Re: cp/mv: add -n option to not overwrite target (Ubuntu bug #229182)

[Jim Meyering]

Kamil Dudka <address@hidden> wrote:
> On Tuesday 06 January 2009 17:32:59 Kamil Dudka wrote:
>> On Tuesday 06 January 2009 16:50:19 you wrote:
>> > A couple of tweaks needed I think:
>> >
>> >                                 a
>> > The @option{-i} option overrides previous @option{-n} option
>> >                                 ^
>> > Same tweak suggested for both the cp usage() function.
>> >
>> > In the tests you set LC_ALL=C explicitly.
>> > I don't think this is necessary as the locale
>> > is set to C by default (using the tests/lang-default script).
>>
>> Ok, thanks. Attaching new version of patch.
>>
>>
>> Kamil
> Sorry for typo in documentation. Fixed patch attached.

Thanks for working on this.

Have you considered other long-option names?
I prefer --no-clobber.  or maybe --no-overwrite

-----------------------
Please adjust the NEWS entry:

-  cp/mv new option -n to not overwrite target
+  cp and mv accept a new option, --LONG_OPTION (-n): silently refrain
+  from overwriting any existing destination file

-----------------------------
You haven't mentioned how this new option interacts with --backup,
another option that prevents loss of any existing destination file.

Since with --backup, cp and mv arrange to move any destination aside,
one might expect -n --backup to be equivalent to --backup.

-------------------
In mv documentation (--help and texi), please say something like:

  If you specify more than one of the -i,-f,-n options, only the
  final one takes effect.

That's easier to understand than

  -i overrides preceding -f or -n
  -n overrides preceding -i or -f
  -f overrides preceding -i or -n