GNU bug report logs - #24294
Bug in mv, -- and - prefixes

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

From: Miku <10mkudela <at> gmail.com>
To: bug-coreutils <at> gnu.org
Subject: Bug in mv, -- and - prefixes
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2016 19:08:05 +0200

Hello

When doing "mv * dest_folder" and one of files in directory starts with 
-- or - it sees that as an option.

For instance if one of files is named "-v" or "--version" then "mv * 
dest_folder" would work like "mv -v * dest_folder" and "mv --version"

Michał

Message #10 received at 24294-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Paul Eggert <eggert <at> cs.ucla.edu>
To: Miku <10mkudela <at> gmail.com>, 24294-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#24294: Bug in mv, -- and - prefixes
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2016 10:28:39 -0700

Miku wrote:

> When doing "mv * dest_folder" and one of files in directory starts with -- or -
> it sees that as an option.
>
> For instance if one of files is named "-v" or "--version" then "mv *
> dest_folder" would work like "mv -v * dest_folder" and "mv --version"

This is not really a bug in mv, as the shell expands the "*" before invoking mv. 
 To work around the problem, use "mv -- * dest_folder".

Message #13 received at 24294 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Reuti <reuti <at> staff.uni-marburg.de>
To: Miku <10mkudela <at> gmail.com>
Cc: 24294 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#24294: Bug in mv, -- and - prefixes
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2016 19:29:13 +0200

Hi,

Am 23.08.2016 um 19:08 schrieb Miku:

> Hello
> 
> When doing "mv * dest_folder" and one of files in directory starts with -- or - it sees that as an option.
> 
> For instance if one of files is named "-v" or "--version" then "mv * dest_folder" would work like "mv -v * dest_folder" and "mv --version"

You can switch if off by -- as an option, i.e.:

$ mv -- --foo -bar

The -- ends the list of options and works with `touch`, `rm` and others too.

-- Reuti

Message #16 received at 24294 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Bernhard Voelker <mail <at> bernhard-voelker.de>
To: Miku <10mkudela <at> gmail.com>, 24294 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#24294: Bug in mv, -- and - prefixes
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:28:27 +0200

On 08/23/2016 07:08 PM, Miku wrote:
> Hello
> 
> When doing "mv * dest_folder" and one of files in directory starts with 
> -- or - it sees that as an option.
> 
> For instance if one of files is named "-v" or "--version" then "mv * 
> dest_folder" would work like "mv -v * dest_folder" and "mv --version"

Besides the answer of Paul and Reuti, this is an FAQ (actually there are
several like these caused by shell file globbing around that):

http://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/faq/coreutils-faq.html#I-have-a-file-_0027_002df_0027-and-it-affects-rm_002e

Have a nice day,
Berny

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