Re: mv trailing slash warning

[Paul Eggert]

Jim Meyering <address@hidden> writes:

> I think the wrapper-induced overhead of an extra lstat imposed on losing
> systems, but only for operands with a trailing slash, is bearable.
> This is one of those `would be nice' things.
> But I'm not in any big hurry, since Linux 2.6.x does it right.

Yes, I wouldn't be in any hurry either.

Come to think of it, how about if we just stick to the current
approach, and let 'mv' use the system rename() function and do
whatever rename() does?

Advantages of the current approach:

* Easier to implement and maintain.

* Solaris folks used to Solaris mv's behavior won't be surprised by GNU mv.

* GNU mv conforms to POSIX, on POSIX-conforming hosts.  (On non-POSIX
  hosts all bets are off anyway.  :-)

Disadvantages:

* GNU mv behaves differently on different hosts.

Similarly for rmdir and rmdir(), etc.

I suppose either way, the eocumentation needs to explain the issue
better.  (Arrgh.)