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List:       coreutils
Subject:    [coreutils] feature request: make chown/chmod/chgrp --verbose/--changes additionally show original p
From:       marcel partap <mpartap () gmx ! net>
Date:       2010-08-02 11:32:20
Message-ID: 4C56ACC4.8080505 () gmx ! net
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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.


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