GNU bug report logs - #17494
grep bug report: "GREP_OPTIONS" allows a user to break shell script

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From: Paul Eggert <eggert <at> cs.ucla.edu>
To: Nadav Har'El <nyh <at> cloudius-systems.com>, 17494 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Cc: Osv Dev <osv-dev <at> googlegroups.com>
Subject: bug#17494: grep bug report: "GREP_OPTIONS" allows a user to break shell script
Date: Wed, 14 May 2014 22:08:05 -0700

Nadav Har'El wrote:
> So I think it would be best if you drop the GREP_OPTIONS feature
> completely.

I tend to agree.  Hindsight is wonderful of course, but GREP_OPTIONS 
should never have been added, as it's a real minefield.  But how would 
we minimize breakage of existing usage that relies on GREP_OPTIONS?  If 
we removed it, we'd probably need a transition period, and have 
documentation of how to get the old behavior if you want it, etc.

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