diff --git a/usr.bin/getopt/README b/usr.bin/getopt/README new file mode 100644 index 000000000000..55e699872994 --- /dev/null +++ b/usr.bin/getopt/README @@ -0,0 +1,57 @@ +/***** unido:mod.std.unix / ut-sally!jsq / 8:54 pm Jul 4, 1985*/ +From: John Quarterman (moderator) + +Topic: yet more on getopt (command line arguments) + +Two more messages, the first a followup to a previous posting, and +the second public domain sources and man pages for getopt(3) and getopt(1). + -mod + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +From: ihnp4!utzoo!henry +Date: 3 Jul 85 18:34:41 CDT (Wed) +To: ihnp4!ut-sally!std-unix +Subject: Re: command line arguments + +> > A group of bundled options may end with an option that has an argument. +> +> This creates confusion in using C-Kermit when you want to send an image +> file. For example: +> +> send -is filename < --- works fine +> send -si filename < --- bombs the program + +The AT&T syntax standard (which getopt does not completely enforce) +actually forbids both of these usages. Options with arguments are not +allowed to be bundled, and they must be separated from their arguments +by a space. + +> I would *much* prefer to bundle the flags, then +> have those with arguments pick them up in the same order as the flags are +> listed. + +The few existing commands that use such a convention, notably tar(1), are +(in my experience) the worse for it. It's seriously error-prone. I think +the AT&T people did the right thing. + +------------------------------ + +Date: Tue, 2 Jul 85 13:07:09 edt +From: ihnp4!utcs!ian (Ian F. Darwin) +To: ihnp4!ut-sally!jsq@tzec.UTEXAS.ARPA +Subject: here is getopt + +Here is the source for getopt(3), the function that should be in +everybody's C program, and getopt(1), a program that uses it to +make shell programs comprehensible and consistent. There are man +pages for both. Please send these on to the mod. group. Thanks. + +[ I have hacked the following shell script slightly so that +it doesn't extract directly into system source directories, +rather into the current directory. It should be assumed that +this code comes with no warranty from me, Ian Darwin, or anyone +else as to whether it accurately represents getopt as distributed +with System V, or any command line standard, or that it works +at all, or that it will cause no damage when extracted or used. -mod] +