Hacker News Reader

> The result of `cat a b > a` couldn't possibly be the result that the user intends

The result of cat a b > a is precisely the result that the user intends, provided that the user has actually read the documentation.

View on HN

If the user knew what they were doing they wouldn't have typed that. `cat a b > a` is the same as `cat b > a`. There's no reason to add the a before b except to confuse.

It's in the context of why cat paper* > paper.all blows everything up. Of course it's meaningless.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com