Not sure, but the way I read it follow_symlinks = True is the default behavior of systems that don't allow you to set it, and being able to set it to False is the special bit. So "allowing follow_symlinks" means it "allows you to change it to whatever you want", not "allows it to be True"
Under https://docs.python.org/3.7/library/os.html#files-and-directories it even lists the bullet point as _not_ following symlinks -----Original Message----- From: Python-list [mailto:python-list-bounces+david.raymond=tomtom....@python.org] On Behalf Of Karsten Hilbert Sent: Friday, February 22, 2019 3:46 PM To: python-list@python.org Subject: Re: confusion with os.chmod() and follow_symlinks On Fri, Feb 22, 2019 at 09:21:07PM +0100, Karsten Hilbert wrote: > Am I confused ? > > ncq@hermes:~$ python3 > Python 3.7.2+ (default, Feb 2 2019, 14:31:48) > [GCC 8.2.0] on linux > Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information. > >>> import os > >>> print(os.supports_follow_symlinks) > {<built-in function utime>, <built-in function chown>, <built-in > function access>, <built-in function stat>, <built-in function link>} > >>> os.chmod in os.supports_follow_symlinks > False > >>> os.chmod('/tmp/test', 0o0700, follow_symlinks = False) > Traceback (most recent call last): > File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module> > NotImplementedError: chmod: follow_symlinks unavailable on this platform > >>> > > I would only have expected this exception when I actually > request the unavailable functionality, like so: > > os.chmod('/tmp/test', 0o0700, follow_symlinks = True) > > This, however, works: > > os.chmod('/tmp/test', 0o0700) > > DESPITE the documentation saying > > os.chmod(path, mode, *, dir_fd=None, follow_symlinks=True) > > IOW, the default for <follow_symlinks> being "True", which is > certainly illogical to succeed when it is not even supported > on this platform. Because, naively, I'd have assumed this to work: os.chmod(directory, mode, follow_symlinks = (os.chmod in os.supports_follow_symlinks)) Karsten -- GPG 40BE 5B0E C98E 1713 AFA6 5BC0 3BEA AC80 7D4F C89B -- https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list -- https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
