GNU bug report logs - #58521
human readable still wrong output (after 20+ years?)

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Message #13 received at 58521 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Paul Eggert <eggert <at> cs.ucla.edu>
To: Chandler Sobel-Sorenson <chandler <at> genome.arizona.edu>
Cc: 58521 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#58521: human readable still wrong output (after 20+ years?)
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2023 13:40:22 -0800

On 2023-01-02 13:22, Chandler Sobel-Sorenson wrote:

>> Unfortunately backward-compatibility concerns are real,
> 
> Such as? 

I imagine lots of programs read the current output format. GNU 'sort' 
does. I haven't investigated all such programs.

The current behavior has been in place since Larry McVoy contributed it 
in 1996. It'd take a pretty strong argument to change it now. Mere 
dislike wouldn't suffice.

> this is about your programs outputting WRONG and INCORRECT values, 
> inconsistent with reality

"Inconsistent with reality" is hyperbole; this is merely disagreement 
about notation.

> All you need to do is add an "i" to -h's prefixes

That would bloat the output and introduce compatibility concerns as 
mentioned above.

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