Re: [boost] Re: boost.filesystem - rationale for copy_file

From: Peter Dimov (pdimov_at_[hidden])
Date: 2005-01-29 21:29:40

"Lars Gullik Bjønnes" wrote:
> The argument is not "shells do it that way". But "cp" does it that
> way. "cp" is not a shell it is a program specialized for copying
> files. Also that by not allowing overwrite of existing files it opens
> up for a race.

Not only a race. Delete/recreate loses all metainformation attached to the 
original file - inode, attributes, permissions, ACLs, alternate 
forks/streams; it is also possible that the program doesn't have permission 
to delete+recreate, but does have permission to overwrite this specific 
file.

Of course one can use fopen and friends instead. ;-)