>>>>> "MB" == Marcus Brinkmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
[...]
MB> You _can_ build a shell in which you can do the above. In
MB> implementing this patrick-shell, you will find that you have to
MB> compromise _something_. In the same way that you have to
MB> compromise something if implementing similar functionality in a
MB> graphical shell like a file browser. For example, your
MB> introduction of a "::" special character is a compromise.
MB> This is not a bad thing per se. It's just a consequence of what
MB> POSIX says about files and directories, and how Unix implements
MB> them traditionally (which has a consequence on how applications
MB> interpret POSIX).
Actually, the DogCows problem exists in POSIX as well. Consider
the following example:
$ ls -l foo/
total 0
-rw-r--r-- 1 ivan users 0 Feb 13 21:40 bar
-rw-r--r-- 1 ivan users 0 Feb 13 21:40 baz
$
Is the foo/ a directory? Of course it might be, but it's not
the case:
$ ls -l foo
lrwxrwxrwx 1 ivan users 3 Feb 13 21:41 foo -> qux
$
In this example, `foo' acts as both the symbolic link and the
directory at the same time. The commands distinguish between
them (if there's a need to) by interpreting the trailing slash
as a request to dereference the symbolic link to the directory.
Please note that the problem was solved by introduction of yet
another meaning for an already reserved slash character. Of
course, overusing the slash isn't probably a very good idea, but
it could be a practical solution for the simple cases.
Furthermore, POSIX addresses this problem not only at the
``shell level'', but at the level of the C Library as well (stat
() vs. lstat ()). BTW, as long as the POSIX is ``emulated'' (as
opposed to ``implemented'') by the HURD, the particular case of
FileDir problem could probably be addressed by turning every
such FileDir into a symbolic link. This way, POSIX applications
won't probably get very confused.
Introduction of yet another special character (or a string) seem
to me like a bad idea.
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