GNU bug report logs - #41099
28.0.50; TRAMP process-file ignores exit status of remote process

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Message #81 received at 41099 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Michael Albinus <michael.albinus <at> gmx.de>
To: Philipp Stephani <p.stephani2 <at> gmail.com>
Cc: 41099 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, Noam Postavsky <npostavs <at> gmail.com>
Subject: Re: bug#41099: 28.0.50; TRAMP process-file ignores exit status of
 remote process
Date: Thu, 14 May 2020 17:49:40 +0200

Philipp Stephani <p.stephani2 <at> gmail.com> writes:

Hi Philipp & Noam,

>> >> - we don't return a string in case a signal has interrupted the process,
>>
>> Since we don't have a reliable way to detect signals, I think this is
>> the only viable option.
>
> I'd expect the vast majority of programs to avoid such exit codes,
> precisely because they would want to allow portable usage in shell
> scripts. So I expect that the current behavior in master provides the
> "correct" result in the majority of cases.

I understand (and sympathize) both positions. However, Tramp has
returned for decades no strings for process-file, so I don't expect any
code in the wild which expects this.

What about a user option, tramp-process-file-return-signal-string? If
non-nil, it returns a string when a signal is assumed for exit codes >
128. If nil (the default), the exit code is always returned as
natnum. This would also fit the principle of least surprise, because
Tramp hasn't returned strings since ever.

A better variable name would also be appreciated :-)

Best regards, Michael.

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