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 three basic operation modes:
File Generation
This is the default mode. In this mode, genfile
generates data files.
File Status
In this mode genfile displays status of specified files.
Synchronous Execution.
In this mode genfile executes the given program with
--checkpoint option and executes a set of actions when
specified checkpoints are reached.
