Re: ensure that generated files are read-only

[Jim Meyering]

Bruce Korb <address@hidden> wrote:
> Bruno Haible wrote:
>> Jim Meyering wrote:
>>
>>>I learned long enough ago that
>>>files like Makefile, Makefile.in, configure, etc. are generated,
>>>so that their being writable isn't a big deal.  But still, for
>>>novices, ...
>> Would it help you if we consequently mark every generated file
>> (except
>> generated doc - info, html, pdf, ps) with
>>     DO NOT EDIT! GENERATED AUTOMATICALLY!
>> in the first or second line?
>> Bruno
>
> Or maybe both of these lines :)
>
>   -*- buffer-read-only: t -*- vi: set ro:
>   DO NOT EDIT! GENERATED AUTOMATICALLY!

Good idea.
That's a nice compromise.

People who are motivated to modify a file in spite of
such advisory lines can always work around them.
In emacs, it's as easy as C-xC-q -- and in vi, :w!

Now, I'm thinking of changing coreutils' bootstrap script to add such
lines to the files it creates/copies, rather than making them read-only.

Thanks!

P.S.  I'll join the other discussion on my recent gnulib changes soon.
I'm indisposed for another hour or so.