Karsten Hilbert wrote: > Am I confused ? > > ncq@hermes:~$ python3 > Python 3.7.2+ (default, Feb 2 2019, 14:31:48) > [GCC 8.2.0] on linux > Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information. > >>> import os > >>> print(os.supports_follow_symlinks) > {<built-in function utime>, <built-in function chown>, <built-in function > access>, <built-in function stat>, <built-in function link>} >>> os.chmod > in os.supports_follow_symlinks False > >>> os.chmod('/tmp/test', 0o0700, follow_symlinks = False) > Traceback (most recent call last): > File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module> > NotImplementedError: chmod: follow_symlinks unavailable on this platform > >>> > > I would only have expected this exception when I actually > request the unavailable functionality, like so: > > os.chmod('/tmp/test', 0o0700, follow_symlinks = True) > > This, however, works: > > os.chmod('/tmp/test', 0o0700) > > DESPITE the documentation saying > > os.chmod(path, mode, *, dir_fd=None, follow_symlinks=True) > > IOW, the default for <follow_symlinks> being "True", which is > certainly illogical to succeed when it is not even supported > on this platform. > > Where is my reasoning going astray ?
The special feature is to change permissions of the symlink proper rather than those of its target. I think an inverted flag would indeed be clearer, e. g. os.chmod(..., modify_symlink=False) # instead of follow_symlinks=True os.chmod(..., modify_symlink=True) # instead of follow_symlinks=False; # may raise NotImplementedError -- https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list