Re: "--to" option for mv and friends

[Jim Meyering]

James R. Van Zandt wrote:
>> 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.

Considering all the talk of "DEST" and "destination", I can see how
the use of "target" in that option name can make it harder to remember.
A new option might be worthwhile after all.
However, --to=... might make someone think that the
argument could be a non-directory.

So how about --to-dir=..., which could still be abbreviated to --to.
(I was tempted by --destdir, but that would impinge on the long-option
namespace of --dereference)