At 2026-02-05T10:01:30-0800, Collin Funk wrote: > I like the --reflink[=WHEN] interface better than "--link linkflags". > > But I am okay with using the ones that FreeBSD does support: > > -l linkflags > Instead of copying the file make a link to the source. The > type of the link is determined by the linkflags argument. > Valid linkflags are: a (absolute), r (relative), h (hard), s > (symbolic), m (mixed). Absolute and relative have effect only > for symbolic links. Mixed links are hard links for files on > the same filesystem, symbolic otherwise.
I'd like to request that GNU install take a slightly different course here. In my view, "mixed" is a poor choice of terminology. "Mixed" implies a "mixture", a combination of substances or properties. That's not what's going on with the links here. They're not some hybrid of hard and symbolic links. What's being described is a contingent or conditional approach. Since both of those words begin with "c" and that letter's not already in use, I recommend adopting it in preference to "m". Supporting "m" as well, for FreeBSD compatibility, whether documented or not, and whether it issues a diagnostic or not, is a separate matter. Regards, Branden
signature.asc
Description: PGP signature
