NAME

       metamonger - Save, diff, and restore filesystem metadata

SYNOPSIS

       metamonger [--config|--debug|-v|--verbose]

       metamonger {diff | restore | save | status} [-L|--derefence|-P|--no-dereference]
       [-n|--no-act] [--untracked=[no|normal|all]] [<path>]

       metamonger {help | version}

DESCRIPTION

       metamonger allows you to store file metadata as returned by stat(1) in a text file.

       By default, it saves only mtime on files.  Other attributes an

   Storage format
       The storage format is plain JSON, but reformatted so that every entry and all its data is
       on one line.  This allows for easy integration with git(1), svn(1), and other VCS.  It
       also allows for editing by hand should you so please.

   Name
       metamonger stands for monging metadata.  "meta" as in metadata; "monging" as in dealing
       with or selling something (fishmonger) and pushing for something unpleasant (warmonger).

OPTIONS

       --config
               Specify custom config file.

       --debug Print debug messages.

       --dereference|-L
               Always follow symlinks. This is the default.

       --no-dereference|-P
               Never follow symlinks.

       --no-act|-n
               Do not act; print results only.

       --untracked
               Show untracked files: None, default, or all.

       --verbose|-v
               Print verbose messages.

COMMANDS

       diff [path]
               Diff between stored and live metadata.

       help    Display this help.

       restore [path]
               Restore metadata to file system.

       save [path]
               Write metadata to file.

       status [path]
               Show status

       version Display version information.

SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS

       metamonger can set metadata on files.  This means it is able to add/remove write
       permissions.  It can also change the modification times of files, potentially making
       make(1) ignore them in a rebuild.  Don't act stupidly, as metamonger will happily allow
       you to shoot yourself in the foot; same as rm(1).

BUGS

       None are known at this time, but reports and/or patches are more than welcome.

AUTHOR

       This POD/manpage and metamonger itself were written by Richard "RichiH" Hartmann.

       Errietta "erry" Kostala made significant contributions and implemented the test suite from
       scratch.

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright 2012-2013 Richard Hartmann <richih@debian.org>.

       Licensed under the GNU GPL version 2 or higher.

       https://github.com/RichiH/metamonger

SEE ALSO

       stat(1), stat(2)