# FileUtils noop?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/fileutils-noop/179779>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [December 3, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/fileutils-noop/179779 "2009-12-03T17:50:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rogerdpack](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rogerdpack](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/rogerdpack)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/fileutils-noop/179779/1 "2009-12-03T17:50:14Z")

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[http://ruby-doc.org/core/classes/FileUtils.html#M004315](http://ruby-doc.org/core/classes/FileUtils.html#M004315)

states that some methods can accept a :noop flag

Any guesses why this would ever be useful?

-r

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rogerdpack](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rogerdpack](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/rogerdpack)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/fileutils-noop/179779/2 "2009-12-03T18:07:03Z")

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On Dec 3, 1:50 pm, Roger P. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> [http://ruby-doc.org/core/classes/FileUtils.html#M004315](http://ruby-doc.org/core/classes/FileUtils.html#M004315)
> 
> states that some methods can accept a :noop flag
> 
> Any guesses why this would ever be useful?

For a dry-run. Like creating a directory, copying files but actually  
not doing anything, just the output of the actions but not the  
consequences.