GNU bug report logs - #78415
documentation: -R v -r difference is not just about symlinks

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

From: Matěj Cepl <mcepl <at> cepl.eu>
To: <bug-grep <at> gnu.org>
Subject: documentation: -R v -r difference is not just about symlinks
Date: Tue, 13 May 2025 19:38:11 +0000

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

Hello,

manpage grep(1) describes the difference between -r and -R options thus:

    -r, --recursive
        Read all files under each directory, recursively, following
        symbolic links only if they are on the command line. Note
        that if no file operand is given, grep searches the working
        directory. This is equivalent to the -d recurse option.

    -R, --dereference-recursive
        Read all files under each directory, recursively. Follow all
        symbolic links, unlike -r.

It seems to me that outside of this advertised difference in
following/non-following symlinks, -R option also makes grep to
search through hidden directories. Is it so? Wouldn’t it be a
good idea to put it into a manpage?

Best,

Matěj Cepl

-- 
http://matej.ceplovi.cz/blog/, @mcepl <at> en.osm.town
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