# Does rake need to touch certain files in public directory?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/does-rake-need-to-touch-certain-files-in-public-directory/145110>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [August 6, 2008, 4:13am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/does-rake-need-to-touch-certain-files-in-public-directory/145110 "2008-08-06T04:13:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Matthew\_J\_Mucklo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Matthew\_J\_Mucklo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Matthew_J_Mucklo)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 4:13am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/does-rake-need-to-touch-certain-files-in-public-directory/145110/1 "2008-08-06T04:13:47Z")

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Rails 2.0.2:

rake seems to be complaining when certain files in the public  
directory are set to read-only.

An Example (using sample directory names):

myserver1=\> rake db:drop  
(in /my/application/directory)  
rake aborted!  
Permission denied - /my/application/directory/public/blank.html

If I make this file writable, then it seems to complain about another:

myserver1=\> rake db:drop  
(in /my/application/directory)  
rake aborted!  
Permission denied - /my/application/directory/public/stylesheets/  
active\_scaffold/DO\_NOT\_EDIT

Then if I make that file writable, then it seems to complain about  
another:

myserver1=\> rake db:drop  
(in /my/application/directory)  
rake aborted!  
Permission denied - /my/application/directory/public/stylesheets/  
active\_scaffold/default/stylesheet-ie.css

When I look at those files, blank.html just seems to be touched, no  
changes, however DO\_NOT\_EDIT actually becomes 2 bytes smaller  
(strange).

–Matt

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Matthew\_J\_Mucklo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Matthew\_J\_Mucklo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Matthew_J_Mucklo)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 9:44am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/does-rake-need-to-touch-certain-files-in-public-directory/145110/2 "2008-08-06T09:44:45Z")

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On Aug 6, 3:12 am, Matthew J Mucklo [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> Rails 2.0.2:
> 
> rake seems to be complaining when certain files in the public  
> directory are set to read-only.
> 
> An Example (using sample directory names):

This is activescaffold specific I believe. It does generate some  
assets in public on the fly.

Fred