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Q&A What's the fastest way to copy, preserving file attributes, on each platform?

I am looking copy files platform-dependently on Linux, Oracle Solaris, MacOS, BSDs, and Windows. I have found some system calls for each platform, namely sendfile(), copy_file_range(), fcopyfile()...

0 answers  ·  posted 6mo ago by Melkor-1‭  ·  last activity 6mo ago by Melkor-1‭

#8: Post undeleted by user avatar Melkor-1‭ · 2024-06-20T15:00:12Z (6 months ago)
#7: Post deleted by user avatar Melkor-1‭ · 2024-06-20T14:59:49Z (6 months ago)
#6: Nominated for promotion by user avatar Alexei‭ · 2024-06-20T08:15:48Z (6 months ago)
#5: Post edited by user avatar Melkor-1‭ · 2024-06-19T09:55:26Z (6 months ago)
  • I am looking copy files platform-dependently on Linux, Oracle Solaris, MacOS, BSDs, and Windows.
  • I have found some system calls for each platform, namely `sendfile()`, `copy_file_range()`, `fcopyfile()`, `CopyFile()` et cetera. But some of them are documented to copy file attributes, whilst some are not. I am uncertain whether better to do a `stat()` + `chmod()` for syscalls that do not copy attributes, or go with the classic route of `open()` + `stat()` + `chmod()` + `read()` + `write()`, that's guaranteed to work across all UNIX-like systems, and perhaps even Windows.
  • What is each platform's fastest solution to copy a file with attributes?
  • I am looking copy files platform-dependently on Linux, Oracle Solaris, MacOS, BSDs, and Windows.
  • I have found some system calls for each platform, namely `sendfile()`, `copy_file_range()`, `fcopyfile()`, `CopyFile()` et cetera. But some of them are documented to copy file attributes, whilst some are not. I am uncertain whether it would be better to do a `stat()` + `chmod()` prior the syscalls that do not copy attributes, or go with the classic route of `open()` + `stat()` + `chmod()` + `read()` + `write()`, that's guaranteed to work across all UNIX-like systems, and perhaps even Windows.
  • What is each platform's fastest solution to copy a file with attributes?
#4: Post edited by user avatar Melkor-1‭ · 2024-06-19T09:53:59Z (6 months ago)
  • Is Linux's 3 syscalls, and FreeBSD's and Solaris' sendfile function copying file attributes to the new file?
  • What's the fastest way to copy, preserving file attributes, on each platform?
  • I am looking for efficient solutions to copy files platform-dependently and discovered the following functions:
  • * Linux:
  • - `ioctl()` with `FICLONE` (`cp` uses this by default).
  • - `copy_file_range()`.
  • - `sendfile()`.
  • * Solaris:
  • - `sendfile()`.
  • * MacOS:
  • - `clonefile()`. (Apple's `cp -c` uses this).
  • - `fcopyfile()`.
  • * FreeBSD:
  • - `copy_file_range()`.
  • - `fcopyfile()`.
  • * Windows:
  • - `Copyfile()`.
  • Now Windows's [`Copyfile()`](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/winbase/nf-winbase-copyfile?redirectedfrom=MSDN) documents that it copies file attributes to the new file. MacOS's [`clonefile()`](https://www.unix.com/man-page/mojave/2/clonefile/) also documents the same. FreeBSD's and MacOs's `fcopyfile()` will also copy file attribute when specified proper flags.
  • But what about Linux's 3 syscalls, and FreeBSD's and Solaris' `sendfile()`? I did not see it documented in their respective manual pages. Do they copy file attributes as well, or do I have to resort to `stat()`/`fstat()` followed by `chmod()`/`fchmod()` prior to these syscalls to achieve the desired result?
  • I am looking copy files platform-dependently on Linux, Oracle Solaris, MacOS, BSDs, and Windows.
  • I have found some system calls for each platform, namely `sendfile()`, `copy_file_range()`, `fcopyfile()`, `CopyFile()` et cetera. But some of them are documented to copy file attributes, whilst some are not. I am uncertain whether better to do a `stat()` + `chmod()` for syscalls that do not copy attributes, or go with the classic route of `open()` + `stat()` + `chmod()` + `read()` + `write()`, that's guaranteed to work across all UNIX-like systems, and perhaps even Windows.
  • What is each platform's fastest solution to copy a file with attributes?
#3: Post edited by user avatar Melkor-1‭ · 2024-06-19T08:41:43Z (6 months ago)
  • Do these platform-dependent file copying functions copy file attributes?
  • Is Linux's 3 syscalls, and FreeBSD's and Solaris' sendfile function copying file attributes to the new file?
#2: Post edited by user avatar Melkor-1‭ · 2024-06-19T04:18:03Z (6 months ago)
  • Do these platform-dependent efficient file copying functions copy file attributes?
  • Do these platform-dependent file copying functions copy file attributes?
#1: Initial revision by user avatar Melkor-1‭ · 2024-06-19T04:17:34Z (6 months ago)
Do these platform-dependent efficient file copying functions copy file attributes?
I am looking for efficient solutions to copy files platform-dependently and discovered the following functions:

* Linux:
    - `ioctl()` with `FICLONE` (`cp` uses this by default).
    - `copy_file_range()`.
    - `sendfile()`.
    
* Solaris:
    - `sendfile()`.

* MacOS:
    - `clonefile()`. (Apple's `cp -c` uses this).
    - `fcopyfile()`.

* FreeBSD:
    - `copy_file_range()`.
    - `fcopyfile()`.

* Windows:
    - `Copyfile()`.

Now Windows's [`Copyfile()`](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/winbase/nf-winbase-copyfile?redirectedfrom=MSDN) documents that it copies file attributes to the new file. MacOS's [`clonefile()`](https://www.unix.com/man-page/mojave/2/clonefile/) also documents the same. FreeBSD's and MacOs's `fcopyfile()` will also copy file attribute when specified proper flags.

But what about Linux's 3 syscalls, and FreeBSD's and Solaris' `sendfile()`? I did not see it documented in their respective manual pages. Do they copy file attributes as well, or do I have to resort to `stat()`/`fstat()` followed by `chmod()`/`fchmod()` prior to these syscalls to achieve the desired result?