The pace of change and fixing of bugs has slowed, with the smallest increment in APFS version since it was first released in Sierra. Here are the details.
APFS
So resolving an Alias doesn’t always update data in the Alias file, even though it returns the correct path when possible. This is becoming a mess.
Links – hard links, symlinks, and Finder Aliases – are the most complex and confusing of simple concepts in computing. Do they get any better after research?
Diagram summarising how Finder Aliases work, including their resolution. And how to confuse QuickLook thumbnails.
Finder Aliases can update their path information when they are resolved. Also some differences between Aliases and Bookmarks.
Details of some of the information stored inside Bookmarks and Finder aliases, and a new version of Precize to show you that info.
How to make different types of copy/clone/link/alias in the Finder and command line, their properties and uses, summarised in two table.
If you thought the first article was lightweight fun, here’s more about links/aliases to folders, behaviour in apps, iCloud, and Bookmarks.
Mojave has 5 different types of copy/clone/alias/link, some of which can appear to behave oddly. Here they are, fully explained.
I’m sure this used to be much easier in HFS+, but here’s a detailed set of instructions for making a bootable clone in High Sierra or Mojave, for an APFS disk.
The Eclectic Light Company 