ipfs files cp/write from local fs? confusing errors?

[jbenet]

Version/Platform/Processor information (from ipfs version --all):

0.4.3-rc3

Type (bug, feature, meta, test failure, question): feature
Area (api, commands, daemon, fuse, etc): commands
Priority (from P0: functioning, to P4: operations on fire): P0
Description:

Would be nice if this worked:

> ipfs files cp /Users/earth/go/src/github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/Makefile /Makefile
Error: file does not exist

The error is super confusing anyway.

[jbenet]

• Though I understand why this is hard-- when do you copy from local fs or files api. the trees could be the same.
• Maybe this could be flags? ipfs files cp --from=sysfs [--to=repo]
• Maybe instead we want something like ipfs files add <path-in-local-fs> [<path-in-files-api>], and if no second path is specified it defaults to /added/$(basename) this could go with the ipfs add -> ipfs files add potential move.

[jbenet]

Ok this is confusing:

> ipfs files write /Makefile foo
Error: lstat foo: no such file or directory

because the doc says:

USAGE
  ipfs files write <path> <data> - Write to a mutable file in a given filesystem.

  ipfs files write [--offset=<offset> | -o] [--create | -e] [--truncate | -t] [--count=<count> | -n] [--] <path> <data>

  Write data to a file in a given filesystem. This command allows you to specify
  a beginning offset to write to. The entire length of the input will be written.

I take <data> to mean raw data. not <path> or <file>.

[jbenet]

> cat Makefile | ipfs files write /Makefile
Error: file does not exist

Not the most helpful error. maybe:

> cat Makefile | ipfs files write /Makefile
Error: file does not exist - try using --create for writing new files.

[jbenet]

For posterity, I succeeded with:

> cat Makefile | ipfs files write /Makefile --create