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

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Message #80 received at 52115 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Bob Proulx <bob <at> proulx.com>
To: 52115 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, 52115-submitter <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#52115: Suggestion: LN command should swap TARGET and
 LINK_NAME if LINK_NAME already exists
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2021 23:41:50 -0700

Paul Eggert wrote:
> Bob Proulx wrote:
> > mv calls it SOURCE and DEST.  cp calls it SOURCE and DEST.  Perhaps ln
> > should also call it SOURCE and DEST too for consistency?
> 
> That's what ln did long ago, but that wording was deemed too confusing.
> Here's where we changed it to use something more like the current wording:
> 
> https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/coreutils.git/commit/?id=519365bb089cf90bdc780c37292938f42019c7ea

This just proves that there is no perfect solution.  It's a flip-flop
with either state having inperfections.

My first thought was how humorous this situation is that due to
complaints about the documentation we would be lead in a circle back
to the beginning when this was changed previously due to complaints
about the documentation.

Bob

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