Index: Support of symbolic links to files

[JoshMock]

I use git-annex to manage and sync my photo library across machines. Each file is replaced with a symlink and stored elsewhere. When I point PhotoPrism at my main git-annex directory, they get imported as folders but not files.

Log example:

 2021-02-15 15:08:14 INFO folder: added album 21.36.04.Jpeg (path:2017/09/02/21.36.04.jpeg public:true)

I did verify that no symlinks are broken on the system where PhotoPrism is running.

version: 210211-b9595dd4-Linux-aarch64
OS: Raspbian 10 (arm_64bit=1 is set)
Running via docker-compose

[lastzero]

Sorry, symlinked files are currently not supported. Need to focus on other issues first.

[lastzero]

Also links can't be imported, just indexed. Only files can be imported.

[jamesread]

After asking in chat, @graciousgrey kindly pointed me to this issue (fellow Git Annex user/lover here!). After a brief discussion with @lastzero, he kindly pointed out several complexities with symlinks that need to be considered (obviously not an exhaustive list);

• A symlink check on each filesystem access would be necessary, to check that the correct mtime, etc are being used (sha1 fingerprinting should not make a difference)
• Needs to be a mechanism for avoiding the scanning of infinite loops on the filesystem

In addition, I can think of;

• How to represent "broken" symlinks in the UI?
• Should the UI show a little shortcut icon over symlinked items to "help" with navigation?
• Any complexities with hard links?
• Any symlink complexities across other platforms than just Linux (which is what I use), eg, should Windows shortcuts be in scope for support?

[JoshMock]

I totally get why this is not a straightforward issue. Thanks for adding that helpful context for why, @jamesread!

In the meantime, I'm using git-annex-export to keep a raw copy of my photo collection on a spare drive, which is what I'm pointing Photoprism at. While I do think some way of supporting symlinks would still be useful, it's an okay workaround for now, at least for git-annex users.

[lastzero]

@jamesread @JoshMock Would you mind testing these changes? Of course only if you are still interested 👍

[JoshMock]

@lastzero I'll see if I can set it up soon! Is there a Docker build for this change?