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Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2019 21:11:55 +0300
From: Andrey Repin <anrdaemon AT yandex DOT ru>
Reply-To: cygwin AT cygwin DOT com
Message-ID: <1501621188.20191227211155@yandex.ru>
To: Jeff <cygwin AT kosowsky DOT org>, cygwin AT cygwin DOT com
Subject: Re: Any downside to using winsymlinks over cygwin-style symlinks?
In-Reply-To: <24070.7571.896562.93733@consult.pretender>
References: <24070 DOT 7571 DOT 896562 DOT 93733 AT consult DOT pretender>
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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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