This appendix describes genfile, an auxiliary program
used in the GNU tar testsuite. If you are not interested in developing
GNU tar, skip this appendix.
Initially, genfile was used to generate data files for
the testsuite, hence its name. However, new operation modes were being
implemented as the testsuite grew more sophisticated, and now
genfile is a multi-purpose instrument.
There are four basic operation modes:
This is the default mode. In this mode, genfile
generates data files.
In this mode genfile displays status of specified files.
Set last access and modification times of files given in the command line.
In this mode genfile executes the given program with
--checkpoint option and executes a set of actions when
specified checkpoints are reached.