def METHOD_NAME(a_link, tfile):
    user = getpass.getuser()
    lperms = get_link_perms()
    # follow_symlinks=False (default)
    ret = filemod.check_managed_changes(
        a_link, tfile, None, None, user, None, lperms, None, None, None, None, None
    )
    assert ret == {}
    ret = filemod.check_managed_changes(
        a_link, tfile, None, None, user, None, "0644", None, None, None, None, None
    )
    assert ret == {"mode": "0644"}
    # follow_symlinks=True
    ret = filemod.check_managed_changes(
        a_link,
        tfile,
        None,
        None,
        user,
        None,
        "0644",
        None,
        None,
        None,
        None,
        None,
        follow_symlinks=True,
    )
    assert ret == {}