Subject: Re: bug#13742: Is this soft link directory bug?

From: Bob Proulx <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2013 11:44:58 -0700

Bob Proulx wrote:
> Simpler with shorter paths.
> 
>   $ mkdir a
>   $ ln -s a b     # <-- Creates "b" symink to "a"
>   $ ln -s a b     # <-- Creates "a/a" symlink due to existence of "b"
> 
> To avoid using portable syntax.  (Okay for System V systems [HP-UX, others].)
> 
>   $ mkdir a
>   $ ln -s a b     # <-- Creates "b" symink to "a"
>   $ rm -f b       # <-- Removes "b" before creating second symlink
>   $ ln -s a b     # <-- Creates "a/a" symlink due to existence of "b"

My comment above is a mistake.  This following comment is wrong.

>   $ ln -s a b     # <-- Creates "a/a" symlink due to existence of "b"

That should read:

  $ mkdir a
  $ ln -s a b     # <-- Creates "b" symink to "a"
  $ rm -f b       # <-- Removes "b" before creating second symlink
  $ ln -s a b     # <-- Creates "b" symlink to "a" due to no prior "b"

Sorry for the mistake in that comment.

Bob