From unknown Sat Jun 14 19:06:05 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#23950: An enhancement request Resent-From: "Dr. Randall Fisher" Original-Sender: "Debbugs-submit" Resent-CC: bug-diffutils@gnu.org Resent-Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2016 22:43:01 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: report 23950 X-GNU-PR-Package: diffutils X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: 23950@debbugs.gnu.org X-Debbugs-Original-To: bug-diffutils@gnu.org Received: via spool by submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B.146827697730431 (code B ref -1); Mon, 11 Jul 2016 22:43:01 +0000 Received: (at submit) by debbugs.gnu.org; 11 Jul 2016 22:42:57 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:47314 helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1bMjui-0007ul-QM for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Mon, 11 Jul 2016 18:42:57 -0400 Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([208.118.235.92]:40355) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1bMjt4-0007s2-Hg for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Mon, 11 Jul 2016 18:41:14 -0400 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1bMjsy-0008U9-6s for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Mon, 11 Jul 2016 18:41:09 -0400 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.3.2 (2011-06-06) on eggs.gnu.org X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=0.8 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_50,FREEMAIL_FROM, HTML_MESSAGE,T_DKIM_INVALID,T_HK_NAME_FM_DR autolearn=disabled version=3.3.2 Received: from lists.gnu.org ([2001:4830:134:3::11]:51114) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1bMjsy-0008U4-3t for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Mon, 11 Jul 2016 18:41:08 -0400 Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([2001:4830:134:3::10]:59548) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1bMjsv-0004hw-N6 for bug-diffutils@gnu.org; Mon, 11 Jul 2016 18:41:06 -0400 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1bMjst-0008TV-E8 for bug-diffutils@gnu.org; Mon, 11 Jul 2016 18:41:04 -0400 Received: from mail-qk0-x233.google.com ([2607:f8b0:400d:c09::233]:36361) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1bMjst-0008TM-8r for bug-diffutils@gnu.org; Mon, 11 Jul 2016 18:41:03 -0400 Received: by mail-qk0-x233.google.com with SMTP id 82so105975707qko.3 for ; Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:41:01 -0700 (PDT) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20120113; h=mime-version:sender:from:date:message-id:subject:to; bh=nhuu3X/0gUQ0wJXxYvBIDEeAnkIMvv4O3GI7Mml76aM=; b=P9I+qywT3b3SVW90LqUF7KzB+MsWj6HynpMkUa/t51AEVUzgPv3NDDorOj7/LR/fxI oBwoHGiy6l4pueAhhy3g/KtHw0k5+5IQEq9iywRpLTBrr0SJnrQgHwLA+96S1GUOx+0/ Vb1Aw4I+ikuoRO8X+jfrYqKApYJDwN7/p565BcB57QFSXotRDrELSPuaT90chOhjEwwO OlH0LiOuso5H0PqH6Vq7VsDaQpqiQTB8/duIfJYd9LennSjE0U4iHam7mkkIacITGGRU b0/ul7A1BKugXC/2efo50QtEfQmN4g+tp357gmhkfdTUe2b/I2UMmHMHiyzM8gNHCPsG boEw== X-Google-DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=1e100.net; s=20130820; h=x-gm-message-state:mime-version:sender:from:date:message-id:subject :to; bh=nhuu3X/0gUQ0wJXxYvBIDEeAnkIMvv4O3GI7Mml76aM=; b=i4vLhmHJJ7hOhBHXGTi1qbfR+kx8FRkpC2oc2mkfCXbECj1m8jaZtYSaFS3U9DoR5u wd1Sr1w58UWJzK/NCEY/4XWOT61I8OUbALXLq9rgUTyDlyc752egyzxR6YUgrCV70/cp qASEvYznncNV8TD3xvyNkGw2M/9g5dqlspWZnm1f4k05Gtn015sSe/OgolKyBxstAZeL zvg6cPCHB/rZQ7SRnXwAsW0E/nA4DzqEVtsxvRowWjsuP5RrHeZXfzsb5kSwxrI10k9W VJG2EGVYPUBM+D9yBpbSSLRouuqWDb3SrQ3mxVQVD9/9Tfl7fu8xzDDfH2yKGcHxsWv6 1XxA== X-Gm-Message-State: ALyK8tJUHiqr2d7Gb1t6WsDJP3Pan3aWDWYRQPVHIMhLDSmiJwV2RNhxLSYA5uVRPEllvw0CRMly5ff7dpVYoQ== X-Received: by 10.55.203.156 with SMTP id u28mr29305679qkl.116.1468276861324; Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:41:01 -0700 (PDT) MIME-Version: 1.0 Received: by 10.200.35.139 with HTTP; Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:41:00 -0700 (PDT) From: "Dr. Randall Fisher" Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2016 18:41:00 -0400 X-Google-Sender-Auth: tLCZGUmFnJl0T5GGkzBfreirgWw Message-ID: Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=001a1146dcb0c05b9b053763d89a X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: GNU/Linux 2.2.x-3.x [generic] X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: GNU/Linux 2.6.x X-Received-From: 2001:4830:134:3::11 X-Spam-Score: -4.0 (----) X-Mailman-Approved-At: Mon, 11 Jul 2016 18:42:55 -0400 X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.18 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Sender: "Debbugs-submit" X-Spam-Score: -4.0 (----) --001a1146dcb0c05b9b053763d89a Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi, I use "diff -r" when comparing a directory tree to a copy that I have made when the storage media is questionable. There are often broken symlinks in the original (usually a backup from some defunct machine). When I do the diff, I get thousands of messages along the lines of : diff: gecko-clone-100714/var/X11R6/lib/xkb/xkbcomp: No such file or directory diff: /home2/Backups/gecko-clone-100714/var/X11R6/lib/xkb/xkbcomp: No such file or directory There are also messages along the lines of: X/afifo is a fifo while Y/afifo is a fifo ... or a socket or a character special, etc. =E2=80=8BThese aren't really useful in this context and bury any really imp= ortant errors.=E2=80=8B Could you add switches to : 1. Not dereference symlinks, but compare the symlink itself (i.e. no message if they point to the same non-existant place)? 2. Not report the "this is an orange while that is an orange" messages? =E2=80=8BThank you, Randy Fisher=E2=80=8B --=20 Randall Fisher, Ph.D. randall.fisher@ieee.org randall.fisher@acm.org --001a1146dcb0c05b9b053763d89a Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Hi,=

I use = "diff -r" when comparing a directory tree to a copy that I have m= ade when the storage media is questionable.=C2=A0 There are often broken sy= mlinks in the original (usually a backup from some defunct machine).=C2=A0 = When I do the diff, I get thousands of messages along the lines of :
diff: gecko-clone-100714/var/X11R6/lib/xkb/xkbcomp: No such file or direct= ory
diff: /home2/Backups/gecko-clone-100714/var/X11R6/lib/xkb/xkbcomp: N= o such file or directory

There are also messages along the lines of:

=
X/afifo is a fifo wh= ile Y/afifo is a fifo
... or a socket or a character special, etc.

=E2=80=8BThe= se aren't really useful in this context and bury any really important e= rrors.=E2=80=8B

Could you add switches to :
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 1. Not dereference symlinks, b= ut compare the symlink itself (i.e. no message if they point to the same no= n-existant place)?
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 2. Not report the "this is an orange while = that is an orange" messages?

=E2=80=8BThank you,

Randy Fisher=E2=80=8B

-- <= br>
Randal= l Fisher, Ph.D.
randall.fisher@ieee.org
randall.fisher@acm.org
--001a1146dcb0c05b9b053763d89a-- From unknown Sat Jun 14 19:06:05 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#23950: [bug-diffutils] bug#23950: An enhancement request Resent-From: Dave Gordon Original-Sender: "Debbugs-submit" Resent-CC: bug-diffutils@gnu.org Resent-Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2016 12:17:02 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: followup 23950 X-GNU-PR-Package: diffutils X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: "Dr. Randall Fisher" , 23950@debbugs.gnu.org Received: via spool by 23950-submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B23950.146841217831390 (code B ref 23950); Wed, 13 Jul 2016 12:17:02 +0000 Received: (at 23950) by debbugs.gnu.org; 13 Jul 2016 12:16:18 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:49133 helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1bNJ5O-0008AE-1T for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Wed, 13 Jul 2016 08:16:18 -0400 Received: from mga01.intel.com ([192.55.52.88]:52199) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1bNJ5M-0008A1-64 for 23950@debbugs.gnu.org; Wed, 13 Jul 2016 08:16:17 -0400 Received: from orsmga003.jf.intel.com ([10.7.209.27]) by fmsmga101.fm.intel.com with ESMTP; 13 Jul 2016 05:16:04 -0700 X-ExtLoop1: 1 X-IronPort-AV: E=Sophos;i="5.28,357,1464678000"; d="scan'208";a="845476813" Received: from dsgordon-linux2.isw.intel.com (HELO [10.102.226.88]) ([10.102.226.88]) by orsmga003.jf.intel.com with ESMTP; 13 Jul 2016 05:16:04 -0700 References: From: Dave Gordon Organization: Intel Corporation (UK) Ltd. - Co. Reg. #1134945 - Pipers Way, Swindon SN3 1RJ Message-ID: <57863102.6020106@intel.com> Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2016 13:16:02 +0100 User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64; rv:38.0) Gecko/20100101 Thunderbird/38.8.0 MIME-Version: 1.0 In-Reply-To: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Spam-Score: -6.3 (------) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.18 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Sender: "Debbugs-submit" X-Spam-Score: -6.3 (------) On 11/07/16 23:41, Dr. Randall Fisher wrote: > Hi, > > I use "diff -r" when comparing a directory tree to a copy that I have made > when the storage media is questionable. There are often broken symlinks in > the original (usually a backup from some defunct machine). When I do the > diff, I get thousands of messages along the lines of : > > diff: gecko-clone-100714/var/X11R6/lib/xkb/xkbcomp: No such file or > directory > diff: /home2/Backups/gecko-clone-100714/var/X11R6/lib/xkb/xkbcomp: No such > file or directory > > There are also messages along the lines of: > > X/afifo is a fifo while Y/afifo is a fifo > ... or a socket or a character special, etc. > > ​These aren't really useful in this context and bury any really important > errors.​ > > Could you add switches to : > 1. Not dereference symlinks, but compare the symlink itself (i.e. no > message if they point to the same non-existant place)? > 2. Not report the "this is an orange while that is an orange" messages? > > ​Thank you, > Randy Fisher​ Maybe diff(1) isn't the right tool? Have you considered using rsync(1) with the -vn options (verbose reporting, no actual transfers) to see what differs between the two trees? If you doubt the integrity of the storage medium, you might want to add "-C" (use checksums) as well, thus $ rsync -aHvCn src/ dest/ sending incremental file list ./ bxt_dmc_ver1.bin -> bxt_dmc_ver1_07.bin sent 510 bytes received 22 bytes 1,064.00 bytes/sec total size is 404,951 speedup is 761.19 (DRY RUN) The output should list every directory checked (lines ending /) plus those nondirectory objects which differ between src and dest (lines not ending /) -- the latter are presumably what you're interested in. HTH, .Dave.