Re: a safer undo

[Michael Neumann <mneumann@xxxxxxxx>]

Matthew Dillon wrote:
> :Hi,
> :
> :I find myself the utility "undo" very dangerous, as it removes history.
> :I'd instead suggest a soft-undo mode by default, which reverts to the
> :last version of that file, but keeps the history, i.e. it overwrites the
> :file with the content of the old. To really undo, there would be a "-f"
> :(force) option, which removes forever the latest version and moves back
> :to the last version.
> :
> :It's so easy to forget the "-d" if you want a diff output, and then, the
> :file is gone.
> :
> :Other than that, a great utility. It's a great way to have version
> :control for configuration files built-in from the very beginning.
> :
> :Regards,
> :
> :   Michael
>
>     Hmm.  Doesn't it output to stdout by default?  Are you telling it
>     to overwrite the original file with '-o <same_file_name>' ?
>
>     Even if you do the original isn't lost.  Undo has no ability to
>     remove the file's history.
>
> test# echo abc > x
> test# sync
> test# sync
> test# echo def > x
> test# sync
> test# sync

Ah, I forgot to sync, so I guess the file hasn't reached the drive and
as such history was lost!

Regards,

  Michael