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> "cp --source=foo --destination=bar"

Cf. `dd if=foo of=bar`

Not really disagreeing, just adding context.




Then maybe one should also add the bit of context that dd's command line syntax was intended as a joke, a pun on some job control language of yore.


Oh, really? Interesting. While... odd, I always thought it appropriate to be extra explicit with dd, where for some common uses you've the chance of nuking the wrong disk.

Do you know which job control language of yore?


OS/360 JCL, apparently. At least Rob Pike wrote something to the effect on his Google+.

dd is horrible on purpose. It's a joke about OS/360 JCL. But today it's an internationally standardized joke. I guess that says it all.

How the hell does one direct-link to a G+ comment? Well, cllck the thing that says "View 384 bazillion previous comments" and then search for dd.

https://plus.google.com/+RobPikeTheHuman/posts/R58WgWwN9jp




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