Symlinks vs Hardlinks

The cluster focuses on debates about using symbolic links (symlinks) and hard links for file management, highlighting their pros, cons, cross-filesystem limitations, and platform support as alternatives to duplication or other approaches.

📉 Falling 0.4x DevOps & Infrastructure
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#1798
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Keywords

e.g newfile.so NTFS HEADING netbsd.org NEW OLD NT POSIX OS links symbolic windows file folder usr directory posix link hard

Sample Comments

stewbrew Nov 7, 2016 View on HN

It's an interesting approach until you want to create a symlink.

mercurial Nov 28, 2011 View on HN

Why not hardlinks instead of symlinks? This would make much more sense.

srathbun Aug 13, 2012 View on HN

Umm, there's this thing called hard/soft links...

DanielRibeiro Nov 28, 2011 View on HN

Hardlinks cannot link across partitions. Symlinks can. Therefore symlinks always work, so it is easier to use.

vkazanov Aug 4, 2017 View on HN

...and? What's wrong with simlinks?

krunck Feb 21, 2025 View on HN

Does it support symlinks? Because there is always stuff I want in two different places.

fferen Jul 26, 2012 View on HN

Don't worry, with the magic of symlinks anything is possible!

ryanjkirk Jan 24, 2022 View on HN

That would be a hard link, though they can't cross filesystem boundaries.

bxc Nov 28, 2011 View on HN

Symlinks don't work on all filesystems, so don't always work.

matthewsommer Nov 1, 2024 View on HN

Why not use symlinks (on Linux, not sure of the equivalent on Windows)?