[Bug 1807295] [NEW] Sort - Checking & Handling File Types

[Amit Biswas]

Public bug reported:

I am not completely sure if you would consider this a bug or not. Sort
like many other applications does not check for file types of the inputs
that are passed in as arguments. Any case, I wanted to entertain the
idea of checking file types
(https://github.com/pkmoore/rrapper/blob/master/anomalies/weird_filetypes.md).
For example, sorting files that of type block/character/fifo does not
make much sense as it will just hang or use up all cpu cycles. The best
implementation of file type checking is in the coreutils application mv
(copy.c).

I have included a patch that adds file type check for the types
mentioned above. Any input or criticism is highly appreciated. I would
be happy to look an an alternative option or otherwise.

Thanks!
Amit
abiswas at nyu.edu

** Affects: coreutils (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New


** Tags: file sort type

** Patch added: "patch for checking file type"
   https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1807295/+attachment/5219857/+files/file_type_check.patch

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1807295

Title:
  Sort - Checking & Handling File Types

Status in coreutils package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  I am not completely sure if you would consider this a bug or not. Sort
  like many other applications does not check for file types of the
  inputs that are passed in as arguments. Any case, I wanted to
  entertain the idea of checking file types
  (https://github.com/pkmoore/rrapper/blob/master/anomalies/weird_filetypes.md).
  For example, sorting files that of type block/character/fifo does not
  make much sense as it will just hang or use up all cpu cycles. The
  best implementation of file type checking is in the coreutils
  application mv (copy.c).

  I have included a patch that adds file type check for the types
  mentioned above. Any input or criticism is highly appreciated. I would
  be happy to look an an alternative option or otherwise.

  Thanks!
  Amit
  abiswas at nyu.edu

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