Re: ln can't backup directories

[Jim Meyering]

Bert Wesarg wrote:
> On Mon, Sep 7, 2009 at 18:25, Bert Wesarg <address@hidden> wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I'm failing in creating a symlink where the destination is a directory
>> and do a backup of this directory. This is what I tried:
>>
>> $ mkdir a
>> $ ln -s --no-target-directory --backup=numbered b a
>> ln: `a': cannot overwrite directory
>>
>> Looking at the code I can seen the reason, the backup rename() is
>> never executed, because the check whether the target is a directory
>> comes first.
>>
>> Any hints whether this is a bug of ln or how I can create the link
>> while preserving the destination as an backup are more than welcomed.
>>
>> Thanks.
>> Bert
>>
> Thanks to all for the release. But can someone please have a look at my 
> problem?

cp and mv work the same way: even with --backup, they refuse to move
aside a destination directory.

However, that's something that I've considered worth changing
for years.  I never got around to it.  If only for the testing
requirements, it will not be a trivial change, since for UI
consistency, it should affect all three at the same time.

Maybe someone will volunteer to do the work.