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From: olapw@olgb1.oliv.co.uk (Tony Walton)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.wizards
Subject: Re: /bin/test and stat(2)
Message-ID: <231@olgb1.oliv.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 20-Oct-87 09:16:21 EST
Article-I.D.: olgb1.231
Posted: Tue Oct 20 09:16:21 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 25-Oct-87 22:23:03 EST
References: <9767@brl-adm.ARPA>
Organization: British Olivetti Ltd.,OEM/VAR Division, London, England.
Lines: 11
Summary: Re: /bin/test and stat(2)

In article <9767@brl-adm.ARPA>, franco@MIKEY.BBN.COM (Frank A. Lonigro) writes:
 .......
> alone a directory, and why should there be two ways to refer to the same
> thing (the current directory)?  It really doesn't make sense!
> 

I don't pretend to know the original reason (if any) for having two ways
to refer to the current directory, but it certainly makes life easier for
the users. Consider the "ls" command - it's easier to type "ls" than "ls ."
every time. On the other hand, "." is necssary as a "place holder" in some
commands - like find, mv, etc.