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UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users
Why is editing a file by renaming the new one safer?
Post 303042600 by Neo on Wednesday 1st of January 2020 03:17:37 AM
01-01-2020
Administrator
I agree.
For many non-critical files, where I am making small, incremental changes, I often do not make a fresh backup copy, especially because I have off-platform backups as well; and edit the file directory and save it, as normal.
Like zxmaus, I cannot recall every losing a file due to a system crash while editing a file, in over 40 decades of working with computers.
However, I do recall making a lot of "simple human mistakes" and have learned to be "saved by backups". This leads me to always recommend people make and maintain filesystem backups, based on their risk management model (criticality, vulnerability, threats).
These days, more-often-than-not, for a increasing majority of my file edits, if they are significant, I will sftp the file to my desktop, open the file in Visual Studio Code (or cut-and-paste into VSC if a small file) , edit the file using all the available syntax and formatting tools and plugins, and save the edited file with a different name, preserving the original file on my working directory on my desktop, and then I will either sftp or cut-and-past into the remote server over an ssh terminal.
I cannot count the number of times VSC has been helpful to spot a syntax error which missed my tired, overworked eyes. The formatting is also useful (indentations, consistent formatting, etc) is also very useful in VSC. These kinds of tools are really time savers, especially for syntax checking.
It goes without saying, I use vi every day to edit files; but I also use vi in conjunction with VSC, more and more; for the syntax checking and formatting for code (programming languages) and JSON files, etc. But as I am quick to confess I do edit files with vi and do not make make a backup copy, but not often; but if it is some small change which i can easily revert-back based on "memory", then I am guilty. I also push files to private GIT repositories as well, when my work on critical files are done. GIT is Good for backups
For many non-critical files, where I am making small, incremental changes, I often do not make a fresh backup copy, especially because I have off-platform backups as well; and edit the file directory and save it, as normal.
Like zxmaus, I cannot recall every losing a file due to a system crash while editing a file, in over 40 decades of working with computers.
However, I do recall making a lot of "simple human mistakes" and have learned to be "saved by backups". This leads me to always recommend people make and maintain filesystem backups, based on their risk management model (criticality, vulnerability, threats).
These days, more-often-than-not, for a increasing majority of my file edits, if they are significant, I will sftp the file to my desktop, open the file in Visual Studio Code (or cut-and-paste into VSC if a small file) , edit the file using all the available syntax and formatting tools and plugins, and save the edited file with a different name, preserving the original file on my working directory on my desktop, and then I will either sftp or cut-and-past into the remote server over an ssh terminal.
I cannot count the number of times VSC has been helpful to spot a syntax error which missed my tired, overworked eyes. The formatting is also useful (indentations, consistent formatting, etc) is also very useful in VSC. These kinds of tools are really time savers, especially for syntax checking.
It goes without saying, I use vi every day to edit files; but I also use vi in conjunction with VSC, more and more; for the syntax checking and formatting for code (programming languages) and JSON files, etc. But as I am quick to confess I do edit files with vi and do not make make a backup copy, but not often; but if it is some small change which i can easily revert-back based on "memory", then I am guilty. I also push files to private GIT repositories as well, when my work on critical files are done. GIT is Good for backups
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LEARN ABOUT REDHAT
install
INSTALL(1) User Commands INSTALL(1) NAME
ginstall - copy files and set attributes SYNOPSIS
install [OPTION]... SOURCE DEST (1st format) install [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY (2nd format) install -d [OPTION]... DIRECTORY... (3rd format) DESCRIPTION
In the first two formats, copy SOURCE to DEST or multiple SOURCE(s) to the existing DIRECTORY, while setting permission modes and owner/group. In the third format, create all components of the given DIRECTORY(ies). Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too. --backup[=CONTROL] make a backup of each existing destination file -b like --backup but does not accept an argument -c (ignored) -C Install file, unless target already exists and is the same as the new file, in which case the modification time won't be changed. -d, --directory treat all arguments as directory names; create all components of the specified directories -D create all leading components of DEST except the last, then copy SOURCE to DEST; useful in the 1st format -g, --group=GROUP set group ownership, instead of process' current group -m, --mode=MODE set permission mode (as in chmod), instead of rwxr-xr-x -o, --owner=OWNER set ownership (super-user only) -p, --preserve-timestamps apply access/modification times of SOURCE files to corresponding destination files -s, --strip strip symbol tables, only for 1st and 2nd formats -S, --suffix=SUFFIX override the usual backup suffix -v, --verbose print the name of each directory as it is created --help display this help and exit --version output version information and exit The backup suffix is `~', unless set with --suffix or SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX. The version control method may be selected via the --backup option or through the VERSION_CONTROL environment variable. Here are the values: none, off never make backups (even if --backup is given) numbered, t make numbered backups existing, nil numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise simple, never always make simple backups AUTHOR
Written by David MacKenzie. REPORTING BUGS
Report bugs to <bug-coreutils@gnu.org>. COPYRIGHT
Copyright (C) 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc. This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICU- LAR PURPOSE. SEE ALSO
The full documentation for install is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the info and install programs are properly installed at your site, the command info install should give you access to the complete manual. install (coreutils) 4.5.3 October 2002 INSTALL(1)