# [PATCH] create_directories: simplify and avoid repeated copying

2 messages from 2007-04-12 to 2007-04-14. Participants: Geert Bosch, Junio C Hamano.
Thread: https://gitlist.dev/t/7651

## Geert Bosch, 2007-04-12 20:29

Subject: [PATCH] create_directories: simplify and avoid repeated copying
Message-ID: <20070414013003.B0B4C2F1DC3@geert-boschs-computer.local>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/20070414013003.B0B4C2F1DC3%40geert-boschs-computer.local

```
Signed-off-by: Geert Bosch <bosch@gnat.com>
---
I needed to change the logic of this function a bit for
doing some local hacks^Wmodifications and thought it might
be a slight improvement/simplification.
No change in functionality and passed 'make test'.

 entry.c |   23 +++++++++--------------
 1 files changed, 9 insertions(+), 14 deletions(-)

diff --git a/entry.c b/entry.c
index d72f811..f966c59 100644
--- a/entry.c
+++ b/entry.c
@@ -3,24 +3,19 @@
 
 static void create_directories(const char *path, struct checkout *state)
 {
-	int len = strlen(path);
-	char *buf = xmalloc(len + 1);
-	const char *slash = path;
+	char *buf = xstrdup(path);
+	char *slash = buf;
 
 	while ((slash = strchr(slash+1, '/')) != NULL) {
-		len = slash - path;
-		memcpy(buf, path, len);
-		buf[len] = 0;
+		*slash = 0;
 		if (mkdir(buf, 0777)) {
-			if (errno == EEXIST) {
-				struct stat st;
-				if (len > state->base_dir_len && state->force && !unlink(buf) && !mkdir(buf, 0777))
-					continue;
-				if (!stat(buf, &st) && S_ISDIR(st.st_mode))
-					continue; /* ok */
-			}
-			die("cannot create directory at %s", buf);
+			struct stat st;
+			int force = (slash - buf) > state->base_dir_len && state->force;
+			if (errno != EEXIST || ((!force || unlink(buf) || mkdir(buf, 0777)) &&
+			    (stat(buf, &st) || !S_ISDIR(st.st_mode))))
+				die("cannot create directory at %s", buf);
 		}
+		*slash='/';
 	}
 	free(buf);
 }
-- 
1.5.1

```

## Junio C Hamano, 2007-04-14 14:11

Subject: Re: [PATCH] create_directories: simplify and avoid repeated copying
Message-ID: <7vlkgv9hbx.fsf@assigned-by-dhcp.cox.net>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/7vlkgv9hbx.fsf%40assigned-by-dhcp.cox.net
In-Reply-To: <20070414013003.B0B4C2F1DC3@geert-boschs-computer.local>

```
Geert Bosch <bosch@gnat.com> writes:

> Signed-off-by: Geert Bosch <bosch@gnat.com>
> ---
> I needed to change the logic of this function a bit for
> doing some local hacks^Wmodifications and thought it might
> be a slight improvement/simplification.
> No change in functionality and passed 'make test'.

I like the removal of repeated copying, but I wonder if the
denser condition is really easier to read.

I tried to like it, but I needed to reindent it first, and then
I needed to read it three times to convince myself that they are
equivalent.

        if (errno != EEXIST
            || ((!force || unlink(buf) || mkdir(buf, 0777))
                && (stat(buf, &st) || !S_ISDIR(st.st_mode))) )
                die("cannot create directory at %s", buf);

In the end, I managed to convince myself that this denser
version is doing the same thing as the original, and it is nicer
to see it in only three lines, I am not sure if it is easier to
read anymore, judging from the time it took me to reach that
conclusion...

```