ls, rm, cp, open, touch, mkdir: Don't expand tilde if input path is quoted string or a variable. (#12232)

# Description
Fixes:  #11887
Fixes: #11626

This pr unify the tilde expand behavior over several filesystem relative
commands. It follows the same rule with glob expansion:
|  command  |  result |
| ----------- |  ------ |
| ls ~/aaa  | expand tilde
| ls "~/aaa"  | don't expand tilde
| let f = "~/aaa"; ls $f | don't expand tilde, if you want to: use `ls
($f \| path expand)`
| let f: glob = "~/aaa"; ls $f | expand tilde, they don't expand on
`mkdir`, `touch` comamnd.

Actually I'm not sure for 4th item, currently it's expanding is just
because it followes the same rule with glob expansion.

### About the change
It changes `expand_path_with` to accept a new argument called
`expand_tilde`, if it's true, expand it, if not, just keep it as `~`
itself.

# User-Facing Changes
After this change, `ls "~/aaa"` won't expand tilde.

# Tests + Formatting
Done

crates/nu-cli/src/repl.rs

@@ -734,7 +734,7 @@ fn parse_operation(
         orig = trim_quotes_str(&orig).to_string()
     }
 
-    let path = nu_path::expand_path_with(&orig, &cwd);
+    let path = nu_path::expand_path_with(&orig, &cwd, true);
     if looks_like_path(&orig) && path.is_dir() && tokens.0.len() == 1 {
         Ok(ReplOperation::AutoCd {
             cwd,

crates/nu-command/src/env/load_env.rs

@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ impl Command for LoadEnv {
                         if env_var == "PWD" {
                             let cwd = current_dir(engine_state, stack)?;
                             let rhs = rhs.coerce_into_string()?;
-                            let rhs = nu_path::expand_path_with(rhs, cwd);
+                            let rhs = nu_path::expand_path_with(rhs, cwd, true);
                             stack.add_env_var(
                                 env_var,
                                 Value::string(rhs.to_string_lossy(), call.head),

crates/nu-command/src/filesystem/ls.rs

@@ -118,12 +118,14 @@ impl Command for Ls {
         let (path, p_tag, absolute_path, quoted) = match pattern_arg {
             Some(pat) => {
                 let p_tag = pat.span;
-                let p = expand_to_real_path(pat.item.as_ref());
+                let expanded = nu_path::expand_path_with(
-
+                    pat.item.as_ref(),
-                let expanded = nu_path::expand_path_with(&p, &cwd);
+                    &cwd,
+                    matches!(pat.item, NuGlob::Expand(..)),
+                );
                 // Avoid checking and pushing "*" to the path when directory (do not show contents) flag is true
                 if !directory && expanded.is_dir() {
-                    if permission_denied(&p) {
+                    if permission_denied(&expanded) {
                         #[cfg(unix)]
                         let error_msg = format!(
                             "The permissions of {:o} do not allow access for this user",
@@ -151,9 +153,17 @@ impl Command for Ls {
                     }
                     extra_star_under_given_directory = true;
                 }
-                let absolute_path = p.is_absolute();
+
+                // it's absolute path if:
+                // 1. pattern is absolute.
+                // 2. pattern can be expanded, and after expands to real_path, it's absolute.
+                //    here `expand_to_real_path` call is required, because `~/aaa` should be absolute
+                //    path.
+                let absolute_path = Path::new(pat.item.as_ref()).is_absolute()
+                    || (pat.item.is_expand()
+                        && expand_to_real_path(pat.item.as_ref()).is_absolute());
                 (
-                    p,
+                    expanded,
                     p_tag,
                     absolute_path,
                     matches!(pat.item, NuGlob::DoNotExpand(_)),

crates/nu-command/src/filesystem/open.rs

@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 use super::util::get_rest_for_glob_pattern;
 use nu_engine::{current_dir, get_eval_block, CallExt};
-use nu_path::expand_to_real_path;
 use nu_protocol::ast::Call;
 use nu_protocol::engine::{Command, EngineState, Stack};
 use nu_protocol::util::BufferedReader;
@@ -153,7 +152,6 @@ impl Command for Open {
                     };
 
                     let buf_reader = BufReader::new(file);
-                    let real_path = expand_to_real_path(path);
 
                     let file_contents = PipelineData::ExternalStream {
                         stdout: Some(RawStream::new(
@@ -166,7 +164,7 @@ impl Command for Open {
                         exit_code: None,
                         span: call_span,
                         metadata: Some(PipelineMetadata {
-                            data_source: DataSource::FilePath(real_path),
+                            data_source: DataSource::FilePath(path.to_path_buf()),
                         }),
                         trim_end_newline: false,
                     };

crates/nu-command/src/filesystem/rm.rs

@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ fn rm(
 
     for (idx, path) in paths.clone().into_iter().enumerate() {
         if let Some(ref home) = home {
-            if expand_path_with(path.item.as_ref(), &currentdir_path)
+            if expand_path_with(path.item.as_ref(), &currentdir_path, path.item.is_expand())
                 .to_string_lossy()
                 .as_ref()
                 == home.as_str()
@@ -242,7 +242,11 @@ fn rm(
     let mut all_targets: HashMap<PathBuf, Span> = HashMap::new();
 
     for target in paths {
-        let path = expand_path_with(target.item.as_ref(), &currentdir_path);
+        let path = expand_path_with(
+            target.item.as_ref(),
+            &currentdir_path,
+            target.item.is_expand(),
+        );
         if currentdir_path.to_string_lossy() == path.to_string_lossy()
             || currentdir_path.starts_with(format!("{}{}", target.item, std::path::MAIN_SEPARATOR))
         {
@@ -281,7 +285,11 @@ fn rm(
                             }
 
                             all_targets
-                                .entry(nu_path::expand_path_with(f, &currentdir_path))
+                                .entry(nu_path::expand_path_with(
+                                    f,
+                                    &currentdir_path,
+                                    target.item.is_expand(),
+                                ))
                                 .or_insert_with(|| target.span);
                         }
                         Err(e) => {

crates/nu-command/src/filesystem/save.rs

@@ -92,14 +92,14 @@ impl Command for Save {
 
         let path_arg = call.req::<Spanned<PathBuf>>(engine_state, stack, 0)?;
         let path = Spanned {
-            item: expand_path_with(path_arg.item, &cwd),
+            item: expand_path_with(path_arg.item, &cwd, true),
             span: path_arg.span,
         };
 
         let stderr_path = call
             .get_flag::<Spanned<PathBuf>>(engine_state, stack, "stderr")?
             .map(|arg| Spanned {
-                item: expand_path_with(arg.item, cwd),
+                item: expand_path_with(arg.item, cwd, true),
                 span: arg.span,
             });
 

crates/nu-command/src/filesystem/ucp.rs

@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ impl Command for UCp {
             target.item.to_string(),
         ));
         let cwd = current_dir(engine_state, stack)?;
-        let target_path = nu_path::expand_path_with(target_path, &cwd);
+        let target_path = nu_path::expand_path_with(target_path, &cwd, target.item.is_expand());
         if target.item.as_ref().ends_with(PATH_SEPARATOR) && !target_path.is_dir() {
             return Err(ShellError::GenericError {
                 error: "is not a directory".into(),
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ impl Command for UCp {
 
         // paths now contains the sources
 
-        let mut sources: Vec<PathBuf> = Vec::new();
+        let mut sources: Vec<(Vec<PathBuf>, bool)> = Vec::new();
 
         for mut p in paths {
             p.item = p.item.strip_ansi_string_unlikely();
@@ -230,16 +230,19 @@ impl Command for UCp {
                     Err(e) => return Err(e),
                 }
             }
-            sources.append(&mut app_vals);
+            sources.push((app_vals, p.item.is_expand()));
         }
 
         // Make sure to send absolute paths to avoid uu_cp looking for cwd in std::env which is not
         // supported in Nushell
+        for (sources, need_expand_tilde) in sources.iter_mut() {
             for src in sources.iter_mut() {
                 if !src.is_absolute() {
-                *src = nu_path::expand_path_with(&src, &cwd);
+                    *src = nu_path::expand_path_with(&src, &cwd, *need_expand_tilde);
                 }
             }
+        }
+        let sources: Vec<PathBuf> = sources.into_iter().flat_map(|x| x.0).collect();
 
         let attributes = make_attributes(preserve)?;
 

crates/nu-command/src/filesystem/umkdir.rs

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-use nu_engine::env::current_dir;
 use nu_engine::CallExt;
 use nu_protocol::ast::Call;
 use nu_protocol::engine::{Command, EngineState, Stack};
 use nu_protocol::{Category, Example, PipelineData, ShellError, Signature, SyntaxShape, Type};
+use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 use uu_mkdir::mkdir;
 #[cfg(not(windows))]
@@ -60,11 +60,10 @@ impl Command for UMkdir {
         call: &Call,
         _input: PipelineData,
     ) -> Result<PipelineData, ShellError> {
-        let cwd = current_dir(engine_state, stack)?;
         let mut directories = call
             .rest::<String>(engine_state, stack, 0)?
             .into_iter()
-            .map(|dir| nu_path::expand_path_with(dir, &cwd))
+            .map(PathBuf::from)
             .peekable();
 
         let is_verbose = call.has_flag(engine_state, stack, "verbose")?;

crates/nu-command/src/filesystem/umv.rs

@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 use super::util::get_rest_for_glob_pattern;
 use nu_engine::current_dir;
 use nu_engine::CallExt;
-use nu_path::{expand_path_with, expand_to_real_path};
+use nu_path::expand_path_with;
 use nu_protocol::ast::Call;
 use nu_protocol::engine::{Command, EngineState, Stack};
+use nu_protocol::NuGlob;
 use nu_protocol::{Category, Example, PipelineData, ShellError, Signature, SyntaxShape, Type};
 use std::ffi::OsString;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
@@ -98,7 +99,8 @@ impl Command for UMv {
                 error: "Missing destination path".into(),
                 msg: format!(
                     "Missing destination path operand after {}",
-                    expand_path_with(paths[0].item.as_ref(), cwd).to_string_lossy()
+                    expand_path_with(paths[0].item.as_ref(), cwd, paths[0].item.is_expand())
+                        .to_string_lossy()
                 ),
                 span: Some(paths[0].span),
                 help: None,
@@ -112,7 +114,7 @@ impl Command for UMv {
             label: "Missing file operand".into(),
             span: call.head,
         })?;
-        let mut files: Vec<PathBuf> = Vec::new();
+        let mut files: Vec<(Vec<PathBuf>, bool)> = Vec::new();
         for mut p in paths {
             p.item = p.item.strip_ansi_string_unlikely();
             let exp_files: Vec<Result<PathBuf, ShellError>> =
@@ -134,22 +136,26 @@ impl Command for UMv {
                     Err(e) => return Err(e),
                 }
             }
-            files.append(&mut app_vals);
+            files.push((app_vals, p.item.is_expand()));
         }
 
         // Make sure to send absolute paths to avoid uu_cp looking for cwd in std::env which is not
         // supported in Nushell
+        for (files, need_expand_tilde) in files.iter_mut() {
             for src in files.iter_mut() {
                 if !src.is_absolute() {
-                *src = nu_path::expand_path_with(&src, &cwd);
+                    *src = nu_path::expand_path_with(&src, &cwd, *need_expand_tilde);
                 }
             }
+        }
+        let mut files: Vec<PathBuf> = files.into_iter().flat_map(|x| x.0).collect();
 
         // Add back the target after globbing
-        let expanded_target = expand_to_real_path(nu_utils::strip_ansi_string_unlikely(
+        let abs_target_path = expand_path_with(
-            spanned_target.item.to_string(),
+            nu_utils::strip_ansi_string_unlikely(spanned_target.item.to_string()),
-        ));
+            &cwd,
-        let abs_target_path = expand_path_with(expanded_target, &cwd);
+            matches!(spanned_target.item, NuGlob::Expand(..)),
+        );
         files.push(abs_target_path.clone());
         let files = files
             .into_iter()

crates/nu-command/src/path/exists.rs

@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ fn exists(path: &Path, span: Span, args: &Arguments) -> Value {
     if path.as_os_str().is_empty() {
         return Value::bool(false, span);
     }
-    let path = expand_path_with(path, &args.pwd);
+    let path = expand_path_with(path, &args.pwd, true);
     let exists = if args.not_follow_symlink {
         // symlink_metadata returns true if the file/folder exists
         // whether it is a symbolic link or not. Sorry, but returns Err

crates/nu-command/src/path/expand.rs

@@ -152,7 +152,10 @@ fn expand(path: &Path, span: Span, args: &Arguments) -> Value {
         match canonicalize_with(path, &args.cwd) {
             Ok(p) => {
                 if args.not_follow_symlink {
-                    Value::string(expand_path_with(path, &args.cwd).to_string_lossy(), span)
+                    Value::string(
+                        expand_path_with(path, &args.cwd, true).to_string_lossy(),
+                        span,
+                    )
                 } else {
                     Value::string(p.to_string_lossy(), span)
                 }
@@ -171,12 +174,18 @@ fn expand(path: &Path, span: Span, args: &Arguments) -> Value {
             ),
         }
     } else if args.not_follow_symlink {
-        Value::string(expand_path_with(path, &args.cwd).to_string_lossy(), span)
+        Value::string(
+            expand_path_with(path, &args.cwd, true).to_string_lossy(),
+            span,
+        )
     } else {
         canonicalize_with(path, &args.cwd)
             .map(|p| Value::string(p.to_string_lossy(), span))
             .unwrap_or_else(|_| {
-                Value::string(expand_path_with(path, &args.cwd).to_string_lossy(), span)
+                Value::string(
+                    expand_path_with(path, &args.cwd, true).to_string_lossy(),
+                    span,
+                )
             })
     }
 }

crates/nu-command/tests/commands/ls.rs

@@ -711,3 +711,25 @@ fn list_empty_string() {
         assert!(actual.err.contains("does not exist"));
     })
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn list_with_tilde() {
+    Playground::setup("ls_tilde", |dirs, sandbox| {
+        sandbox
+            .within("~tilde")
+            .with_files(vec![EmptyFile("f1.txt"), EmptyFile("f2.txt")]);
+
+        let actual = nu!(cwd: dirs.test(), "ls '~tilde'");
+        assert!(actual.out.contains("f1.txt"));
+        assert!(actual.out.contains("f2.txt"));
+        assert!(actual.out.contains("~tilde"));
+        let actual = nu!(cwd: dirs.test(), "ls ~tilde");
+        assert!(actual.err.contains("does not exist"));
+
+        // pass variable
+        let actual = nu!(cwd: dirs.test(), "let f = '~tilde'; ls $f");
+        assert!(actual.out.contains("f1.txt"));
+        assert!(actual.out.contains("f2.txt"));
+        assert!(actual.out.contains("~tilde"));
+    })
+}

crates/nu-command/tests/commands/move_/umv.rs

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ use nu_test_support::fs::{files_exist_at, Stub::EmptyFile, Stub::FileWithContent
 use nu_test_support::nu;
 use nu_test_support::playground::Playground;
 use rstest::rstest;
+use std::path::Path;
 
 #[test]
 fn moves_a_file() {
@@ -656,3 +657,33 @@ fn test_cp_inside_glob_metachars_dir() {
         assert!(files_exist_at(vec!["test_file.txt"], dirs.test()));
     });
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn mv_with_tilde() {
+    Playground::setup("mv_tilde", |dirs, sandbox| {
+        sandbox.within("~tilde").with_files(vec![
+            EmptyFile("f1.txt"),
+            EmptyFile("f2.txt"),
+            EmptyFile("f3.txt"),
+        ]);
+        sandbox.within("~tilde2");
+
+        // mv file
+        let actual = nu!(cwd: dirs.test(), "mv '~tilde/f1.txt' ./");
+        assert!(actual.err.is_empty());
+        assert!(!files_exist_at(
+            vec![Path::new("f1.txt")],
+            dirs.test().join("~tilde")
+        ));
+        assert!(files_exist_at(vec![Path::new("f1.txt")], dirs.test()));
+
+        // pass variable
+        let actual = nu!(cwd: dirs.test(), "let f = '~tilde/f2.txt'; mv $f ./");
+        assert!(actual.err.is_empty());
+        assert!(!files_exist_at(
+            vec![Path::new("f2.txt")],
+            dirs.test().join("~tilde")
+        ));
+        assert!(files_exist_at(vec![Path::new("f1.txt")], dirs.test()));
+    })
+}

crates/nu-command/tests/commands/rm.rs

@@ -538,3 +538,34 @@ fn force_rm_suppress_error() {
         assert!(actual.err.is_empty());
     });
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn rm_with_tilde() {
+    Playground::setup("rm_tilde", |dirs, sandbox| {
+        sandbox.within("~tilde").with_files(vec![
+            EmptyFile("f1.txt"),
+            EmptyFile("f2.txt"),
+            EmptyFile("f3.txt"),
+        ]);
+
+        let actual = nu!(cwd: dirs.test(), "rm '~tilde/f1.txt'");
+        assert!(actual.err.is_empty());
+        assert!(!files_exist_at(
+            vec![Path::new("f1.txt")],
+            dirs.test().join("~tilde")
+        ));
+
+        // pass variable
+        let actual = nu!(cwd: dirs.test(), "let f = '~tilde/f2.txt'; rm $f");
+        assert!(actual.err.is_empty());
+        assert!(!files_exist_at(
+            vec![Path::new("f2.txt")],
+            dirs.test().join("~tilde")
+        ));
+
+        // remove directory
+        let actual = nu!(cwd: dirs.test(), "let f = '~tilde'; rm -r $f");
+        assert!(actual.err.is_empty());
+        assert!(!files_exist_at(vec![Path::new("~tilde")], dirs.test()));
+    })
+}

crates/nu-command/tests/commands/touch.rs

@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 use chrono::{DateTime, Local};
-use nu_test_support::fs::Stub;
+use nu_test_support::fs::{files_exist_at, Stub};
 use nu_test_support::nu;
 use nu_test_support::playground::Playground;
+use std::path::Path;
 
 // Use 1 instead of 0 because 0 has a special meaning in Windows
 const TIME_ONE: filetime::FileTime = filetime::FileTime::from_unix_time(1, 0);
@@ -487,3 +488,17 @@ fn change_dir_atime_to_reference() {
         );
     })
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn create_a_file_with_tilde() {
+    Playground::setup("touch with tilde", |dirs, _| {
+        let actual = nu!(cwd: dirs.test(), "touch '~tilde'");
+        assert!(actual.err.is_empty());
+        assert!(files_exist_at(vec![Path::new("~tilde")], dirs.test()));
+
+        // pass variable
+        let actual = nu!(cwd: dirs.test(), "let f = '~tilde2'; touch $f");
+        assert!(actual.err.is_empty());
+        assert!(files_exist_at(vec![Path::new("~tilde2")], dirs.test()));
+    })
+}

crates/nu-command/tests/commands/ucp.rs

@@ -1174,6 +1174,42 @@ fn test_cp_to_customized_home_directory() {
     })
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn cp_with_tilde() {
+    Playground::setup("cp_tilde", |dirs, sandbox| {
+        sandbox.within("~tilde").with_files(vec![
+            EmptyFile("f1.txt"),
+            EmptyFile("f2.txt"),
+            EmptyFile("f3.txt"),
+        ]);
+        sandbox.within("~tilde2");
+        // cp directory
+        let actual = nu!(
+            cwd: dirs.test(),
+            "let f = '~tilde'; cp -r $f '~tilde2'; ls '~tilde2/~tilde' | length"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(actual.out, "3");
+
+        // cp file
+        let actual = nu!(cwd: dirs.test(), "cp '~tilde/f1.txt' ./");
+        assert!(actual.err.is_empty());
+        assert!(files_exist_at(
+            vec![Path::new("f1.txt")],
+            dirs.test().join("~tilde")
+        ));
+        assert!(files_exist_at(vec![Path::new("f1.txt")], dirs.test()));
+
+        // pass variable
+        let actual = nu!(cwd: dirs.test(), "let f = '~tilde/f2.txt'; cp $f ./");
+        assert!(actual.err.is_empty());
+        assert!(files_exist_at(
+            vec![Path::new("f2.txt")],
+            dirs.test().join("~tilde")
+        ));
+        assert!(files_exist_at(vec![Path::new("f1.txt")], dirs.test()));
+    })
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn copy_file_with_update_flag() {
     copy_file_with_update_flag_impl(false);

crates/nu-command/tests/commands/umkdir.rs

@@ -145,3 +145,17 @@ fn mkdir_umask_permission() {
         );
     })
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn mkdir_with_tilde() {
+    Playground::setup("mkdir with tilde", |dirs, _| {
+        let actual = nu!(cwd: dirs.test(), "mkdir '~tilde'");
+        assert!(actual.err.is_empty());
+        assert!(files_exist_at(vec![Path::new("~tilde")], dirs.test()));
+
+        // pass variable
+        let actual = nu!(cwd: dirs.test(), "let f = '~tilde2'; mkdir $f");
+        assert!(actual.err.is_empty());
+        assert!(files_exist_at(vec![Path::new("~tilde2")], dirs.test()));
+    })
+}

crates/nu-engine/src/eval.rs

@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ fn eval_redirection<D: DebugContext>(
             let cwd = current_dir(engine_state, stack)?;
             let value = eval_expression::<D>(engine_state, stack, expr)?;
             let path = Spanned::<PathBuf>::from_value(value)?.item;
-            let path = expand_path_with(path, cwd);
+            let path = expand_path_with(path, cwd, true);
 
             let mut options = OpenOptions::new();
             if *append {
@@ -634,7 +634,7 @@ impl Eval for EvalRuntime {
             Ok(Value::string(path, span))
         } else {
             let cwd = current_dir_str(engine_state, stack)?;
-            let path = expand_path_with(path, cwd);
+            let path = expand_path_with(path, cwd, true);
 
             Ok(Value::string(path.to_string_lossy(), span))
         }
@@ -653,7 +653,7 @@ impl Eval for EvalRuntime {
             Ok(Value::string(path, span))
         } else {
             let cwd = current_dir_str(engine_state, stack)?;
-            let path = expand_path_with(path, cwd);
+            let path = expand_path_with(path, cwd, true);
 
             Ok(Value::string(path.to_string_lossy(), span))
         }

crates/nu-engine/src/glob_from.rs

@@ -58,13 +58,13 @@ pub fn glob_from(
         }
 
         // Now expand `p` to get full prefix
-        let path = expand_path_with(p, cwd);
+        let path = expand_path_with(p, cwd, pattern.item.is_expand());
         let escaped_prefix = PathBuf::from(nu_glob::Pattern::escape(&path.to_string_lossy()));
 
         (Some(path), escaped_prefix.join(just_pattern))
     } else {
         let path = PathBuf::from(&pattern.item.as_ref());
-        let path = expand_path_with(path, cwd);
+        let path = expand_path_with(path, cwd, pattern.item.is_expand());
         let is_symlink = match fs::symlink_metadata(&path) {
             Ok(attr) => attr.file_type().is_symlink(),
             Err(_) => false,

crates/nu-path/src/expansions.rs

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use super::helpers;
 use super::tilde::expand_tilde;
 
 // Join a path relative to another path. Paths starting with tilde are considered as absolute.
-fn join_path_relative<P, Q>(path: P, relative_to: Q) -> PathBuf
+fn join_path_relative<P, Q>(path: P, relative_to: Q, expand_tilde: bool) -> PathBuf
 where
     P: AsRef<Path>,
     Q: AsRef<Path>,
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ where
         // more ugly - so we don't do anything, which should result in an equal
         // path on all supported systems.
         relative_to.into()
-    } else if path.to_string_lossy().as_ref().starts_with('~') {
+    } else if path.to_string_lossy().as_ref().starts_with('~') && expand_tilde {
         // do not end up with "/some/path/~" or "/some/path/~user"
         path.into()
     } else {
@@ -45,13 +45,18 @@ where
     P: AsRef<Path>,
     Q: AsRef<Path>,
 {
-    let path = join_path_relative(path, relative_to);
+    let path = join_path_relative(path, relative_to, true);
 
     canonicalize(path)
 }
 
-fn expand_path(path: impl AsRef<Path>) -> PathBuf {
+fn expand_path(path: impl AsRef<Path>, need_expand_tilde: bool) -> PathBuf {
-    let path = expand_to_real_path(path);
+    let path = if need_expand_tilde {
+        expand_tilde(path)
+    } else {
+        PathBuf::from(path.as_ref())
+    };
+    let path = expand_ndots(path);
     expand_dots(path)
 }
 
@@ -64,14 +69,14 @@ fn expand_path(path: impl AsRef<Path>) -> PathBuf {
 ///
 /// Does not convert to absolute form nor does it resolve symlinks.
 /// The input path is specified relative to another path
-pub fn expand_path_with<P, Q>(path: P, relative_to: Q) -> PathBuf
+pub fn expand_path_with<P, Q>(path: P, relative_to: Q, expand_tilde: bool) -> PathBuf
 where
     P: AsRef<Path>,
     Q: AsRef<Path>,
 {
-    let path = join_path_relative(path, relative_to);
+    let path = join_path_relative(path, relative_to, expand_tilde);
 
-    expand_path(path)
+    expand_path(path, expand_tilde)
 }
 
 /// Resolve to a path that is accepted by the system and no further - tilde is expanded, and ndot path components are expanded.

crates/nu-protocol/src/value/glob.rs

@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ impl NuGlob {
             NuGlob::Expand(s) => NuGlob::Expand(nu_utils::strip_ansi_string_unlikely(s)),
         }
     }
+
+    pub fn is_expand(&self) -> bool {
+        matches!(self, NuGlob::Expand(..))
+    }
 }
 
 impl AsRef<str> for NuGlob {

tests/path/expand_path.rs

@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ fn expand_path_with_and_without_relative() {
 
     let cwd = std::env::current_dir().expect("Could not get current directory");
     assert_eq!(
-        expand_path_with(full_path, cwd),
+        expand_path_with(full_path, cwd, true),
-        expand_path_with(path, relative_to),
+        expand_path_with(path, relative_to, true),
     );
 }
 
@@ -22,7 +22,10 @@ fn expand_path_with_relative() {
     let relative_to = "/foo/bar";
     let path = "../..";
 
-    assert_eq!(PathBuf::from("/"), expand_path_with(path, relative_to),);
+    assert_eq!(
+        PathBuf::from("/"),
+        expand_path_with(path, relative_to, true),
+    );
 }
 
 #[cfg(not(windows))]
@@ -31,7 +34,7 @@ fn expand_path_no_change() {
     let path = "/foo/bar";
 
     let cwd = std::env::current_dir().expect("Could not get current directory");
-    let actual = expand_path_with(path, cwd);
+    let actual = expand_path_with(path, cwd, true);
 
     assert_eq!(actual, PathBuf::from(path));
 }
@@ -43,7 +46,7 @@ fn expand_unicode_path_no_change() {
         spam.push("🚒.txt");
 
         let cwd = std::env::current_dir().expect("Could not get current directory");
-        let actual = expand_path_with(spam, cwd);
+        let actual = expand_path_with(spam, cwd, true);
         let mut expected = dirs.test().to_owned();
         expected.push("🚒.txt");
 
@@ -60,7 +63,7 @@ fn expand_non_utf8_path() {
 #[test]
 fn expand_path_relative_to() {
     Playground::setup("nu_path_test_1", |dirs, _| {
-        let actual = expand_path_with("spam.txt", dirs.test());
+        let actual = expand_path_with("spam.txt", dirs.test(), true);
         let mut expected = dirs.test().to_owned();
         expected.push("spam.txt");
 
@@ -74,7 +77,7 @@ fn expand_unicode_path_relative_to_unicode_path_with_spaces() {
         let mut relative_to = dirs.test().to_owned();
         relative_to.push("e-$ èрт🚒♞中片-j");
 
-        let actual = expand_path_with("🚒.txt", relative_to);
+        let actual = expand_path_with("🚒.txt", relative_to, true);
         let mut expected = dirs.test().to_owned();
         expected.push("e-$ èрт🚒♞中片-j/🚒.txt");
 
@@ -94,7 +97,7 @@ fn expand_absolute_path_relative_to() {
         let mut absolute_path = dirs.test().to_owned();
         absolute_path.push("spam.txt");
 
-        let actual = expand_path_with(&absolute_path, "non/existent/directory");
+        let actual = expand_path_with(&absolute_path, "non/existent/directory", true);
         let expected = absolute_path;
 
         assert_eq!(actual, expected);
@@ -104,7 +107,7 @@ fn expand_absolute_path_relative_to() {
 #[test]
 fn expand_path_with_dot_relative_to() {
     Playground::setup("nu_path_test_1", |dirs, _| {
-        let actual = expand_path_with("./spam.txt", dirs.test());
+        let actual = expand_path_with("./spam.txt", dirs.test(), true);
         let mut expected = dirs.test().to_owned();
         expected.push("spam.txt");
 
@@ -115,7 +118,7 @@ fn expand_path_with_dot_relative_to() {
 #[test]
 fn expand_path_with_many_dots_relative_to() {
     Playground::setup("nu_path_test_1", |dirs, _| {
-        let actual = expand_path_with("././/.//////./././//.////spam.txt", dirs.test());
+        let actual = expand_path_with("././/.//////./././//.////spam.txt", dirs.test(), true);
         let mut expected = dirs.test().to_owned();
         expected.push("spam.txt");
 
@@ -126,7 +129,7 @@ fn expand_path_with_many_dots_relative_to() {
 #[test]
 fn expand_path_with_double_dot_relative_to() {
     Playground::setup("nu_path_test_1", |dirs, _| {
-        let actual = expand_path_with("foo/../spam.txt", dirs.test());
+        let actual = expand_path_with("foo/../spam.txt", dirs.test(), true);
         let mut expected = dirs.test().to_owned();
         expected.push("spam.txt");
 
@@ -137,7 +140,7 @@ fn expand_path_with_double_dot_relative_to() {
 #[test]
 fn expand_path_with_many_double_dots_relative_to() {
     Playground::setup("nu_path_test_1", |dirs, _| {
-        let actual = expand_path_with("foo/bar/baz/../../../spam.txt", dirs.test());
+        let actual = expand_path_with("foo/bar/baz/../../../spam.txt", dirs.test(), true);
         let mut expected = dirs.test().to_owned();
         expected.push("spam.txt");
 
@@ -148,7 +151,7 @@ fn expand_path_with_many_double_dots_relative_to() {
 #[test]
 fn expand_path_with_3_ndots_relative_to() {
     Playground::setup("nu_path_test_1", |dirs, _| {
-        let actual = expand_path_with("foo/bar/.../spam.txt", dirs.test());
+        let actual = expand_path_with("foo/bar/.../spam.txt", dirs.test(), true);
         let mut expected = dirs.test().to_owned();
         expected.push("spam.txt");
 
@@ -162,6 +165,7 @@ fn expand_path_with_many_3_ndots_relative_to() {
         let actual = expand_path_with(
             "foo/bar/baz/eggs/sausage/bacon/.../.../.../spam.txt",
             dirs.test(),
+            true,
         );
         let mut expected = dirs.test().to_owned();
         expected.push("spam.txt");
@@ -173,7 +177,7 @@ fn expand_path_with_many_3_ndots_relative_to() {
 #[test]
 fn expand_path_with_4_ndots_relative_to() {
     Playground::setup("nu_path_test_1", |dirs, _| {
-        let actual = expand_path_with("foo/bar/baz/..../spam.txt", dirs.test());
+        let actual = expand_path_with("foo/bar/baz/..../spam.txt", dirs.test(), true);
         let mut expected = dirs.test().to_owned();
         expected.push("spam.txt");
 
@@ -187,6 +191,7 @@ fn expand_path_with_many_4_ndots_relative_to() {
         let actual = expand_path_with(
             "foo/bar/baz/eggs/sausage/bacon/..../..../spam.txt",
             dirs.test(),
+            true,
         );
         let mut expected = dirs.test().to_owned();
         expected.push("spam.txt");
@@ -201,7 +206,11 @@ fn expand_path_with_way_too_many_dots_relative_to() {
         let mut relative_to = dirs.test().to_owned();
         relative_to.push("foo/bar/baz/eggs/sausage/bacon/vikings");
 
-        let actual = expand_path_with("././..////././...///././.....///spam.txt", relative_to);
+        let actual = expand_path_with(
+            "././..////././...///././.....///spam.txt",
+            relative_to,
+            true,
+        );
         let mut expected = dirs.test().to_owned();
         expected.push("spam.txt");
 
@@ -215,7 +224,7 @@ fn expand_unicode_path_with_way_too_many_dots_relative_to_unicode_path_with_spac
         let mut relative_to = dirs.test().to_owned();
         relative_to.push("foo/áčěéí  +šř=é/baz/eggs/e-$ èрт🚒♞中片-j/bacon/öäöä öäöä");
 
-        let actual = expand_path_with("././..////././...///././.....///🚒.txt", relative_to);
+        let actual = expand_path_with("././..////././...///././.....///🚒.txt", relative_to, true);
         let mut expected = dirs.test().to_owned();
         expected.push("🚒.txt");
 
@@ -228,7 +237,7 @@ fn expand_path_tilde() {
     let tilde_path = "~";
 
     let cwd = std::env::current_dir().expect("Could not get current directory");
-    let actual = expand_path_with(tilde_path, cwd);
+    let actual = expand_path_with(tilde_path, cwd, true);
 
     assert!(actual.is_absolute());
     assert!(!actual.starts_with("~"));
@@ -238,7 +247,7 @@ fn expand_path_tilde() {
 fn expand_path_tilde_relative_to() {
     let tilde_path = "~";
 
-    let actual = expand_path_with(tilde_path, "non/existent/path");
+    let actual = expand_path_with(tilde_path, "non/existent/path", true);
 
     assert!(actual.is_absolute());
     assert!(!actual.starts_with("~"));