GNU bug report logs - #11183
[coreutils 8.13] touch: add options -v, --verbose

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Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Jari Aalto <jari.aalto <at> cante.net>
To: GNU Project <bug-coreutils <at> gnu.org>
Subject: [coreutils 8.13] touch: add options -v, --verbose
Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2012 08:14:20 +0300

Please add verbose options to program touch(1):

    -v, --verbose

Similarly than what is found in cp(1), mv(1). Seing what files are being
touched e.g. from scripts would be helpful:

    touch ${optionverbose:+--verbose} <file pattern>

Jari

Message #8 received at 11183 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Pádraig Brady <P <at> draigBrady.com>
To: Jari Aalto <jari.aalto <at> cante.net>
Cc: 11183 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#11183: [coreutils 8.13] touch: add options -v, --verbose
Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:02:54 +0100

On 04/05/2012 06:14 AM, Jari Aalto wrote:
> 
> Please add verbose options to program touch(1):
> 
>     -v, --verbose
> 
> Similarly than what is found in cp(1), mv(1). Seing what files are being
> touched e.g. from scripts would be helpful:
> 
>     touch ${optionverbose:+--verbose} <file pattern>

Well files are always touched, or at a low level if the
timestamps don't need to be updated, this info isn't returned.

Also to indicate as to whether files were created or not,
is problematic, I don't think that can be done atomically.

cheers,
Pádraig.

Message #11 received at 11183 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Jim Meyering <jim <at> meyering.net>
To: Pádraig Brady <P <at> draigBrady.com>
Cc: 11183 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, Jari Aalto <jari.aalto <at> cante.net>
Subject: Re: bug#11183: [coreutils 8.13] touch: add options -v, --verbose
Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:08:08 +0200

Pádraig Brady wrote:
> On 04/05/2012 06:14 AM, Jari Aalto wrote:
>>
>> Please add verbose options to program touch(1):
>>
>>     -v, --verbose
>>
>> Similarly than what is found in cp(1), mv(1). Seing what files are being
>> touched e.g. from scripts would be helpful:
>>
>>     touch ${optionverbose:+--verbose} <file pattern>
>
> Well files are always touched, or at a low level if the
> timestamps don't need to be updated, this info isn't returned.
>
> Also to indicate as to whether files were created or not,
> is problematic, I don't think that can be done atomically.

Exactly.
I'd rather not add any more --verbose options like this.
In fact, I have been sorely tempted to remove the --verbose
options from chown/chgrp and chmod: the options add complexity and
the printed results are not reliable.

Message #14 received at 11183 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: "Voelker, Bernhard" <bernhard.voelker <at> siemens-enterprise.com>
To: Jari Aalto <jari.aalto <at> cante.net>, "11183 <at> debbugs.gnu.org"
	<11183 <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
Subject: RE: bug#11183: [coreutils 8.13] touch: add options -v, --verbose
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2012 14:15:55 +0200

Jari Aalto wrote:

> Please add verbose options to program touch(1):
> 
>     -v, --verbose
> 
> Similarly than what is found in cp(1), mv(1). Seing what files are being
> touched e.g. from scripts would be helpful:
> 
>     touch ${optionverbose:+--verbose} <file pattern>

To just reslve the file pattern, I'd suggest

	echo touch <file pattern>

Have a nice day,
Berny

Message #21 received at 11183-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Jim Meyering <jim <at> meyering.net>
To: Pádraig Brady <P <at> draigBrady.com>
Cc: 11183-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org, Jari Aalto <jari.aalto <at> cante.net>
Subject: Re: bug#11183: [coreutils 8.13] touch: add options -v, --verbose
Date: Sun, 07 Oct 2012 11:39:08 +0200

tags 11183 notabug
thanks

Jim Meyering wrote:
> Pádraig Brady wrote:
>> On 04/05/2012 06:14 AM, Jari Aalto wrote:
>>>
>>> Please add verbose options to program touch(1):
>>>
>>>     -v, --verbose
>>>
>>> Similarly than what is found in cp(1), mv(1). Seing what files are being
>>> touched e.g. from scripts would be helpful:
>>>
>>>     touch ${optionverbose:+--verbose} <file pattern>
>>
>> Well files are always touched, or at a low level if the
>> timestamps don't need to be updated, this info isn't returned.
>>
>> Also to indicate as to whether files were created or not,
>> is problematic, I don't think that can be done atomically.
>
> Exactly.
> I'd rather not add any more --verbose options like this.
> In fact, I have been sorely tempted to remove the --verbose
> options from chown/chgrp and chmod: the options add complexity and
> the printed results are not reliable.

Also, touch is different from mv and cp.  For those two,
using --verbose can provide basic progress indicator when
the files are large, and for mv, when rename is not usable.

So I'm closing this.

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