Any downside to using winsymlinks over cygwin-style symlinks?

Any downside to using winsymlinks over cygwin-style symlinks?

[cygwin]

Based on the documentation and practical use of the Windows-style
symlinks (winsymlinks) vs Cygwin-style symlinks, it seems to me that:
1. Winsymlinks have the advantage of working as symlinks/shortcuts
   under both Cygwin and Windows Explorer while Cygwin links are
   recognized only in Cygwin

2. They both are basically text files with some MAGIC numbers and
   attributes that allow them to be interpreted as symlinks

So, is there any *disadvantage* to always using Winsymlinks and indeed
converting my old Cygwin-style links to Windows-style?

(Note: I can't use Windows Native symlinks because I don't have admin
privileges on all my machines)

Finally, where is the best place to set CYGWIN=winsymlinks?
In .bash_profile?

Thanks!
Jeff

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Re: Any downside to using winsymlinks over cygwin-style symlinks?

[Andrey Repin]

Greetings, Jeff!

> Based on the documentation and practical use of the Windows-style
> symlinks (winsymlinks) vs Cygwin-style symlinks, it seems to me that:
> 1. Winsymlinks have the advantage of working as symlinks/shortcuts
>    under both Cygwin and Windows Explorer while Cygwin links are
>    recognized only in Cygwin

True.

> 2. They both are basically text files with some MAGIC numbers and
>    attributes that allow them to be interpreted as symlinks

NOT true.
Windows native symlinks are actual FS objects.

> So, is there any *disadvantage* to always using Winsymlinks and indeed
> converting my old Cygwin-style links to Windows-style?

You can't create native symlinks as a member of Administrators group, even if
your account have the needed privilege.

> (Note: I can't use Windows Native symlinks because I don't have admin
> privileges on all my machines)

Exactly.

> Finally, where is the best place to set CYGWIN=winsymlinks?
> In .bash_profile?

If you can't use them, there's no reason to set this option, if you expect
interoperability between Windows and Cygwin.

With just winsymlinks set, Cygwin will try to create native symlink,
but failing that, it will create regular Cygwin symlink.

With winsymlinks:nativestrict set, Cygwin will try to create native symlink
and report failure instead of creating Cygwin symlink.

P.S.
I'm using winsymlinks:nativestrict personally, but I know implications and
well prepared to deal with them.


-- 
With best regards,
Andrey Repin
Friday, December 27, 2019 21:04:24

Sorry for my terrible english...


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Re: Any downside to using winsymlinks over cygwin-style symlinks?

[cygwin]

See comments inline
Andrey Repin wrote at about 21:11:55 +0300 on Friday, December 27, 2019:
 > Greetings, Jeff!
 > 
 > > Based on the documentation and practical use of the Windows-style
 > > symlinks (winsymlinks) vs Cygwin-style symlinks, it seems to me that:
 > > 1. Winsymlinks have the advantage of working as symlinks/shortcuts
 > >    under both Cygwin and Windows Explorer while Cygwin links are
 > >    recognized only in Cygwin
 > 
 > True.
 > 
 > > 2. They both are basically text files with some MAGIC numbers and
 > >    attributes that allow them to be interpreted as symlinks
 > 
 > NOT true.
 > Windows native symlinks are actual FS objects.
 CYGWIN=winsymlinks is the same as CYGWIN=winsymlinks:lnk
 This corresponds to Windows-style links, not native Windows symlinks.
 You are referring to CYGWIN=winsymlinks:native or
CYGWIN=winsymlinks:nativestrict which refers to the true FS object symlinks

> 
 > > So, is there any *disadvantage* to always using Winsymlinks and indeed
 > > converting my old Cygwin-style links to Windows-style?
 > 
 > You can't create native symlinks as a member of Administrators group, even if
 > your account have the needed privilege.

Again note the distinction between winsymlinks and winsymlinks:native
 > 
 > > (Note: I can't use Windows Native symlinks because I don't have admin
 > > privileges on all my machines)
 > 
 > Exactly.
 > 
 > > Finally, where is the best place to set CYGWIN=winsymlinks?
 > > In .bash_profile?
 > 
 > If you can't use them, there's no reason to set this option, if you expect
 > interoperability between Windows and Cygwin.

Again note the distinction between winsymlinks and winsymlinks:native
I was referring winsymlinks (or more pedantically winsymlinks:lnk)

 > With just winsymlinks set, Cygwin will try to create native symlink,
 > but failing that, it will create regular Cygwin symlink.
 > 
 > With winsymlinks:nativestrict set, Cygwin will try to create native symlink
 > and report failure instead of creating Cygwin symlink.
 > 
 > P.S.
 > I'm using winsymlinks:nativestrict personally, but I know implications and
 > well prepared to deal with them.
 > 
 > 
 > -- 
 > With best regards,
 > Andrey Repin
 > Friday, December 27, 2019 21:04:24
 > 
 > Sorry for my terrible english...
 > 

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