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install: install -D replaces symlink path components with real directories breaks our build system #11469
Description
install -D in uutils 0.7.0 replaces symlink components in the destination path with real directories, instead of following them as GNU coreutils does. This was introduced by #10140 (fix for #10013).
Reproduction
mkdir -p /tmp/target
ln -s /tmp/target /tmp/link
echo hello > /tmp/file.txt
install -D -m 644 /tmp/file.txt /tmp/link/subdir/file.txt
GNU coreutils 8.32: /tmp/link remains a symlink. file.txt is written to /tmp/target/subdir/file.txt.uutils 0.7.0: /tmp/link is replaced with a real directory. /tmp/target is untouched. file.txt is written to the new real directory at /tmp/link/subdir/file.txt.
Impact
This breaks any workflow where the install prefix is a symlink. In our case, the BOSH deployment tool sets up INSTALL_PREFIX as a symlink to a persistent disk directory, then runs packaging scripts that call make install (which uses install -D internally). The compiled output silently goes to the wrong filesystem, producing empty packages.
This likely affects any make install on a symlinked prefix, which is a common pattern (e.g. Homebrew, Nix, stow).
Possibly related to #11363.
/cc @abendrothj
Activity
uutils-coreutils: Downgrade from v0.7.0 to v0.6.0
support compilation on ubuntu-resolute
support compilation on ubuntu-resolute
GoeBachmann commentedon May 6, 2026
This issue also breaks buildroot packages installing to directories which are symlinks (e.g. in merged-bin systems).
support compilation on ubuntu-resolute
fix(install): follow symlink components in destination path with -D
fix(install): follow symlink components in destination path with -D
support compilation on ubuntu-resolute
zhw2101024 commentedon Jun 8, 2026
It seems that #11363 is caused by false assumption in the test.
support compilation on ubuntu-resolute
support compilation on ubuntu-resolute
support compilation on ubuntu-resolute
support compilation on ubuntu-resolute
support compilation on ubuntu-resolute