GNU bug report logs - #52115
Suggestion: LN command should swap TARGET and LINK_NAME if LINK_NAME already exists

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Message #23 received at 52115 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Paul Eggert <eggert <at> cs.ucla.edu>
To: Warren Parad <wparad <at> gmail.com>
Cc: 52115 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#52115: Suggestion: LN command should swap TARGET and
 LINK_NAME if LINK_NAME already exists
Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2021 00:41:07 -0800

On 11/25/21 15:10, Warren Parad wrote:
> except mv(1) and cp(1) are both "FROM" and then "TO", but ln is backwards
> from thi, it is "TO" then "FROM"

No, ln is exactly like mv and cp here: the source is the first argument, 
and the destination is the second.

If this isn't clear, perhaps we should make the documentation clearer; 
but we shouldn't change ln's behavior, as many people and programs rely 
on the current behavior, and the current behavior is more logical once 
you understand how file systems work.

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