GNU logs - #69723, boring messages

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Subject: bug#69723: Proposed enhancement
Resent-From: John Summerfield <johclisum@HIDDEN>
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From: John Summerfield <johclisum@HIDDEN>
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2024 12:37:22 +0800
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I have been using diff to compare directories on two SSDs on my laptop,
tying up two USB ports and immobilising the computer  for about two days.

I've reviewed its options, and don't see a better way of using it.

The man page is a bit short on detail about what it considers
same/different, bu I see that I can choose weather filename case matters,
whether changes in white space matter, whether fit matters when something
has been changed from lower to upper case, etc.

I propose another option, a GNU extension if you like.
--ignore-contents
If filenames are the same, subject to other choices, if the file sizes are
the same, if the *times match, then consider them the same. Essentially,
we're only comparing the file descriptions, not their contents.

I'm ambivalent about dates, perhaps those can be user-choice too, I can
think of a few reasons they might differ. Copy to/from DOS-family
filesystems and NTFS or ext4 etc. Transfer between computers in different
time zones or the transfer program doesn't preserve timestamps.

With this change, instead of running almost two days and finding no
consequential differences, it could have been all over in a couple of
minutes.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

John Summerfield
-- 

Cheers
John

--0000000000008e753c06135b1911
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<div dir=3D"ltr">I have been using=C2=A0diff to compare directories on two =
SSDs on my laptop, tying up two USB ports and immobilising the computer=C2=
=A0 for about two days.<br><br>I&#39;ve reviewed its options, and don&#39;t=
 see a better way of using it.<br><br>The man page is a bit short on detail=
 about what it considers same/different, bu I see that I can choose weather=
=C2=A0filename case matters, whether changes in white space matter, whether=
 fit matters when something has been changed from lower to upper case, etc.=
<br><br>I propose another option, a GNU extension if you like.<br>--ignore-=
contents<br clear=3D"all"><div>If filenames are the same, subject=C2=A0to o=
ther choices, if the file sizes are the same, if the *times match, then con=
sider them the same. Essentially, we&#39;re only comparing the file descrip=
tions, not their contents.<br><br>I&#39;m ambivalent about dates, perhaps t=
hose can be user-choice too, I can think of a few reasons they might differ=
. Copy to/from DOS-family filesystems and NTFS or ext4 etc. Transfer betwee=
n computers in different time zones or the transfer program doesn&#39;t pre=
serve timestamps.<br><br>With this change, instead of running almost=C2=A0t=
wo days and finding no consequential differences, it could have been all ov=
er in a couple of minutes.<br><br>Thank you for your time and consideration=
.<br><br>John Summerfield</div><span class=3D"gmail_signature_prefix">-- </=
span><br><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_signature" data-smartmail=3D"gmail=
_signature"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div><br></div>Cheers<div>John</div></div></di=
v></div>

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From: help-debbugs@HIDDEN (GNU bug Tracking System)
To: John Summerfield <johclisum@HIDDEN>
Subject: bug#69723: Acknowledgement (Proposed enhancement)
Message-ID: <handler.69723.B.17101362368569.ack <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
References: <CACpe1p0mMZDq00q19ci=R=VpUNe+ZM3pRuH2NSU2abqgPoQdRg@HIDDEN>
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Reply-To: 69723 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2024 05:51:02 +0000

Thank you for filing a new bug report with debbugs.gnu.org.

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69723: https://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=3D69723
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tags 73783 fixed
close 73783
tags 63333 fixed
close 63333
tags 73139 fixed
close 73139
tags 72251 notabug
close 72251
tags 71529 moreinfo
severity 69723 wishlist
tags 68966 notabug
close 68966
tags 65004 fixed
close 65004

Last modified: Mon, 24 Mar 2025 23:45:01 UTC

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