GNU bug report logs - #6023
cp: Make --backup the default

Previous Next

Full log

View this message in rfc822 format

From: Drake Wyrm <wyrm <at> haell.com>
To: bug-coreutils <at> gnu.org
Subject: bug#6023: An enhancement request for the Cp command.
Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:53:01 -0700

Bob Proulx <bob <at> proulx.com> wrote:
> Salvador wrote:
> > Salvador wrote:
> >> I want to request a feature for the Cp command that consist in
> >> renaming a file from the source when a file in the destination
> >> directory with the same name already exists. I am thought It could
> >> be  something like: from file.jpg to file-1.jpg. This behavior
> >> already exists in Web browsers and file managers. Thanks.
> > Also, I know about the backup argument but it makes the file not
> > being  possible to use by some programs without being renamed.
> 
> As you say the feature already exists with 'cp --backup[=CONTROL]' and
> therefore you already have that behavior available to you.  If I
> understand what you are saying then you are asking for it to be made
> the default behavior.

I think what he wants is for the backup mechanism to preserve an
existing suffix on the filename by inserting the versioning token
somewhere in the middle of the filename.

Salvador: That's a tricky proposition. How do you know _where_ to put
the token? Figure out a good algorithm for determining how to rename
each of these files, starting with the easiest case and moving on from
there. Note that while I picked a couple of these to monkeywrench your
specific example above, any similar system will be susceptible to
similar weaknesses.

	somepic.jpeg
	package_sources.tar.gz
	document_part_1-1.odt
	document_part_1-2.odt
	Song no. 7.mp3
	some.people.really.name.files.like.this
	alsolikethis

-- 
There are problems in today's world that cannot be
solved by the level of thinking that created them.
  -- Albert Einstein

Previous Next

GNU bug tracking system
Copyright (C) 1999 Darren O. Benham, 1997,2003 nCipher Corporation Ltd, 1994-97 Ian Jackson.