On Mon, Aug 2, 2010 at 6:32 AM, marcel partap <[email protected]> wrote:
> Dear coreutil hackers, > as anyone doing *n*x housework regularly, i also am using these tools on a > regular basis, in scripts and manually. What i often miss (especially when > invoking actions recursively with -Rc, and regretting part of the > modifications shortly after) is the output of the original state the file > was in. Example: > >> changed ownership of `robots.txt' to www-data:www-data >> > Well i am glad about that, but who was it owned by before? It would be nice > to have this shown as one of > >> changed ownership of `robots.txt' to www-data:www-data (from root:root) >> changed ownership of `robots.txt' from root:root to www-data:www-data >> changed ownership of `robots.txt' root:root > www-data:www-data >> > While this example is not of much importance.. well consider this (made > up): > >> mode of `/var/www/drupal-hfopi/files/temp/._/._/._/._/._/.shell.pl' >> changed to 0666 (rw-rw-rw-) >> > Mmmkay, ack that file shouldn't be +x... but what would be of real > interest: WAS it executable before? Same proposal mockup: > >> mode of `/var/www/drupal-hfopi/files/temp/._/._/._/._/._/.shell.pl' >> changed to 0666 (rw-rw-rw-) (from 0777 (rwxrwxrwx)) >> mode of `/var/www/drupal-hfopi/files/temp/._/._/._/._/._/.shell.pl' >> changed from 0777 (rwxrwxrwx) to 0666 (rw-rw-rw-) >> mode of `/var/www/drupal-hfopi/files/temp/._/._/._/._/._/.shell.pl' >> changed: 0777 (rwxrwxrwx) > 0666 (rw-rw-rw-) >> > To not break any scripts, this could be implemented as > --print-original-state additional option to -v/-c. And please forgive for > not attaching a finished patch ;) > best regards, > marcel. > > I know this is an old post, but is there any objections to this feature? If not, what exact mechanics do you think it should take? Assuming there are no objections, I would like to take this on. Thank you, William -- "Once GNU is written, everyone will be able to obtain good system software free, just like air."-- RMS in the GNU Manifesto
