GNU bug report logs - #11730
bug in expr

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Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: puneeth poduri <puneeth.poduri <at> gmail.com>
To: bug-coreutils <at> gnu.org
Subject: bug in expr
Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2012 23:52:52 +0530

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

hi,
i use the following linux distro
Linux <system name>.home 2.6.43.5-2.fc15.i686 #1 SMP Tue May 8 12:07:12 UTC
2012 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

the following is the problem

$ expr 1 + 1
2
$ expr 1 * 1
expr: syntax error
$ _


sorry if it was my mis-understanding of the manual.
--
thank you

[Message part 2 (text/html, inline)]

Message #8 received at 11730 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Ondrej Vasik <ovasik <at> redhat.com>
To: puneeth poduri <puneeth.poduri <at> gmail.com>
Cc: 11730 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#11730: bug in expr
Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2012 22:50:40 +0200

On Sun, 2012-06-17 at 23:52 +0530, puneeth poduri wrote:
> 11730
Hi,

> i use the following linux distro
> Linux <system name>.home 2.6.43.5-2.fc15.i686 #1 SMP Tue May 8
12:07:12 UTC
> 2012 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux
> 
Version of coreutils (or package you are reporting bug against) is
usually more helpful than the version of the Linux kernel and
architecture.


> 
> $ expr 1 + 1
> 2
> $ expr 1 * 1
> expr: syntax error
> $ _
> 
> 
> sorry if it was my mis-understanding of the manual.
> 
This is really your misunderstanding of the shell behaviour. "*"
character is special, it gets expanded by the shell. As this is quite
common misunderstanding, it is part of GNU coreutils FAQ.
http://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/faq/coreutils-faq.html#expr-2-_002a-3-does-not-work

Please consider reading this faq, it might save you from other common
misunderstanding in the future.

Greetings,
         Ondrej Vasik

Message #15 received at 11730 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Jim Meyering <jim <at> meyering.net>
To: Ondřej Vašík <ondrej.vasik <at> gmail.com>
Cc: puneeth poduri <puneeth.poduri <at> gmail.com>, 11730 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#11730: bug in expr
Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2012 07:41:41 +0200

tags 11730 + notabug
close 11730
thanks

Ondrej Vasik wrote:
> This is really your misunderstanding of the shell behaviour. "*"
> character is special, it gets expanded by the shell. As this is quite
> common misunderstanding, it is part of GNU coreutils FAQ.
> http://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/faq/coreutils-faq.html#expr-2-_002a-3-does-not-work

Thanks for lending a hand, Ondřej.
I've marked this as a non-bug and closed the ticket via the directives
above Bcc'd to control <at> debbugs.gnu.org -- which anyone can do.

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