From unknown Fri Jun 20 20:11:00 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#31705: five grep / egrep issues Resent-From: Phillip Feldman Original-Sender: "Debbugs-submit" Resent-CC: bug-grep@gnu.org Resent-Date: Mon, 04 Jun 2018 07:24:02 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: report 31705 X-GNU-PR-Package: grep X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: 31705@debbugs.gnu.org X-Debbugs-Original-To: bug-grep@gnu.org Received: via spool by submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B.152809701621205 (code B ref -1); Mon, 04 Jun 2018 07:24:02 +0000 Received: (at submit) by debbugs.gnu.org; 4 Jun 2018 07:23:36 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:60810 helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1fPjq4-0005Vs-C1 for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Mon, 04 Jun 2018 03:23:36 -0400 Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([208.118.235.92]:47249) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1fPgU5-0000Qa-8c for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Sun, 03 Jun 2018 23:48:41 -0400 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1fPgTz-0000Z1-Ao for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Sun, 03 Jun 2018 23:48:36 -0400 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.3.2 (2011-06-06) on eggs.gnu.org X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=0.8 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_50,FREEMAIL_FROM, HTML_MESSAGE,T_DKIM_INVALID autolearn=disabled version=3.3.2 Received: from lists.gnu.org ([2001:4830:134:3::11]:51240) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtps (TLS1.0:RSA_AES_256_CBC_SHA1:32) (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1fPgTz-0000Yv-6a for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Sun, 03 Jun 2018 23:48:35 -0400 Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([2001:4830:134:3::10]:38220) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1fPgTy-0005bx-0s for bug-grep@gnu.org; Sun, 03 Jun 2018 23:48:34 -0400 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1fPgTx-0000Yb-5n for bug-grep@gnu.org; Sun, 03 Jun 2018 23:48:34 -0400 Received: from mail-ot0-x236.google.com ([2607:f8b0:4003:c0f::236]:40871) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtps (TLS1.0:RSA_AES_128_CBC_SHA1:16) (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1fPgTx-0000YR-0M for bug-grep@gnu.org; Sun, 03 Jun 2018 23:48:33 -0400 Received: by mail-ot0-x236.google.com with SMTP id n1-v6so35886231otf.7 for ; Sun, 03 Jun 2018 20:48:32 -0700 (PDT) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20161025; h=mime-version:from:date:message-id:subject:to; bh=fAc0TrvriPzQNbJT7YJvV9kgafcS0qXKweFoGkGk57c=; b=ZhrCunSazY73GQlIr0dRSgZIJEep9vzUsY3P81WwKFFdzWA0Tbzp1i3uzBRFjQoI6+ m1czVd6RHa6gOAZh/jq3hlDjPAOFaJ4oEoltQsbHAuyuLLyfbHfh7w/AZascXfIS9FZD BMwbRCVEojSE+FN3HCfO2ei8eI8q8B1orodKP+nAC4KTR+RTLAFQfCiHHOshSZdJr7in +jKZCzzCokO7TttpWOji7yDQQ5jjKTJCVd1J0zp1/YYOL68Ow2NtZgn3u1BTWBTUJkoQ Hl8qZlk11nzHmAPYghOGqNNshzYq4E4XnkWIkdDXPU3YMpu+LIv8IKhyz55KoRzS7fuZ /qyQ== X-Google-DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=1e100.net; s=20161025; h=x-gm-message-state:mime-version:from:date:message-id:subject:to; bh=fAc0TrvriPzQNbJT7YJvV9kgafcS0qXKweFoGkGk57c=; b=Ty8BGKXOFYiGX17wD22maOVOeVEWGzexbBcm+K6hlVRGkvHJdT+glTcQFxm3OfRGi4 X1z8XFDwK9uYKrdJNX+7uJGxjml+h+lx5z97Mqc+1JKFD5bLvXLZUfrVFCKOdwgodxNu kSKtq9z5rSUln8wgoX4vN6VUDJc7R0hk016FLGikVFudY/k8PvHbZnEty49rBOF/Xrv0 c55libl+CnFcz7eBRY5o74YhUsMuIzjYrTeDengKqKXgUNMGAurRs9IcpvEMmVatMP3I qhmXWtDuT+fq2hUVCd1FXjJHMAUPfZNsbUBYVPgJH18XzUIcEnfB7LQBba91g/aCf2k/ +tDg== X-Gm-Message-State: ALKqPwdNEivDLR5acmEBmXwwcjl6A0gX8IIOgF5nRDx2scyenqC4Ny5Y oUA0/7Llj5SQW0mi9er+3vEBlrm5eaORSO9kmsoHqw== X-Google-Smtp-Source: ADUXVKLjXfSRSFW1Ef+wlEp2GEbMzSlPbyBliJdcfcCQWTq0qhuw343FrBhjx4GPZx1OQ0MZ7Twh9SgYqBuie+vzft8= X-Received: by 2002:a9d:1531:: with SMTP id u46-v6mr14483609otf.197.1528084112015; Sun, 03 Jun 2018 20:48:32 -0700 (PDT) MIME-Version: 1.0 Received: by 2002:a4a:2446:0:0:0:0:0 with HTTP; Sun, 3 Jun 2018 20:48:31 -0700 (PDT) From: Phillip Feldman Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2018 20:48:31 -0700 Message-ID: Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="000000000000af06d7056dc8ce7e" X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: Genre and OS details not recognized. X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: GNU/Linux 2.6.x X-Received-From: 2001:4830:134:3::11 X-Spam-Score: -4.0 (----) X-Mailman-Approved-At: Mon, 04 Jun 2018 03:23:35 -0400 X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.18 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Sender: "Debbugs-submit" X-Spam-Score: -5.0 (-----) --000000000000af06d7056dc8ce7e Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" I would like to report the following unrelated issues: (1) `grep --help` and `egrep --help` should report the version number. (2) `egrep [abc]+ *.txt` works as expected, but if I try to do `egrep ^[abc]+ *.txt`, which anchors the pattern to the start of the line, I get no results, even though there are lines that match the pattern. (3) Specifying a pattern for FILE seems to work just fine unless one does a recursive search. (4) If one attempts to do a recursive search and omits the starting directory, it would be helpful if the default were the current working directory. An alternative would be to generate a warning or error message. Simply failing to produce any results is a bad design. (5) If one provides an invalid regex, e.g., something like '*xyz' (a regex can't begin with '*'), one should get a fatal error (grep and egrep accept such a regex without complaint, and simply return no results). Phillip M. Feldman --000000000000af06d7056dc8ce7e Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
I would like to report the following unrelated issues= :

(1) `grep --help` and `egrep --help` should repo= rt the version number.

(2) `egrep [abc]+ *.txt` wo= rks as expected, but if I try to do `egrep ^[abc]+ *.txt`, which anchors th= e pattern to the start of the line, I get no results,
even though= there are lines that match the pattern.

(3) Speci= fying a pattern for FILE seems to work just fine unless one does a recursiv= e search.

(4) If one attempts to do a recursive se= arch and omits the starting directory, it would be helpful if the default w= ere the current working directory. An
alternative would be to gen= erate a warning or error message. Simply failing to produce any results is = a bad design.

(5) If one provides an invalid regex= , e.g., something like '*xyz' (a regex can't begin with '*&= #39;), one should get a fatal error (grep and egrep accept such a
regex without complaint, and simply return no results).

Phillip M. Feldman
--000000000000af06d7056dc8ce7e-- From unknown Fri Jun 20 20:11:00 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#31705: five grep / egrep issues Resent-From: Paul Eggert Original-Sender: "Debbugs-submit" Resent-CC: bug-grep@gnu.org Resent-Date: Mon, 04 Jun 2018 07:37:02 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: followup 31705 X-GNU-PR-Package: grep X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: Phillip Feldman , 31705@debbugs.gnu.org Received: via spool by 31705-submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B31705.152809781722496 (code B ref 31705); Mon, 04 Jun 2018 07:37:02 +0000 Received: (at 31705) by debbugs.gnu.org; 4 Jun 2018 07:36:57 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:60821 helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1fPk2z-0005ql-Kk for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Mon, 04 Jun 2018 03:36:57 -0400 Received: from zimbra.cs.ucla.edu ([131.179.128.68]:56056) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1fPk2y-0005qY-42 for 31705@debbugs.gnu.org; Mon, 04 Jun 2018 03:36:56 -0400 Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by zimbra.cs.ucla.edu (Postfix) with ESMTP id 10AF816060F; Mon, 4 Jun 2018 00:36:50 -0700 (PDT) Received: from zimbra.cs.ucla.edu ([127.0.0.1]) by localhost (zimbra.cs.ucla.edu [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10032) with ESMTP id fdE4IYgjkMtj; Mon, 4 Jun 2018 00:36:49 -0700 (PDT) Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by zimbra.cs.ucla.edu (Postfix) with ESMTP id 367AC160610; Mon, 4 Jun 2018 00:36:49 -0700 (PDT) X-Virus-Scanned: amavisd-new at zimbra.cs.ucla.edu Received: from zimbra.cs.ucla.edu ([127.0.0.1]) by localhost (zimbra.cs.ucla.edu [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10026) with ESMTP id t-UjFfeEpQNG; Mon, 4 Jun 2018 00:36:49 -0700 (PDT) Received: from [192.168.1.9] (unknown [47.154.30.119]) by zimbra.cs.ucla.edu (Postfix) with ESMTPSA id E636B16060F; Mon, 4 Jun 2018 00:36:48 -0700 (PDT) References: From: Paul Eggert Openpgp: preference=signencrypt Autocrypt: addr=eggert@cs.ucla.edu; prefer-encrypt=mutual; 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Linux x86_64; rv:52.0) Gecko/20100101 Thunderbird/52.8.0 MIME-Version: 1.0 In-Reply-To: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed Content-Language: en-US Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-Spam-Score: -2.3 (--) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.18 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Sender: "Debbugs-submit" X-Spam-Score: -3.3 (---) Phillip Feldman wrote: > I would like to report the following unrelated issues: >=20 > (1) `grep --help` and `egrep --help` should report the version number. 'grep --version' should do what you want. That behavior is specified in t= he GNU=20 coding standards. > (2) `egrep [abc]+ *.txt` works as expected, but if I try to do `egrep > ^[abc]+ *.txt`, which anchors the pattern to the start of the line, I g= et > no results, > even though there are lines that match the pattern. The command works for me. For example: $ echo 'apple' | egrep ^[abc]+ apple If it doesn't work for you, please supply a complete self-contained test = case. > (3) Specifying a pattern for FILE seems to work just fine unless one do= es a > recursive search. Sorry, I don't understand the problem here. Can you supply a complete,=20 self-contained test case? > (4) If one attempts to do a recursive search and omits the starting > directory, it would be helpful if the default were the current working > directory. grep does that; at least grep 3.1 does. Perhaps you have an older version= ; if=20 so, please upgrade. For example: $ mkdir d $ echo x >d/x $ cd d $ grep -r x x:x > (5) If one provides an invalid regex, e.g., something like '*xyz' (a re= gex > can't begin with '*'), one should get a fatal error (grep and egrep acc= ept > such a > regex without complaint, and simply return no results). The longstanding (i.e., since the late 1970s) tradition here is to treat = those=20 strings as valid regular expressions, e.g., '*' at the start of a regular= =20 expression is treated as if it were '\*'. Many users expect this behavior= now,=20 so we're unlikely to change it. POSIX allows this behavior as an extensio= n. From unknown Fri Jun 20 20:11:00 2025 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MIME-tools 5.505 (Entity 5.505) X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org From: help-debbugs@gnu.org (GNU bug Tracking System) To: Phillip Feldman Subject: bug#31705: closed (Re: bug#31705: five grep / egrep issues) Message-ID: References: <34e6f1e7-0d7b-e880-d23b-b1bebe4b5afa@cs.ucla.edu> X-Gnu-PR-Message: they-closed 31705 X-Gnu-PR-Package: grep Reply-To: 31705@debbugs.gnu.org Date: Wed, 01 Jan 2020 07:45:02 +0000 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="----------=_1577864702-24794-1" This is a multi-part message in MIME format... ------------=_1577864702-24794-1 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Your bug report #31705: five grep / egrep issues which was filed against the grep package, has been closed. The explanation is attached below, along with your original report. If you require more details, please reply to 31705@debbugs.gnu.org. --=20 31705: http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=3D31705 GNU Bug Tracking System Contact help-debbugs@gnu.org with problems ------------=_1577864702-24794-1 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Received: (at 31705-done) by debbugs.gnu.org; 1 Jan 2020 07:44:34 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:35586 helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1imYgE-0006R6-Ju for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Wed, 01 Jan 2020 02:44:34 -0500 Received: from zimbra.cs.ucla.edu ([131.179.128.68]:48818) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1imYgD-0006Qo-1n for 31705-done@debbugs.gnu.org; Wed, 01 Jan 2020 02:44:33 -0500 Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by zimbra.cs.ucla.edu (Postfix) with ESMTP id 8199016022A; Tue, 31 Dec 2019 23:44:27 -0800 (PST) Received: from zimbra.cs.ucla.edu ([127.0.0.1]) by localhost (zimbra.cs.ucla.edu [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10032) with ESMTP id YgZdIPf6RAWk; Tue, 31 Dec 2019 23:44:26 -0800 (PST) Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by zimbra.cs.ucla.edu (Postfix) with ESMTP id E302A16008F; Tue, 31 Dec 2019 23:44:26 -0800 (PST) X-Virus-Scanned: amavisd-new at zimbra.cs.ucla.edu Received: from zimbra.cs.ucla.edu ([127.0.0.1]) by localhost (zimbra.cs.ucla.edu [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10026) with ESMTP id IevsihTuqH-w; Tue, 31 Dec 2019 23:44:26 -0800 (PST) Received: from [192.168.1.9] (cpe-23-242-74-103.socal.res.rr.com [23.242.74.103]) by zimbra.cs.ucla.edu (Postfix) with ESMTPSA id BBB3816022A; Tue, 31 Dec 2019 23:44:26 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: bug#31705: five grep / egrep issues From: Paul Eggert To: Phillip Feldman References: Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department Message-ID: <34e6f1e7-0d7b-e880-d23b-b1bebe4b5afa@cs.ucla.edu> Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2019 23:44:26 -0800 User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64; rv:68.0) Gecko/20100101 Thunderbird/68.2.2 MIME-Version: 1.0 In-Reply-To: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Content-Language: en-US Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Spam-Score: -2.3 (--) X-Debbugs-Envelope-To: 31705-done Cc: 31705-done@debbugs.gnu.org X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.18 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Sender: "Debbugs-submit" X-Spam-Score: -3.3 (---) No further comment for over a year, so closing the bug report. ------------=_1577864702-24794-1 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Received: (at submit) by debbugs.gnu.org; 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boundary="000000000000af06d7056dc8ce7e" X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: Genre and OS details not recognized. X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: GNU/Linux 2.6.x X-Received-From: 2001:4830:134:3::11 X-Spam-Score: -4.0 (----) X-Debbugs-Envelope-To: submit X-Mailman-Approved-At: Mon, 04 Jun 2018 03:23:35 -0400 X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.18 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Sender: "Debbugs-submit" X-Spam-Score: -5.0 (-----) --000000000000af06d7056dc8ce7e Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" I would like to report the following unrelated issues: (1) `grep --help` and `egrep --help` should report the version number. (2) `egrep [abc]+ *.txt` works as expected, but if I try to do `egrep ^[abc]+ *.txt`, which anchors the pattern to the start of the line, I get no results, even though there are lines that match the pattern. (3) Specifying a pattern for FILE seems to work just fine unless one does a recursive search. (4) If one attempts to do a recursive search and omits the starting directory, it would be helpful if the default were the current working directory. An alternative would be to generate a warning or error message. Simply failing to produce any results is a bad design. (5) If one provides an invalid regex, e.g., something like '*xyz' (a regex can't begin with '*'), one should get a fatal error (grep and egrep accept such a regex without complaint, and simply return no results). Phillip M. Feldman --000000000000af06d7056dc8ce7e Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
I would like to report the following unrelated issues= :

(1) `grep --help` and `egrep --help` should repo= rt the version number.

(2) `egrep [abc]+ *.txt` wo= rks as expected, but if I try to do `egrep ^[abc]+ *.txt`, which anchors th= e pattern to the start of the line, I get no results,
even though= there are lines that match the pattern.

(3) Speci= fying a pattern for FILE seems to work just fine unless one does a recursiv= e search.

(4) If one attempts to do a recursive se= arch and omits the starting directory, it would be helpful if the default w= ere the current working directory. An
alternative would be to gen= erate a warning or error message. Simply failing to produce any results is = a bad design.

(5) If one provides an invalid regex= , e.g., something like '*xyz' (a regex can't begin with '*&= #39;), one should get a fatal error (grep and egrep accept such a
regex without complaint, and simply return no results).

Phillip M. Feldman
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