From: cygwin@kosowsky.org
To: cygwin@cygwin.com
Cc: Jeff <cygwin@kosowsky.org>
Subject: Re: Any downside to using winsymlinks over cygwin-style symlinks?
Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2019 05:11:00 -0000 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <24071.55167.544598.384719@consult.pretender> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <1501621188.20191227211155@yandex.ru>
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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prev parent reply other threads:[~2019-12-28 22:30 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 3+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
2019-12-27 17:50 cygwin
2019-12-28 1:01 ` Andrey Repin
2019-12-29 5:11 ` cygwin [this message]
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