[Bug 2116859] [NEW] `cp -a` fails to copy symlink to directory

[Alessandro Astone]

Public bug reported:

uutils `cp -a` fails to copy a symlink-to-an-existing-directory into
another directory

mkdir foo
mkdir dst
ln -s foo bar
cp -a bar dst
> cp: cannot create symlink 'dst' to 'foo': File exists (os error 17)

gnucp -a bar dst --verbose
> 'bar' -> 'dst/bar'

This affects dh_install when a symlink to an existing directory is
listed in debian/install

** Affects: coreutils-from (Ubuntu)
     Importance: High
         Status: New

** Affects: rust-coreutils (Ubuntu)
     Importance: High
         Status: New

** Affects: yaru-theme (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: Triaged

** Also affects: coreutils-from (Ubuntu)
   Importance: Undecided
       Status: New

** Also affects: yaru-theme (Ubuntu)
   Importance: Undecided
       Status: New

** Changed in: yaru-theme (Ubuntu)
       Status: New => Triaged

** Description changed:

  uutils `cp -a` fails to copy a symlink to an existing directory
  
  mkdir foo
  mkdir dst
  ln -s foo bar
  cp -a bar dst
  > cp: cannot create symlink 'dst' to 'foo': File exists (os error 17)
  
+ gnucp -a bar dst --verbose
+ > 'bar' -> 'dst/bar'
+ 
  This affects dh_install when a symlink to an existing directory is
  listed in debian/install

** Changed in: coreutils-from (Ubuntu)
   Importance: Undecided => High

** Changed in: rust-coreutils (Ubuntu)
   Importance: Undecided => High

** Description changed:

- uutils `cp -a` fails to copy a symlink to an existing directory
+ uutils `cp -a` fails to copy a symlink-to-an-existing-directory into
+ another directory
  
  mkdir foo
  mkdir dst
  ln -s foo bar
  cp -a bar dst
  > cp: cannot create symlink 'dst' to 'foo': File exists (os error 17)
  
  gnucp -a bar dst --verbose
  > 'bar' -> 'dst/bar'
  
  This affects dh_install when a symlink to an existing directory is
  listed in debian/install

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2116859

Title:
  `cp -a` fails to copy symlink to directory

Status in coreutils-from package in Ubuntu:
  New
Status in rust-coreutils package in Ubuntu:
  New
Status in yaru-theme package in Ubuntu:
  Triaged

Bug description:
  uutils `cp -a` fails to copy a symlink-to-an-existing-directory into
  another directory

  mkdir foo
  mkdir dst
  ln -s foo bar
  cp -a bar dst
  > cp: cannot create symlink 'dst' to 'foo': File exists (os error 17)

  gnucp -a bar dst --verbose
  > 'bar' -> 'dst/bar'

  This affects dh_install when a symlink to an existing directory is
  listed in debian/install

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