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Re: 'cp' utility bug when <dest-name>.exe file exist.


On Fri, Jun 11, 2010 at 08:38, Nellis, Kenneth
<Kenneth.Nellis@acs-inc.com> wrote:
> Perhaps it's worth considering adding a CYGWIN environment
> variable option, e.g., exe_magic, and deliberately evolve
> the code base towards checking this setting before invoking
> exe magic. I, for one, never run my binaries in the Windows
> environment, so exe magic has no benefit and numerous
> disadvantages. The new option would default to ON, and
> individual users could change their setting to OFF as the
> evolution progresses to their satisfaction.
>
> --Ken Nellis
>

If any traction can be gained on actually making this change I think
this is a very reasonable way to proceed. Based on previous comments
it is almost certain that early attempts at making this type of change
will introduce breakage. Having an environment variable (maybe not
CYGWIN) that must be set to a specific value to enable the new
behavior would provide an escape hatch when such breakage is
encountered by allowing a person to unset the variable and getting
back the original behavior. The one potential down-side I see to this
idea is what cost would be incurred by having to check the state of an
environment variable every place that currently has exe magic?

Steven Collins

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