GNU bug report logs - #50270
Suggestion

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

From: Ojas Zanpure <ojaszanpure <at> gmail.com>
To: bug-grep <at> gnu.org
Subject: Re: Suggestion
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2021 17:44:49 +0530

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

Hi,

I am a new linux user and I have used grep a couple of times, and I had a
suggestion. Whenever I search for something using grep and it doesn't find
any results, it doesn't return anything. My suggestion is, instead of just
sending the user nothing, how about having a message like, "No results
matching those parameters". It might be confusing for a beginner whether he
executed the command correctly, if he doesn't see anything on screen.

Regards,
Ojas

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

Message #8 received at 50270 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Paul Eggert <eggert <at> cs.ucla.edu>
To: Ojas Zanpure <ojaszanpure <at> gmail.com>
Cc: 50270 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#50270: Suggestion
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2021 11:35:51 -0700

On 8/30/21 5:14 AM, Ojas Zanpure wrote:
> It might be confusing for a beginner whether he
> executed the command correctly, if he doesn't see anything on screen.

True. However, grep's behavior here is standardized by POSIX and a lot 
of people rely on it, so I don't think we can change it.

If there's any consolation, 'grep' is intended for experts (and you are 
now an expert ;-).

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