Re: RFC: cp -if a b: should it prompt? POSIX says `yes', most don't

[Jim Meyering]

Hi Paul,

Paul Eggert <address@hidden> wrote:
> As I understand it, Jim's current thought is that -f should cancel a
> preceding -i, but -i should not cancel a preceding -f.

Actually, no.

I was considering making it so that both -i and -f control
whether cp prompts for an existing destination.  Whichever
is used last controls that aspect.  But if -f is ever used, then
cp would also exhibit its currently behavior:

  -f, --force                  if an existing destination file cannot be
                                 opened, remove it and try again

i.e., -i would not cancel that aspect of a preceding -f.