GNU bug report logs - #78415
documentation: -R v -r difference is not just about symlinks

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Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Matěj Cepl <mcepl <at> cepl.eu>
To: <bug-grep <at> gnu.org>
Subject: documentation: -R v -r difference is not just about symlinks
Date: Tue, 13 May 2025 19:38:11 +0000

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

Hello,

manpage grep(1) describes the difference between -r and -R options thus:

    -r, --recursive
        Read all files under each directory, recursively, following
        symbolic links only if they are on the command line. Note
        that if no file operand is given, grep searches the working
        directory. This is equivalent to the -d recurse option.

    -R, --dereference-recursive
        Read all files under each directory, recursively. Follow all
        symbolic links, unlike -r.

It seems to me that outside of this advertised difference in
following/non-following symlinks, -R option also makes grep to
search through hidden directories. Is it so? Wouldn’t it be a
good idea to put it into a manpage?

Best,

Matěj Cepl

-- 
http://matej.ceplovi.cz/blog/, @mcepl <at> en.osm.town
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simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see
rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
   -- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

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Message #10 received at 78415-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Jim Meyering <jim <at> meyering.net>
To: Matěj Cepl <mcepl <at> cepl.eu>
Cc: 78415-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#78415: documentation: -R v -r difference is not just about
 symlinks
Date: Wed, 14 May 2025 15:59:18 -0700

tags 78415 + notabug
stop

On Tue, May 13, 2025 at 6:58 PM Matěj Cepl <mcepl <at> cepl.eu> wrote:
> manpage grep(1) describes the difference between -r and -R options thus:
>
>     -r, --recursive
>         Read all files under each directory, recursively, following
>         symbolic links only if they are on the command line. Note
>         that if no file operand is given, grep searches the working
>         directory. This is equivalent to the -d recurse option.
>
>     -R, --dereference-recursive
>         Read all files under each directory, recursively. Follow all
>         symbolic links, unlike -r.
>
> It seems to me that outside of this advertised difference in
> following/non-following symlinks, -R option also makes grep to
> search through hidden directories. Is it so? Wouldn’t it be a
> good idea to put it into a manpage?

Please tell us why you think that.
At least for me, with either -r or -R, grep searches directories whose
names start with ".":

$ mkdir -p .j/.j && cd .j && echo a > .j/a
$ grep -r a
.j/a:a
$ grep -R a
.j/a:a

I'm marking this as done. If you show evidence of a problem, it's easy
to reopen.

Message #13 received at 78415-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Matěj Cepl <mcepl <at> cepl.eu>
To: "Jim Meyering" <jim <at> meyering.net>
Cc: 78415-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#78415: documentation: -R v -r difference is not just about
 symlinks
Date: Thu, 15 May 2025 06:44:06 +0000

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

On Wed May 14, 2025 at 10:59 PM UTC, Jim Meyering wrote:
> Please tell us why you think that.
> At least for me, with either -r or -R, grep searches directories whose
> names start with ".":

You are right, I was wrong, I am sorry. A sloppy testing.

Have a nice day,

Matěj

-- 
http://matej.ceplovi.cz/blog/, @mcepl <at> en.osm.town
GPG Finger: 3C76 A027 CA45 AD70 98B5  BC1D 7920 5802 880B C9D8
 
Nemo iudex in causa sua

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