[[!comment format=mdwn
 username="yarikoptic"
 avatar="http://cdn.libravatar.org/avatar/f11e9c84cb18d26a1748c33b48c924b4"
 subject="comment 9"
 date="2021-08-27T01:34:18Z"
 content="""
not sure if related, but I noticed you said to use `/dartfs-hpc/admin/opt/oldopt/git-annex/8.20200522/runshell` which corresponds to the git-annex I have available upon login, but the tests were ran using git annex installed in a conda env `8.20200502-g55acb2e52` `~/.conda/envs/datalad/bin/git-annex`, which is a \"proper\" (not standalone) build and lacks `runshell`, and I believe would just use system wide `cp`.

# in that /dartfs-hpc/admin/opt/oldopt/git-annex/8.20200522/runshell

```
(datalad) [d31548v@discovery7 _test_]$ /dartfs-hpc/admin/opt/oldopt/git-annex/8.20200522/runshell
$ pwd
/dartfs/rc/lab/D/DBIC/DBIC/inbox/BIDS/_test_
$ echo bar > bar
chmod 444 bar
cp --reflink=auto -a bar baz
chmod 644 baz
ls -l baz$ $ $ $ 
-r--r--r-- 1 d31548v rc-DBIC-bids 4 Aug 26 21:27 baz

```

now outside using default cp -- the same

```shell
(datalad) [d31548v@discovery7 _test_]$ echo bar > bar
(datalad) [d31548v@discovery7 _test_]$ chmod 444 bar
(datalad) [d31548v@discovery7 _test_]$ cp --reflink=auto -a bar baz
(datalad) [d31548v@discovery7 _test_]$ chmod 644 baz
(datalad) [d31548v@discovery7 _test_]$ ls -l baz
-r--r--r-- 1 d31548v rc-DBIC-bids 4 Aug 26 21:29 baz
```

and indeed we do get a different result, with `w`, if running under a regular `/tmp`:

```
(datalad) [d31548v@discovery7 tmp]$ pwd
/tmp
(datalad) [d31548v@discovery7 tmp]$ echo bar > bar
(datalad) [d31548v@discovery7 tmp]$ chmod 444 bar
(datalad) [d31548v@discovery7 tmp]$ cp --reflink=auto -a bar baz
(datalad) [d31548v@discovery7 tmp]$ chmod 644 baz
(datalad) [d31548v@discovery7 tmp]$ ls -l baz
-rw-r--r-- 1 d31548v rc-users 4 Aug 26 21:29 baz
```

Now, using the alternative to `-a` setting -- retains the `w` in both `runshell` and outside:

```
(datalad) [d31548v@discovery7 _test_]$ /dartfs-hpc/admin/opt/oldopt/git-annex/8.20200522/runshell
$ echo bar > bar
chmod 444 bar
cp --reflink=auto -dR --preserve=mode,ownership,timestamps bar baz
chmod 644 baz
ls -l baz$ $ $ $ 
-rw-r--r-- 1 d31548v rc-DBIC-bids 4 Aug 26 21:32 baz
$ 
(datalad) [d31548v@discovery7 _test_]$ rm -f bar baz
(datalad) [d31548v@discovery7 _test_]$ echo bar > bar
(datalad) [d31548v@discovery7 _test_]$ chmod 444 bar
(datalad) [d31548v@discovery7 _test_]$ cp --reflink=auto -dR --preserve=mode,ownership,timestamps bar baz
(datalad) [d31548v@discovery7 _test_]$ chmod 644 baz
(datalad) [d31548v@discovery7 _test_]$ ls -l baz
-rw-r--r-- 1 d31548v rc-DBIC-bids 4 Aug 26 21:32 baz
```
"""]]
