Can GNU Stow use a stow target directory that is a symbolic link?
- Dominant language
- Perl
- Stars
- 1.1k
- Forks
- 56
- PR merge metrics
- No merged PRs in 30d
Description
```sh
mkdir -p /usr/local/Cellar/app/0.36.2/{bin,etc}
touch /usr/local/Cellar/app/0.36.2/{LICENSE,README.md}
touch /usr/local/Cellar/app/0.36.2/bin/cmd
ln -s /usr/local/Cellar/app/0.36.2 /usr/local/opt/app
mkdir -p ~/dotfiles/app-config/opt/app/
touch ~/dotfiles/app-config/opt/app/homebrew.mxcl.app.plist
cd ~/dotfiles/app-config/opt/
stow -v5 -n --no-folding --dir=. --target=/usr/local/opt/
```
Output
```
read_a_link(app): real link
Evaluate existing link: app => ../Cellar/app/0.36.2
is path ../Cellar/app/0.36.2 owned by stow?
no - either ../Cellar/app/0.36.2 not under ../../../Users/issenn/dotfiles/app-config/opt or vice-versa
CONFLICT when stowing .: existing target is not owned by stow: app
```
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start by reproducing the reported GNU Stow command sequence and inspect how the existing target symlink is evaluated and classified as owned or conflicting. Determine the intended behavior for a stow target that is itself a symbolic link, then add coverage for this exact scenario; done means the command handles it according to the agreed behavior without reporting the shown conflict.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- perl
- Domain
- cli
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 35/100