Add `exist_okay` parameter to `Path.symlink_to()`
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Description
Feature or enhancement
Proposal:
The same way Path.mkdir(exist_ok=True) and Path.touch(exist_ok=True) work.
Overriding an existing symbolic link should not throw an error if it's expected behaviour.
Actual behaviour:
path_to_sym = Path("existing_symlink_file")
path_to_sym.symlink_to(Path("../other_location"), target_is_directory=True)
[Errno 17] File exists: '../original_location' -> '../other_location'
Has this already been discussed elsewhere?
This is a minor feature, which does not need previous discussion elsewhere
Links to previous discussion of this feature:
See also:
#132416
https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/64173
https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/105919
Linked PRs
- gh-157659
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Review linked PR gh-157659 and the related issues #132416, #64173, and #105919 before starting. Verify how the proposed parameter should behave when the destination is an existing symbolic link, including the example case; the issue is done when expected overwrites no longer raise an error.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- python
- Domain
- operating-systems
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Estimated time
- 1-2 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 25/100