aecp(1)
NAME
aegis copy file - copy a file into a change
SYNOPSIS
aegis -CoPy_file [ option... ] filename...
aegis -CoPy_file -INDependent [ option... ] filename...
aegis -CoPy_file -List [ option... ]
aegis -CoPy_file -Help
DESCRIPTION
The aegis -CoPy_file command is used to copy a file into a change.
The named files will be copied from the baseline into the development
directory, and added to the list of files in the change. The version
of files copied from the baseline is remembered.
This command may be used to copy tests into a change, not just source
files. Tests are treated just like any other source file, and are
subject to the same process.
Warning: If there are files in the development directory of the same
name they will be overwritten by this command.
You may also name directories. All of the source files in the
directories named, and all directories below them, will be copied from
the baseline into the development directory, and added to the list of
files in the change.
When copying files explicitly, it is an error if the file is already
part of the change. When you name a directory, all of the source
files in the project below that directory are copied, except any which
are already in the change. It is an error if none of the files
implicitly named by the directory can be used.
If you want to change a copied source file to be executable (shell
scripts, for example) then you simply use the normal chmod(1) command;
the reverse to make it not executable. If any of the file's
executable bits are set at aede(1) time the file is remembered as
executable and all execute bits (minus the project's umask) will be
set by subsequent aecp(1) commands.
File Name Interpretation
The aegis program will attempt to determine the project file names
from the file names given on the command line. All file names are
stored within aegis projects as relative to the root of the baseline
directory tree. The development directory and the integration
directory are shadows of this baseline directory, and so these
relative names apply here, too. Files named on the command line are
first converted to absolute paths if necessary. They are then
compared with the baseline path, the development directory path, and
the integration directory path, to determine a baseline-relative name.
It is an error if the file named is outside one of these directory
trees.
The -BAse_RElative option may be used to cause relative filenames to
be interpreted as relative to the baseline path; absolute filenames
will still be compared with the various paths in order to determine a
baseline-relative name.
The relative_filename_preference in the user configuration file may be
used to modify this default behavior. See aeuconf(5) for more
information.
Process Side Effects
This command will cancel any build or test registrations, because
adding another file logically invalidates them. If the project
configuration file was added, any diff registration will also be
canceled.
When the change files are listed (aegis -List Change_Files -TERse) the
copied files will appear in the listing. When the project files are
listed with an explicit change number (aegis -List Project_Files
-TERse -Change N) none of the change's files, including the copied
files, will appear in the terse listing. These two features are very
helpful when calling aegis from within a DMT to generate the list of
source files.
THE BASELINE LOCK
The baseline lock is used to ensure that the baseline remains in a
consistent state for the duration of commands which need to read the
contents of files in the baseline.
The commands which require the baseline to be consistent (these
include the aeb(1), aecp(1) and aed(1) commands) take a baseline read
lock. This is a non-exclusive lock, so the concurrent development of
changes is not hindered.
The command which modifies the baseline, aeipass(1), takes a baseline
write lock. This is an exclusive lock, forcing aeipass(1) to block
until there are no active baseline read locks.
It is possible that one of the above development commands will block
until an in-progress aegis -Integrate_PASS completes. This is usually
of short duration while the project history is updated. The delay is
essential so that these commands receive a consistent view of the
baseline. No other integration command will cause the above
development commands to block.
When aegis' branch functionality is in use, a read (non-exclusive)
lock is taken on the branch baseline and also each of the "parent"
baselines. However, a baseline write (exclusive) lock is only taken
on the branch baseline; the "parent" baselines are only read (non-
exclusive) locked.
TEST CORRELATIONS
The "aegis -Test -SUGgest" command may be used to have aegis suggest
suitable regression tests for your change, based on the source files
in your change. This automatically focuses testing effort to relevant
tests, reducing the number of regression tests necessary to be
confident that you have not introduced a bug.
The test correlations are generated by the "aegis -Integrate_Pass"
command, which associates each test in the change with each source
file in the change. Thus, each source file accumulates a list of
tests which have been associated with it in the past. This is not as
exact as code coverage analysis, but is a reasonable approximation in
practice.
The aecp(1) and aenf(1) commands are used to associate files with a
change. While they do not actively perform the association, these are
the files used by aeipass(1) and aet(1) to determine which source
files are associated with which tests.
Test Correlation Accuracy
Assuming that the testing correlations are accurate and that the tests
are evenly distributed across the function space, there will be a less
than 1/number chance that a relevant test has not been run by the
"aegis -Test -SUGgest number" command. A small amount of noise is
added to the test weighting, so that unexpected things are sometimes
tested, and the same tests are not run every time.
Test correlation accuracy can be improved by ensuring that:
* Each change should be strongly focused, with no gratuitous file
inclusions. This avoids spurious correlations.
* Each item of new functionality should be added in an individual
change, rather than several together. This strongly correlates
tests with functionality.
* Each bug should be fixed in an individual change, rather than
several together. This strongly correlates tests with
functionality.
* Test correlations will be lost if files are moved. This is because
correlations are by name.
The best way for tests to correlate accurately with source files is
when a change contains a test and exactly those files relating to the
functionality under test. Too many spurious files will weaken the
usefulness of the testing correlations.
Notification
The copy_file_command in the project config file is run, if set. The
project_file_command is also run, if set, and if there has been an
integration recently. See aepconf(5) for more information.
File Action Adjustment
When this command runs, it first checks the change files against the
projects files. If there are inconsistencies, the file actions will
be adjusted as follows:
create If a file is being created, but another change set is
integrated which also creates the file, the file action in the
change set still being developed will be adjusted to "modify".
modify If a file is being modified, but another change set is
integrated which removes the file, the file action in the
change set still being developed will be adjusted to "create".
remove If a file is being removed, but another change set is
integrated which removes the file, the file will be dropped
from the change set still being developed.
OPTIONS
The following options are understood:
-BAse_RElative
This option may be used to cause relative filenames to be
considered relative to the base of the source tree. See
aeuconf(5) for the corresponding user preference.
-CUrrent_RElative
This option may be used to cause relative filenames to be
considered relative to the current directory. This is usually
the default. See aeuconf(5) for the corresponding user
preference.
-BRanch number
This option may be used to specify a different branch for the
origin file, rather than the baseline. (See also -TRunk
option. Please Note: the -BRanch option does not take a
project name, just the branch number suffix.
-GrandParent
This option may be used to specify the grandparent branch (one
up from the current branch) for the origin file, rather than
the baseline. (The -grandparent option is the same as the
"-branch .." option.)
-Change number
This option may be used to specify a particular change within
a project. See aegis(1) for a complete description of this
option.
-DELta number
This option may be used to specify a particular delta in the
project's history to copy the file from, rather than the most
current version. If the delta has been given a name (see
aedn(1) for how) you may use a delta name instead of a delta
number. It is an error if the delta specified does not exist.
Delta numbers start from 1 and increase; delta 0 is a special
case meaning "when the branch started".
-DELta_Date string
This option may be used to specify a particular date and time
in the project's history to copy the file from, rather than
the most current version. It is an error if the string
specified cannot be interpreted as a valid date and time.
Quote the string if you need to use spaces.
-DELta_From_Change number
This option may be used to specify a particular project delta
from its change number.
-Help
This option may be used to obtain more information about how
to use the aegis program.
-INDependent
This option is used to specify that the copy is to be run
independent of any particular change. The files will be
copied relative to the current directory.
-Keep
This option may be used to retain files and/or directories
usually deleted or replaced by the command. Defaults to the
user's delete_file_preference if not specified, see aeuconf(5)
for more information.
-No_Keep
This option may be used to ensure that the files and/or
directories are deleted or replaced by the command. Defaults
to the user's delete_file_preference if not specified, see
aeuconf(5) for more information.
-List
This option may be used to obtain a list of suitable subjects
for this command. The list may be more general than expected.
-Not_Logging
This option may be used to disable the automatic logging of
output and errors to a file. This is often useful when
several aegis commands are combined in a shell script.
-Output filename
This option may be used to specify an output file of a file
being copied from the baseline. Only one baseline file may be
named when this option is used. The file name "-" is
understood to mean the standard output. This option does not
add the file to the set of change files. No locks are taken
when this option is used, not even the baseline read lock.
-OverWriting
This option may be used to force overwriting of files. The
default action is to give an error if an existing file would
be overwritten.
-Project name
This option may be used to select the project of interest.
When no -Project option is specified, the AEGIS_PROJECT
environment variable is consulted. If that does not exist,
the user's $HOME/.aegisrc file is examined for a default
project field (see aeuconf(5) for more information). If that
does not exist, when the user is only working on changes
within a single project, the project name defaults to that
project. Otherwise, it is an error.
-Read_Only
This option may be used to specify that the file is to be used
to insulate the change from the baseline. The user does not
intend to edit the file. These files must be uncopied before
development may end.
-REScind
This option may be used to rescind (roll back) a completed
change. The change to rescind (roll back) is specified in the
usual way, with one of the --delta options.
-TERse
This option may be used to cause listings to produce the bare
minimum of information. It is usually useful for shell
scripts.
-TRunk
This option may be used to specify the project trunk for the
origin file, rather than the baseline. (See also -BRanch
option, the -trunk option is the same as the "-branch -"
option.)
-Verbose
This option may be used to cause aegis to produce more output.
By default aegis only produces output on errors. When used
with the -List option this option causes column headings to be
added.
-Wait This option may be used to require Aegis commands to wait for
access locks, if they cannot be obtained immediately.
Defaults to the user's lock_wait_preference if not specified,
see aeuconf(5) for more information.
-No_Wait
This option may be used to require Aegis commands to emit a
fatal error if access locks cannot be obtained immediately.
Defaults to the user's lock_wait_preference if not specified,
see aeuconf(5) for more information.
See also aegis(1) for options common to all aegis commands.
All options may be abbreviated; the abbreviation is documented as the
upper case letters, all lower case letters and underscores (_) are
optional. You must use consecutive sequences of optional letters.
All options are case insensitive, you may type them in upper case or
lower case or a combination of both, case is not important.
For example: the arguments "-project, "-PROJ" and "-p" are all
interpreted to mean the -Project option. The argument "-prj" will not
be understood, because consecutive optional characters were not
supplied.
Options and other command line arguments may be mixed arbitrarily on
the command line, after the function selectors.
The GNU long option names are understood. Since all option names for
aegis are long, this means ignoring the extra leading '-'. The
"--option=value" convention is also understood.
RECOMMENDED ALIAS
The recommended alias for this command is
csh% alias aecp 'aegis -cp \!* -v'
sh$ aecp(){aegis -cp "$@" -v}
ERRORS
It is an error if the change is not in the being developed state.
It is an error if the change is not assigned to the current user.
It is an error if the file is already in the change and the -OverWrite
option is not specified.
EXIT STATUS
The aegis command will exit with a status of 1 on any error. The
aegis command will only exit with a status of 0 if there are no
errors.
ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
See aegis(1) for a list of environment variables which may affect this
command. See aepconf(5) for the project configuration file's
project_specific field for how to set environment variables for all
commands executed by Aegis.
EXAMPLES
Here are some simple examples. Remember that most commands are
relative to the current directory, even though these examples assume
you are at the base of the development directory tree.
Copy Whole Project
To copy the whole project into your change, use the command
aecp .
The trailing dot is part of the command, it means "the currect
directory and everything below it". This works for any directory in
your project source tree, if you want to be more seledctive.
Prroduce Earlier Project Version
You you wish to exactly reproduces the sources for an earlier version
of your project, you need to know the edelta number (use ael proj-
history to find it). Then use this command:
aecp -delta n .
where n is the delta number from the project history. Again, the
trailing dot is part of the command. By using the $version
substitution (see aesub(5) for more information) you can embed this
delta number into your program before distributing it.
It is also possible to give a previous change number, instead, using
this command:
aecp -delta-from-change n .
where n is the change number of interest. Again, the trailing dot is
part of the command.
Rescind a Change
When you need to rescind (back out) a completed change, it will
probably have been some time ago, so you need to know the delta number
or change number. Use this command:
aecp -delta n -rescind .
where n is the delta number of interest. All of the other -delta
variantrs also work, so if you know the change number, you can be more
selective about which files to copy:
aecp -delta-from-change n `aegis -l cf -ter -c n`
where n is the change number of interest. This only copies the files
which were in the offending change.
SEE ALSO
aeb(1) build also takes a baseline read lock (non-exclusive)
aecpu(1)
reverse action of aecp
aedb(1) begin development of a change
aedn(1) assign a name to a delta
aeipass(1)
integrate pass takes a baseline write lock (exclusive)
aemv(1) rename a file as part of a change
aenf(1) add a new file to a change
aerm(1) add files to be deleted to a change
aeuconf(5)
user configuration file format
COPYRIGHT
aegis version 4.24.3.D001
Copyright (C) 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999,
2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Peter
Miller
The aegis program comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; for details use
the 'aegis -VERSion License' command. This is free software and you
are welcome to redistribute it under certain conditions; for details
use the 'aegis -VERSion License' command.
AUTHOR
Peter Miller E-Mail: millerp@canb.auug.org.au
/\/\* WWW: http://www.canb.auug.org.au/~millerp/
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