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"--to" option for mv and friends


From: James R. Van Zandt
Subject: "--to" option for mv and friends
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 21:11:34 -0400

> I propose the patch below, which adds the --to option as a synonym for
> --destination-directory, to the programs cp, ln, install, and mv.  

Pardon me - I should have written "--target-directory".  But that is
actually my point - I find the current long option hard to remember.

(No, I didn't mis-type it on purpose.)

Kamil Dudka wrote:
> If you think the option --target-directory is too long, you can use
> --ta instead

I'm not trying to reduce typing.  If I just wanted to minimize typing,
I'd use "-t".  (However, I'd first have to check the help printout to
see that it's not "-T" I wanted after all.  Then check the info page,
because the "-T" description is so unhelpful.  But that's a separate
issue.)  No, "-t" and certainly the abbreviation "--ta" would likely
be used only by someone thoroughly familiar with the option set, who
no longer has to refer to the documentation.

My proposal is aimed at someone less familiar with the option set, to
help him use that particular option the second time without having to
refer to the documentation again.

After all, "--to" makes the command read almost like an English sentence.

             - Jim Van Zandt




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