Re: Function to find symlink target

[Emanuel Berg]

Jean Louis wrote:

> Let us say there are 100 websites, there is repository of
> pictures, videos, files on computer, but one part must be on
> websites too, then there is website repository on a local
> computer. Images and files are then linked to website
> repository on local computer in their corresponding
> locations, this saving space, then rsync uploads symlinks as
> real files to web server.
>
> In this case symlinks spare huge hard disk space.

Actually a file (size F) and a symlink (size S and 0 < S)
takes F + S while just the file takes F.

How big is a symlink?

$ touch a.txt
$ ln -s a.txt a-sy.txt
$ du -b a-sl.txt
5

5 bytes. The path to a.txt.

The advantage is one can create virtual filesystems on
a file-by-file basis. There are many use cases for that
including the one you mention ...

> There is no general rule that one should tell to avoid some
> feature

The general rule is don't use it unless there is a good
reason to.

> rather there shall be particular case to consider to see
> what could be better solution.

Indeed.

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