Create file hardlink

Understanding Hardlinks and How to Create Them

A hardlink is a file system feature that allows multiple filenames to reference the same underlying data on disk. Unlike a symbolic link, which is a shortcut to the original file, a hardlink directly points to the same data blocks. This means that changes made to one hardlinked file are reflected in all its hardlinks, and the file's data only gets deleted when all hardlinks are removed.

Hardlinks are particularly useful in scenarios where you need to maintain multiple access points to the same file without duplicating its contents. They are commonly used for efficient file management, version control, and data deduplication.

Here’s how you can create a hardlink on Windows and Unix-based systems:

Windows

powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command "New-Item -Type HardLink -Path '{path.map.to.win.{stream.variable.newLocation}}' -Value '{path.map.to.win.{stream.variable.source}}' -Force"

macOS / Linux

ln "{stream.variable.source}" "{stream.variable.newLocation}"

In both examples, {stream.variable.source} represents the original file path, and {stream.variable.newLocation} is the path where the new hardlink will be created. These commands allow you to efficiently manage files across different environments by creating hardlinks.