Do we really need correct st_nlink count for directories?

[Eric Blake]

According to Igor Peshansky on 4/25/2008 2:25 PM:
>> When link counts are accurate, every directory has a link count of at
>> least 2 (. and ..)
> 
> I thought leaf directories had a legitimate link count of 1.

Two, actually: ".", but also the entry in ".." that points to the 
directory's inode.  There might be some alternative file systems where 
readdir() omits . and .. in its list, leaving a link count of 0.  But I've 
never seen a disk-based link count of 1.  And even Linux uses 1, not 0, as 
the link count of FAT directories.  A directory with a link count of 2 is 
guaranteed to be a leaf directory (no subdirs); but with a link count of 1 
is indeterminate.

-- 
Don't work too hard, make some time for fun as well!

Eric Blake             ebb9@byu.net