Variant_symlinks Variant_symlinks

Variant symlinks - Definition and Overview

In computer programming, a variant symlink is a symlink that has a variable name embedded in it. This can allow some clever tricks to be performed that are not possible with a standard symlink. Variables embedded in the symlinks can include user and or environment specific information among other things.

Operating systems that make use of variant symlinks include Domain/OS and DragonFly BSD.

Here is an example from the DragonFly BSD mailing list archive:

sysctl -w vfs.varsym_enable=1
ln -s 'a${fubar}b' test
cat > axxb << EOF
HI!
EOF
varsym fubar=xx
cat test

References

Example Usage of symlinks

WildPixels: @illuminantceo I think u can move dropbox folder with Alias/symlinks to other drive (as long as it is connected when dropbox runs)
jcuk: So, symlinks totally screw up Time Machine. That's good to know.
tephnyt: Link Shell Extension (does hardlinks, symlinks called junctions in Windows) http://bit.ly/19c4EZ
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