GNU bug report logs - #15727
doc: cp: expand dirs-vs-files with -f/--remove-dest

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Message #11 received at 15727 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Linda Walsh <coreutils <at> tlinx.org>
To: Pádraig Brady <P <at> draigBrady.com>
Cc: 15727 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#15727: Bug: cp <-a|-archive> (w/<-f|--remove-destination>)
 breaks if one of files is a dir and other not
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 00:09:47 -0700

On 10/27/2013 5:38 PM, Pádraig Brady wrote:
> So overwriting files with dirs and vice versa
> is prohibited by POSIX.  The existing cp options
> do not adjust this aspect. If you don't care what's
> in the destination at all, why not just rm it before the copy?


Um --- isn't that what the "--remove-destination" option is supposed to
do?


Also note, I tried to use it with the "update" option, since in my real
case, in "/var/log", some programs had changed from using a single
log file to using their own dir under /var/log and multiple log files.

It's not like I'm making that up.

As for the posix comment.  Since when is FSF/Gnu governed by a
corporate controlled POSIX?  I.e. POSIX is supposed to supply
interop standards, not limitations on functionality.

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