what filename should be used next?

For instance, if file_a.txt and file_b.txt exist but not file_c.txt, then the next available filename is file_c.txt.

This could be a number if it is easier.
I started designing an algorithm but there is probably an easier way?

Note: Files get removed each day, so the probability of reaching z is zero. So, after z than any strategy is acceptable: aa, using integers, or even using UUIDs.

My system creates a new text file every time a certain event occurs.
The files should be named file_a.txt file_b.txt file_c.txt etc.

In a Bash shell script,how to find out what filename should be used next?

For instance, if file_a.txt and file_b.txt exist but not file_c.txt, then the next available filename is file_c.txt.

This could be a number if it is easier.
I started designing an algorithm but there is probably an easier way?

My system creates a new text file every time a certain event occurs.
The files should be named file_a.txt file_b.txt file_c.txt etc.

In a Bash shell script,how to find out what filename should be used next?

For instance, if file_a.txt and file_b.txt exist but not file_c.txt, then the next available filename is file_c.txt.

This could be a number if it is easier.
I started designing an algorithm but there is probably an easier way?

Note: Files are also ventilated by date, so the probability of reaching z is zero. So, after z than any strategy is acceptable: aa, using integers, or even using UUIDs.