# [PATCH] Always copy template files (no symlinking)

3 messages from 2008-04-22 to 2008-04-22. Participants: Michael Weber, Junio C Hamano.
Thread: https://gitlist.dev/t/13215

## Michael Weber, 2008-04-22 14:03

Subject: [PATCH] Always copy template files (no symlinking)
Message-ID: <20080422140359.GA9590@roadkill.foldr.org>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/20080422140359.GA9590%40roadkill.foldr.org

```
Previously, git would readlink(2) template files that are symlinks,
and then symlink(2) the result into .git/.  This does not work for
relative symlinks (as produced by, e.g., encap), and is probably not a
good idea either: it is an irrelevant detail that a file in the
template directory is symlinked.

Signed-off-by: Michael Weber <michaelw@foldr.org>
---
 builtin-init-db.c |   15 ++-------------
 1 files changed, 2 insertions(+), 13 deletions(-)

diff --git a/builtin-init-db.c b/builtin-init-db.c
index 2854868..b025a62 100644
--- a/builtin-init-db.c
+++ b/builtin-init-db.c
@@ -83,19 +83,8 @@ static void copy_templates_1(char *path, int baselen,
 		}
 		else if (exists)
 			continue;
-		else if (S_ISLNK(st_template.st_mode)) {
-			char lnk[256];
-			int len;
-			len = readlink(template, lnk, sizeof(lnk));
-			if (len < 0)
-				die("cannot readlink %s", template);
-			if (sizeof(lnk) <= len)
-				die("insanely long symlink %s", template);
-			lnk[len] = 0;
-			if (symlink(lnk, path))
-				die("cannot symlink %s %s", lnk, path);
-		}
-		else if (S_ISREG(st_template.st_mode)) {
+		else if (S_ISREG(st_template.st_mode) ||
+			 S_ISLNK(st_template.st_mode)) {
 			if (copy_file(path, template, st_template.st_mode))
 				die("cannot copy %s to %s", template, path);
 		}
-- 
1.5.5.69.ga0a105

```

## Junio C Hamano, 2008-04-22 17:05

Subject: Re: [PATCH] Always copy template files (no symlinking)
Message-ID: <7vprshyg5e.fsf@gitster.siamese.dyndns.org>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/7vprshyg5e.fsf%40gitster.siamese.dyndns.org
In-Reply-To: <20080422140359.GA9590@roadkill.foldr.org>

```
Michael Weber <michaelw@foldr.org> writes:

> Previously, git would readlink(2) template files that are symlinks,
> and then symlink(2) the result into .git/.  This does not work for
> relative symlinks (as produced by, e.g., encap), and is probably not a
> good idea either: it is an irrelevant detail that a file in the
> template directory is symlinked.

This was very deliberately done to allow a relative symlink that points at
e.g. ../../hooks/pre-commit with .git/hooks/pre-commit.  IOW, "use what
the project suggests".

```

## Michael Weber, 2008-04-22 19:12

Subject: Re: [PATCH] Always copy template files (no symlinking)
Message-ID: <30F967B1-A971-4F8B-A74D-4BDA8BB184B5@foldr.org>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/30F967B1-A971-4F8B-A74D-4BDA8BB184B5%40foldr.org
In-Reply-To: <7vprshyg5e.fsf@gitster.siamese.dyndns.org>

```
[accidentally sent as PM]

On Apr 22, 2008, at 19:05 , Junio C Hamano wrote:

> Michael Weber <michaelw@foldr.org> writes:
>
>> Previously, git would readlink(2) template files that are symlinks,
>> and then symlink(2) the result into .git/.  This does not work for
>> relative symlinks (as produced by, e.g., encap), and is probably  
>> not a
>> good idea either: it is an irrelevant detail that a file in the
>> template directory is symlinked.
>
> This was very deliberately done to allow a relative symlink that  
> points at
> e.g. ../../hooks/pre-commit with .git/hooks/pre-commit.  IOW, "use  
> what
> the project suggests".

I see.  How can I get the same functionality on a platform which does  
not support symlinks?


Cheers,
Michael

```