copy-file does not preserve file attributes on linux version of Racket...

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Don Green

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May 10, 2021, 8:16:53 PM5/10/21
to Racket Users
From Racket doc: "File permissions are transferred from src to dest; on Windows, the modification time of src is also transferred to dest."

Is the above line meant to imply that a unix/linux version of Racket will NOT preserve file attributes using copy-file?

George Neuner

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May 10, 2021, 10:31:30 PM5/10/21
to Don Green, racket users
I don't know the answer to your question re: Racket's copy-file, but I
would point out that in the OS the create, modify, and access times for
files all are maintained separately.  A program (with sufficient rights)
can change them independently.

Matthew Flatt

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May 11, 2021, 7:18:46 AM5/11/21
to Don Green, Racket Users
Yes, that's right.

The intent is to mirror the most common convention for file copies on
each platform. On Unix, `cp` sets the copied file's timestamp to the
current time. On Windows, `copy` gives the copy the original file's
timestamp. (These conventions are also reflected by the system APIs
that racket uses.)


Matthew
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