code: public static boolean getSymlink(Configuration conf){
      String result = conf.get("mapred.create.symlink");
      if ("yes".equals(result)){
        return true;
      }
      return false;
    }
docs: This method checks to see if symlinks are to be create for the
  localized cache files in the current working directory
  @param conf the jobconf
  @return true if symlinks are to be created- else return false