From unknown Sat Jun 21 05:19:43 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#7434: When an incorrect option is used before --help/--version, automake behaviour is inconsistent with that of other GNU programs. Resent-From: Stefano Lattarini Original-Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-To: owner@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-CC: bug-automake@gnu.org Resent-Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:30:03 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: report 7434 X-GNU-PR-Package: automake X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: 7434@debbugs.gnu.org X-Debbugs-Original-To: bug-automake@gnu.org Received: via spool by submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B.129009415918079 (code B ref -1); Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:30:03 +0000 Received: (at submit) by debbugs.gnu.org; 18 Nov 2010 15:29:19 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PJ6QH-0004hY-S6 for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:29:18 -0500 Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([140.186.70.92]) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PJ6QG-0004hT-Ax for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:29:17 -0500 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1PJ6VA-0003f7-5C for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:34:21 -0500 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.3.1 (2010-03-16) on eggs.gnu.org X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.9 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00,FREEMAIL_FROM, RCVD_IN_DNSWL_NONE,T_DKIM_INVALID,T_TO_NO_BRKTS_FREEMAIL autolearn=unavailable version=3.3.1 Received: from lists.gnu.org ([199.232.76.165]:52199) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1PJ6V9-0003f2-QW for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:34:20 -0500 Received: from [140.186.70.92] (port=58396 helo=eggs.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1PJ6K3-0006pi-AR for bug-automake@gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:22:52 -0500 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1PJ6K2-0001o7-4Y for bug-automake@gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:22:51 -0500 Received: from mail-wy0-f169.google.com ([74.125.82.169]:40310) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1PJ6K1-0001nu-Vp for bug-automake@gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:22:50 -0500 Received: by wyf23 with SMTP id 23so3448504wyf.0 for ; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 07:22:49 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=domainkey-signature:received:received:from:to:subject:date :user-agent:mime-version:message-id:content-type :content-transfer-encoding; bh=C5fhFHzDtdkGvjdGG1lyNZmRy4UcjRL05La0U0QxFL0=; b=ZfH4vDNuJrHH2yjbbKWcCPCU9PlSxFbaoqx4vFTKpp7MPC/GHStGBhmwJDhn4Wk1g9 j9cUANxpDNTowP+zMEXww1Tv7HqA5131GOZwVQTs7TJfb7rUplAwn998DHEXrHH4sRql GzQ4NgNc2yaoz2OVBYM0+nXg61J5A+u/0axFk= DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=from:to:subject:date:user-agent:mime-version:message-id :content-type:content-transfer-encoding; b=wQCenTDcb7S+2f3z4a6oxm0JBRGSy1i3V8nA6ILTLRNXhQyRaySmnxJrDvXPvBm8Ts XuhL+JSx/jxFM7yzZN4Fv3aY0+VznqM5HaSFiV/qnCTvRN3FfkOp+RFvyk3BM20hGJYV VFHVLfWAHDJIxxYy17mBkZ84qe9e0VGqJDzJk= Received: by 10.227.127.85 with SMTP id f21mr791712wbs.204.1290093762440; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 07:22:42 -0800 (PST) Received: from bigio.localnet (host55-52-dynamic.48-82-r.retail.telecomitalia.it [82.48.52.55]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id ga16sm344059wbb.7.2010.11.18.07.22.40 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=RC4-MD5); Thu, 18 Nov 2010 07:22:41 -0800 (PST) From: Stefano Lattarini Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:22:29 +0100 User-Agent: KMail/1.13.3 (Linux/2.6.30-2-686; KDE/4.4.4; i686; ; ) MIME-Version: 1.0 Message-Id: <201011181622.30983.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> Content-Type: Text/Plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: GNU/Linux 2.6 (newer, 2) X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: GNU/Linux 2.6 (newer, 2) X-Spam-Score: -4.3 (----) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.11 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org X-Spam-Score: -4.8 (----) Severity: wishlist Currently, automake and aclocal scan their command line looking for `--help' and `--version' even after an invalid option has been seen; and in case one of those two options is seen, it takes precedence even over error reporting about preceding invalid options. But this is inconsistent with the behaviour of many others GNU/free programs; for example: $ m4 --version --no-such-option; echo \$? = $? m4 (GNU M4) 1.4.14 Copyright (C) 2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later . This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law. Written by Rene' Seindal. $? = 0 $ m4 --no-such-option --version; echo \$? = $? m4: unrecognized option '--no-such-option' Try `m4 --help' for more information. $? = 1 The same beheaviour of GNU m4 can be observed with at least GNU sed, GNU awk, GNU coreutils, GNU bison, flex, gzip, bzip2, xz, GNU libtool, GNU autoconf, GNU tar, Zsh, and Git. On the other hand: - Bash exit with failure also in the case an invalid option is used *after* `--version' or `--help', but I see no reason to copy this behaviour, which IMHO is (slighty) suboptimal, and not at all widespread. - GCC behaves as automake and aclocal currently do, but it has always had a peculiar semantic of command-line scanning, for both intrinsic and historical reasons; so it's not a good model to follow IMHO. In conclusion: would you agree with a patch that converts automake and aclocal to the same cmdline-scanning behaviour of the majority of other GNU tools? Such a patch would also have the advantage of *simplifying* the current code for command line parsing in automake and aclocal. Regards, Stefano From unknown Sat Jun 21 05:19:43 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#7434: When an incorrect option is used before --help/--version, automake behaviour is inconsistent with that of other GNU programs. Resent-From: Eric Blake Original-Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-To: owner@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-CC: bug-automake@gnu.org Resent-Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:51:02 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: followup 7434 X-GNU-PR-Package: automake X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: Stefano Lattarini Cc: 7434@debbugs.gnu.org Received: via spool by 7434-submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B7434.129009544018773 (code B ref 7434); Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:51:02 +0000 Received: (at 7434) by debbugs.gnu.org; 18 Nov 2010 15:50:40 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PJ6kw-0004sk-Th for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:50:39 -0500 Received: from mx1.redhat.com ([209.132.183.28]) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PJ6ku-0004se-16 for 7434@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:50:37 -0500 Received: from int-mx09.intmail.prod.int.phx2.redhat.com (int-mx09.intmail.prod.int.phx2.redhat.com [10.5.11.22]) by mx1.redhat.com (8.13.8/8.13.8) with ESMTP id oAIFteYM006827 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA bits=256 verify=OK); Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:55:40 -0500 Received: from [10.3.113.126] (ovpn-113-126.phx2.redhat.com [10.3.113.126]) by int-mx09.intmail.prod.int.phx2.redhat.com (8.14.4/8.14.4) with ESMTP id oAIFtdEf016952; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:55:39 -0500 Message-ID: <4CE54C7B.3080308@redhat.com> Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:55:39 -0700 From: Eric Blake Organization: Red Hat User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux x86_64; en-US; rv:1.9.2.12) Gecko/20101103 Fedora/1.0-0.33.b2pre.fc14 Lightning/1.0b3pre Mnenhy/0.8.3 Thunderbird/3.1.6 MIME-Version: 1.0 References: <201011181622.30983.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> In-Reply-To: <201011181622.30983.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> X-Enigmail-Version: 1.1.2 OpenPGP: url=http://people.redhat.com/eblake/eblake.gpg Content-Type: multipart/signed; micalg=pgp-sha256; protocol="application/pgp-signature"; boundary="------------enig599B7FF00E28CAF8B4C98D80" X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.68 on 10.5.11.22 X-Spam-Score: -10.2 (----------) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.11 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org X-Spam-Score: -10.2 (----------) This is an OpenPGP/MIME signed message (RFC 2440 and 3156) --------------enig599B7FF00E28CAF8B4C98D80 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable On 11/18/2010 08:22 AM, Stefano Lattarini wrote: > Severity: wishlist >=20 > Currently, automake and aclocal scan their command line looking for > `--help' and `--version' even after an invalid option has been seen; > and in case one of those two options is seen, it takes precedence > even over error reporting about preceding invalid options. GNU Coding Standards _only_ require that --help and --version be recognized as the first argument, with no other arguments. When possible, recognizing --help and --version after other arguments, or with other arguments afterwards, is nice, but there are no rules that require that consistency. >=20 > But this is inconsistent with the behaviour of many others GNU/free > programs; for example: >=20 > $ m4 --version --no-such-option; echo \$? =3D $? > m4 (GNU M4) 1.4.14 > $? =3D 0 >=20 > $ m4 --no-such-option --version; echo \$? =3D $? > m4: unrecognized option '--no-such-option' > Try `m4 --help' for more information. > $? =3D 1 m4 makes a single pass through its options, and gives up on the first error (after all, how do we know that a future version of m4 might start accepting 'm4 --do-this=3D--version', where --version is the argument of the new --do-this option, at which point 'm4 --do-this --version' would suddenly change behavior from printing versions to instead doing this). Coreutils is also an interesting case study, as there are several idioms used depending on POSIX restrictions on the utility in question. For example: $ /usr/bin/[ --help | head -n1 Usage: test EXPRESSION $ /usr/bin/[ --help --oops /usr/bin/[: missing `]' $ /usr/bin/[ --oops --help /usr/bin/[: missing `]' > In conclusion: would you agree with a patch that converts automake and > aclocal to the same cmdline-scanning behaviour of the majority of other= > GNU tools? Such a patch would also have the advantage of *simplifying*= > the current code for command line parsing in automake and aclocal. Not necessarily on the grounds of making things match other tools, but definitely on the grounds of having simpler code that still complies with GCS. --=20 Eric Blake eblake@redhat.com +1-801-349-2682 Libvirt virtualization library http://libvirt.org --------------enig599B7FF00E28CAF8B4C98D80 Content-Type: application/pgp-signature; name="signature.asc" Content-Description: OpenPGP digital signature Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="signature.asc" -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.11 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Public key at http://people.redhat.com/eblake/eblake.gpg Comment: Using GnuPG with Fedora - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/ iQEcBAEBCAAGBQJM5Ux7AAoJEKeha0olJ0Nqf0AH/RC7Zbx6fWQT5mK/bNpA6p3g s2E1Yms3/sp0RRsBLeOIdpKV3bWFxaGvoZvcigyYexmphfxQX0EAaHt9Xs84Sh68 ddyu/ETKF2xQHYjRPmjQyWM53pMxQQ5KUjcoSOiSrXC58vkbsFTMxEsLGn2WWZYX 9jRde9G0qhijO5+2IMD1qc7CmCgh3x4qqHV0VTWAUujerrJicnD/s1K7dRu5TF5Y c4oq4jvNVMVbN5r7SoOpNpMJOXk7Kye4/vYxTLSOveCbFAZ6B94LlbMxEnUj1oc2 QGOWrjs2ZSVKMraxHakSLQ5+0Prw3kFXMk1LquK/8DWSh1Nks34aUBMosi+pfzI= =nRz2 -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- --------------enig599B7FF00E28CAF8B4C98D80-- From unknown Sat Jun 21 05:19:43 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#7434: When an incorrect option is used before --help/--version, automake behaviour is inconsistent with that of other GNU programs. Resent-From: Stefano Lattarini Original-Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-To: owner@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-CC: bug-automake@gnu.org Resent-Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:24:02 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: followup 7434 X-GNU-PR-Package: automake X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: Eric Blake Cc: 7434@debbugs.gnu.org Received: via spool by 7434-submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B7434.129009743919645 (code B ref 7434); Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:24:02 +0000 Received: (at 7434) by debbugs.gnu.org; 18 Nov 2010 16:23:58 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PJ7HC-00056o-IR for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:23:58 -0500 Received: from mail-wy0-f172.google.com ([74.125.82.172]) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PJ7HB-00056j-6Q for 7434@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:23:57 -0500 Received: by wyb29 with SMTP id 29so3551282wyb.3 for <7434@debbugs.gnu.org>; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:29:01 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=domainkey-signature:received:received:from:to:subject:date :user-agent:cc:references:in-reply-to:mime-version:content-type :content-transfer-encoding:message-id; bh=nI0eoldXCps5kdgXSptPI9OnXgi33GqFgP30wxHVCSk=; b=WunhCEahrzRr8ZJ71MEgPGFyfbnQkzBdMdpbIbwLEdJbdugKaqYHUe9/neheoRqNFr STDBWlrp9kkMr6t0tpEtj5VqzFsFTnfuuelV0OGU3VTZwMXHh6PTpq3wb0cn7g/WtfZj Vf6x3S0LMUAmuWB9/WHXR9UxCGOxx0N//9qCk= DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=from:to:subject:date:user-agent:cc:references:in-reply-to :mime-version:content-type:content-transfer-encoding:message-id; b=D6BFJfNG3fjGIlOib4Ae7/XAnQ28TtUSUNTN4GsXN1lr9LDKgnGZMI/5aG8m1FD2e4 aFR1WCutEsP71QeF8w9Y/Mc5ta79s6oqtB7VKGeWQqzXIV7gBCAhXNiK4Dt384a2UY3i 4KwBBTkl1SgBjeHxrdvcgFkk81xe5nwxRCb4s= Received: by 10.216.46.19 with SMTP id q19mr3086581web.0.1290097740183; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:29:00 -0800 (PST) Received: from bigio.localnet (host55-52-dynamic.48-82-r.retail.telecomitalia.it [82.48.52.55]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id x6sm300001weq.13.2010.11.18.08.28.58 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=RC4-MD5); Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:28:59 -0800 (PST) From: Stefano Lattarini Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:28:30 +0100 User-Agent: KMail/1.13.3 (Linux/2.6.30-2-686; KDE/4.4.4; i686; ; ) References: <201011181622.30983.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> <4CE54C7B.3080308@redhat.com> In-Reply-To: <4CE54C7B.3080308@redhat.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: Text/Plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Message-Id: <201011181728.32159.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> X-Spam-Score: -3.4 (---) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.11 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org X-Spam-Score: -3.3 (---) On Thursday 18 November 2010, Eric Blake wrote: > On 11/18/2010 08:22 AM, Stefano Lattarini wrote: > > Severity: wishlist > > > > Currently, automake and aclocal scan their command line looking for > > `--help' and `--version' even after an invalid option has been seen; > > and in case one of those two options is seen, it takes precedence > > even over error reporting about preceding invalid options. > > GNU Coding Standards _only_ require that --help and --version be > recognized as the first argument, with no other arguments. > When possible, recognizing --help and --version after other arguments, > or with other arguments afterwards, is nice, but there are no rules > that require that consistency. Not exactly. The GNU Coding Standards read (my emphasis): ``The standard --version option should direct the program to print information about its name, version, origin and legal status, all on standard output, and then exit successfully. Other options and arguments should be ignored *once this is seen*, and the program should not perform its normal function.'' So it means that the behaviour of GNU m4 (and the other mentioned programs) is compliant with the GCS, while the automake behaviour is "overzealous" in this respect. > [CUT] > > > In conclusion: would you agree with a patch that converts automake and > > aclocal to the same cmdline-scanning behaviour of the majority of other > > GNU tools? Such a patch would also have the advantage of *simplifying* > > the current code for command line parsing in automake and aclocal. > > Not necessarily on the grounds of making things match other tools, but > definitely on the grounds of having simpler code that still complies > with GCS. Yes, that was truly my primary motivation. The fact that the new automake behaviour would match that of many other tools was just a "bonus". Regards, Stefano From unknown Sat Jun 21 05:19:43 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#7434: When an incorrect option is used before --help/--version, automake behaviour is inconsistent with that of other GNU programs. Resent-From: Ralf Wildenhues Original-Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-To: owner@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-CC: bug-automake@gnu.org Resent-Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:22:01 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: followup 7434 X-GNU-PR-Package: automake X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: Stefano Lattarini Cc: 7434@debbugs.gnu.org, Eric Blake Received: via spool by 7434-submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B7434.129011167525975 (code B ref 7434); Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:22:01 +0000 Received: (at 7434) by debbugs.gnu.org; 18 Nov 2010 20:21:15 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PJAyp-0006ku-5T for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:21:15 -0500 Received: from mailout-de.gmx.net ([213.165.64.23] helo=mail.gmx.net) by debbugs.gnu.org with smtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PJAyn-0006kp-1B for 7434@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:21:14 -0500 Received: (qmail invoked by alias); 18 Nov 2010 20:26:17 -0000 Received: from xdsl-89-0-168-91.netcologne.de (EHLO localhost.localdomain) [89.0.168.91] by mail.gmx.net (mp063) with SMTP; 18 Nov 2010 21:26:17 +0100 X-Authenticated: #13673931 X-Provags-ID: V01U2FsdGVkX1/UeD5ZnC/UaH4HQHV8hXc7zwnUTjSRhZR5gTPBo7 p/oWA+p9w5Bs62 Received: from ralf by localhost.localdomain with local (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PJB3g-0004BZ-9D; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:26:16 +0100 Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:26:16 +0100 From: Ralf Wildenhues Message-ID: <20101118202616.GC15843@gmx.de> References: <201011181622.30983.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> <4CE54C7B.3080308@redhat.com> <201011181728.32159.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <201011181728.32159.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> Organization: Institute for Numerical Simulation, University of Bonn User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.20 (2010-08-04) X-Y-GMX-Trusted: 0 X-Spam-Score: -2.7 (--) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.11 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org X-Spam-Score: -2.7 (--) Hello, * Stefano Lattarini wrote on Thu, Nov 18, 2010 at 05:28:30PM CET: > On Thursday 18 November 2010, Eric Blake wrote: > > On 11/18/2010 08:22 AM, Stefano Lattarini wrote: > > > Currently, automake and aclocal scan their command line looking for > > > `--help' and `--version' even after an invalid option has been seen; > > > and in case one of those two options is seen, it takes precedence > > > even over error reporting about preceding invalid options. > > > > GNU Coding Standards _only_ require that --help and --version be > > recognized as the first argument, with no other arguments. > > When possible, recognizing --help and --version after other arguments, > > or with other arguments afterwards, is nice, but there are no rules > > that require that consistency. > Not exactly. The GNU Coding Standards read (my emphasis): > > ``The standard --version option should direct the program to print > information about its name, version, origin and legal status, all > on standard output, and then exit successfully. Other options and > arguments should be ignored *once this is seen*, and the program > should not perform its normal function.'' > > So it means that the behaviour of GNU m4 (and the other mentioned > programs) is compliant with the GCS, while the automake behaviour > is "overzealous" in this respect. I think the GCS should be adjusted then. IIUC then GNU has valued usability over implementation simplicity. I think --help should work whereever it is put on a command line, except after -- or right after an option which requires an argument (or at least GCS should allow for this behavior). The point being that I type $ foo --zork --barf foo: blabla error, see --help and then type --help to find out more. Let's address this on bug-standards before changing any programs. Thanks, Ralf From unknown Sat Jun 21 05:19:43 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#7434: When an incorrect option is used before --help/--version, automake behaviour is inconsistent with that of other GNU programs. Resent-From: Stefano Lattarini Original-Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-To: owner@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-CC: bug-automake@gnu.org Resent-Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:57:02 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: followup 7434 X-GNU-PR-Package: automake X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: Ralf Wildenhues Cc: 7434@debbugs.gnu.org, Eric Blake Received: via spool by 7434-submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B7434.129011381026863 (code B ref 7434); Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:57:02 +0000 Received: (at 7434) by debbugs.gnu.org; 18 Nov 2010 20:56:50 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PJBXF-0006zE-OE for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:56:50 -0500 Received: from mail-ew0-f44.google.com ([209.85.215.44]) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PJBXD-0006z9-4W for 7434@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:56:47 -0500 Received: by ewy8 with SMTP id 8so1933423ewy.3 for <7434@debbugs.gnu.org>; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:01:52 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=domainkey-signature:received:received:from:to:subject:date :user-agent:cc:references:in-reply-to:mime-version:content-type :content-transfer-encoding:message-id; bh=x2htpZmure/MEkGc6L/qJZkPJ8u2Gre0Q6Qmd9CQT3w=; b=GaCR4J6oypjWLfMt4v2z+RmmQUf9YIPQpKqFbmIvrYfVoBxVYiVg/tkflJGlaghUbX DzGsjDfInApoU3ycOPnheL5HAojw3dp5h3Oc7Ofij3S5DpYmswx7USLpvaH+lFnrYbJO WMFtqgavYE3BMv1Tqtf/CHl+iHBHPj/wy12Ho= DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=from:to:subject:date:user-agent:cc:references:in-reply-to :mime-version:content-type:content-transfer-encoding:message-id; b=JkVuCkr/eNxtNs+NKZpBlN54iWX8KN0pZfZV+bGJU+K7quu6HMIxQu7xx6BGw1Id5l jhp0yG9S584qn4tvzEkoX2nmoCOr0YS7wuOz2yrmp2cCEOLoPfs9JtyxqfTKOWk8Dfe3 KlDvxmCXpaHFymcbLGXQjKh2lxOLIqfXaaHY0= Received: by 10.216.231.160 with SMTP id l32mr3311054weq.98.1290114109233; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:01:49 -0800 (PST) Received: from bigio.localnet (host55-52-dynamic.48-82-r.retail.telecomitalia.it [82.48.52.55]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id x59sm438037weq.14.2010.11.18.13.01.47 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=RC4-MD5); Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:01:48 -0800 (PST) From: Stefano Lattarini Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:01:06 +0100 User-Agent: KMail/1.13.3 (Linux/2.6.30-2-686; KDE/4.4.4; i686; ; ) References: <201011181622.30983.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> <201011181728.32159.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> <20101118202616.GC15843@gmx.de> In-Reply-To: <20101118202616.GC15843@gmx.de> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: Text/Plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Message-Id: <201011182201.08809.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> X-Spam-Score: -3.2 (---) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.11 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org X-Spam-Score: -3.1 (---) On Thursday 18 November 2010, Ralf Wildenhues wrote: > Hello, Hi Ralf. I answer here because I'm not subscribed to bug-standards; I hope that's not a problem. > > * Stefano Lattarini wrote on Thu, Nov 18, 2010 at 05:28:30PM CET: > > On Thursday 18 November 2010, Eric Blake wrote: > > > On 11/18/2010 08:22 AM, Stefano Lattarini wrote: > > > > Currently, automake and aclocal scan their command line looking for > > > > `--help' and `--version' even after an invalid option has been seen; > > > > and in case one of those two options is seen, it takes precedence > > > > even over error reporting about preceding invalid options. > > > > > > GNU Coding Standards _only_ require that --help and --version be > > > recognized as the first argument, with no other arguments. > > > When possible, recognizing --help and --version after other arguments, > > > or with other arguments afterwards, is nice, but there are no rules > > > that require that consistency. > > > Not exactly. The GNU Coding Standards read (my emphasis): > > > > ``The standard --version option should direct the program to print > > information about its name, version, origin and legal status, all > > on standard output, and then exit successfully. Other options and > > arguments should be ignored *once this is seen*, and the program > > should not perform its normal function.'' > > > > So it means that the behaviour of GNU m4 (and the other mentioned > > programs) is compliant with the GCS, while the automake behaviour > > is "overzealous" in this respect. > > I think the GCS should be adjusted then. I strongly disagree. > IIUC then GNU has valued usability over implementation simplicity. True, but I don't think that the current behaviour of autoconf, m4, sed, libtool, etc. in this matter can be described as lacking in usability. Has any real user ever complained about such a behaviour (honest question)? If not, then the behaviour is clearly correct and good enough. > I think --help should work whereever it is put on a command line, > except after -- or right after an option which requires an argument I disagree; that would complicate the implementation without providing any real advantage for the users IMHO. > (or at least GCS should allow for this behavior). They alrady does (so automake is safe in this respect even with its current behaviour); they just doesn't require it. Which is good IMO. > The point being that I type > > $ foo --zork --barf > foo: blabla error, see --help > > and then type --help to find out more. Or type --help to find out more. Or even type "foo --help" to find out more. These are not much more complex or lacking in usability, IMHO. > Let's address this on bug-standards before changing any programs. I'm not subscribed to that list, so please CC me if you want me to contribute to the discussion. Thanks. Regards, Stefano From unknown Sat Jun 21 05:19:43 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#7434: When an incorrect option is used before --help/--version, automake behaviour is inconsistent with that of other GNU programs. Resent-From: Stefano Lattarini Original-Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-To: owner@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-CC: bug-automake@gnu.org Resent-Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:19:02 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: followup 7434 X-GNU-PR-Package: automake X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: Ralf Wildenhues Cc: 7434@debbugs.gnu.org, Eric Blake Received: via spool by 7434-submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B7434.129016188514400 (code B ref 7434); Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:19:02 +0000 Received: (at 7434) by debbugs.gnu.org; 19 Nov 2010 10:18:05 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PJO2e-0003kD-IK for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Fri, 19 Nov 2010 05:18:04 -0500 Received: from mail-wy0-f172.google.com ([74.125.82.172]) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PJO2c-0003jr-Be for 7434@debbugs.gnu.org; Fri, 19 Nov 2010 05:18:02 -0500 Received: by wyb29 with SMTP id 29so4453425wyb.3 for <7434@debbugs.gnu.org>; Fri, 19 Nov 2010 02:23:08 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=domainkey-signature:received:received:from:to:subject:date :user-agent:cc:references:in-reply-to:mime-version:content-type :content-transfer-encoding:message-id; bh=y9r3PbWBeojawAhgwp36weYyBPk1xV/n4dT+cPemrkw=; b=qFACicrjIxmSEnTSjUArLrOjvh+NrDKSA3MWx+Lqx2jr4vxkine6vh5uW/izaXeTE4 FkELjnRPuRkMfCpV4PTGOx1s54HDWERVWBr+QV0Ic3floMlYnrk5SW7om8li6Xgo38ky t2CeOk67qaQCGprjHM7NTspGgZZeNuCBJpfn4= DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=from:to:subject:date:user-agent:cc:references:in-reply-to :mime-version:content-type:content-transfer-encoding:message-id; b=jr/SoZhLDOtoDX8NA54QgxpKvg0u2XPaJcP5a3xHMMmYrPlXqamF/3l74Ev07pZZg5 RuAzztlVTLANoyM7XGtcLl9D5NrCUlNLePONokYFrMM3UGFbe3p7tDDhwo/v6jtlQ55j fblHUTh8ihXgXshmyyc+iii769k47PsJlD3Rw= Received: by 10.216.187.82 with SMTP id x60mr829925wem.9.1290162188812; Fri, 19 Nov 2010 02:23:08 -0800 (PST) Received: from bigio.localnet (host94-110-dynamic.55-82-r.retail.telecomitalia.it [82.55.110.94]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id l14sm697037weq.35.2010.11.19.02.23.06 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=RC4-MD5); Fri, 19 Nov 2010 02:23:06 -0800 (PST) From: Stefano Lattarini Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:22:40 +0100 User-Agent: KMail/1.13.3 (Linux/2.6.30-2-686; KDE/4.4.4; i686; ; ) References: <201011181622.30983.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> <20101118202616.GC15843@gmx.de> <201011182201.08809.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> In-Reply-To: <201011182201.08809.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: Text/Plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Message-Id: <201011191122.40919.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> X-Spam-Score: -2.6 (--) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.11 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org X-Spam-Score: -2.6 (--) On Thursday 18 November 2010, Stefano Lattarini wrote: > On Thursday 18 November 2010, Ralf Wildenhues wrote: > > > I think --help should work whereever it is put on a command line, > > except after -- or right after an option which requires an argument > > I disagree; that would complicate the implementation without providing > any real advantage for the users IMHO. > > > The point being that I type > > > > $ foo --zork --barf > > foo: blabla error, see --help > > > > and then type --help to find out more. > Or type --help to find out more. > Or even type "foo --help" to find out more. These are not much > more complex or lacking in usability, IMHO. > Besides, in the particular case of automake, how often do automake or aclocal get invoked directly? To my experience, they are almost always invoked by autoreconf, ./bootstrap, or some custom autogen.sh script. > > Let's address this on bug-standards before changing any programs. > > I'm not subscribed to that list, so please CC me if you want me to > contribute to the discussion. Thanks. > FYI, now I've subscribed to the list, so there' no need to CC me anymore. Thanks, Stefano From unknown Sat Jun 21 05:19:43 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#7434: When an incorrect option is used before --help/--version, automake behaviour is inconsistent with that of other GNU programs. Resent-From: Stefano Lattarini Original-Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-To: owner@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-CC: bug-automake@gnu.org Resent-Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2010 17:38:02 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: followup 7434 X-GNU-PR-Package: automake X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: 7434@debbugs.gnu.org Cc: Ralf Wildenhues , Eric Blake Received: via spool by 7434-submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B7434.129079302512024 (code B ref 7434); Fri, 26 Nov 2010 17:38:02 +0000 Received: (at 7434) by debbugs.gnu.org; 26 Nov 2010 17:37:05 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PM2EK-00037r-Sr for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Fri, 26 Nov 2010 12:37:05 -0500 Received: from mail-ww0-f42.google.com ([74.125.82.42]) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PM2EH-00037M-0y for 7434@debbugs.gnu.org; Fri, 26 Nov 2010 12:37:01 -0500 Received: by wwi17 with SMTP id 17so160859wwi.3 for <7434@debbugs.gnu.org>; Fri, 26 Nov 2010 09:42:26 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=domainkey-signature:received:received:from:to:subject:date :user-agent:cc:references:in-reply-to:mime-version:content-type :content-transfer-encoding:message-id; bh=16NmR424ssyRtc2NVIfCHK/RfPEjr4OklEqaFvKgC7I=; b=YhJF5dvOkmDqGWoDaJ0w/Iq8w8qaCw5UXrlNmo0eSjRn51ZgDaGY/kjR6LX4EmgKVp W42qOqQ4/49jKu0071Sqc9bOzsK5YmSF/Fbd1DJRdM4P8sHAAgRNQ0I4ZQSdMmrdVmw4 HjfbRRSNgDw3PvbUIJDMvhmNwsrmZlE60dr2c= DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=from:to:subject:date:user-agent:cc:references:in-reply-to :mime-version:content-type:content-transfer-encoding:message-id; b=N8K14IyEsUBqaifFEcfNIx/C0+P4avtFWnCvDRIc6Qt8kCC2ZABnk0tnXz1Mfhj7pE wJhqqRxq068N2tNDMIOZJ5awqBdJNoY3d9Cv2omxvGvgJs8wUAGEhM5vcamXEe58JbvG 4dZSoa9RHV0U+O3kTZlkR9wq4+o5rqBjXXWbU= Received: by 10.227.133.15 with SMTP id d15mr2725488wbt.37.1290793345624; Fri, 26 Nov 2010 09:42:25 -0800 (PST) Received: from bigio.localnet (host136-44-dynamic.48-82-r.retail.telecomitalia.it [82.48.44.136]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id o43sm1047658weq.23.2010.11.26.09.42.22 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=RC4-MD5); Fri, 26 Nov 2010 09:42:23 -0800 (PST) From: Stefano Lattarini Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2010 18:41:20 +0100 User-Agent: KMail/1.13.3 (Linux/2.6.30-2-686; KDE/4.4.4; i686; ; ) References: <201011181622.30983.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> <201011182201.08809.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> <201011191122.40919.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> In-Reply-To: <201011191122.40919.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: Text/Plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Message-Id: <201011261841.21744.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> X-Spam-Score: -2.9 (--) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.11 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org X-Spam-Score: -2.8 (--) Hi Ralf, Eric, and all bug-automake readers. On Friday 19 November 2010, Stefano Lattarini wrote: > On Thursday 18 November 2010, Stefano Lattarini wrote: > > On Thursday 18 November 2010, Ralf Wildenhues wrote: > > > > > I think --help should work whereever it is put on a command line, > > > except after -- or right after an option which requires an argument > > > > I disagree; that would complicate the implementation without providing > > any real advantage for the users IMHO. > > > > > The point being that I type > > > > > > $ foo --zork --barf > > > foo: blabla error, see --help > > > > > > and then type --help to find out more. > > Or type --help to find out more. > > Or even type "foo --help" to find out more. These are not much > > more complex or lacking in usability, IMHO. > > > Besides, in the particular case of automake, how often do automake > or aclocal get invoked directly? To my experience, they are almost > always invoked by autoreconf, ./bootstrap, or some custom autogen.sh > script. > > > > Let's address this on bug-standards before changing any programs. > Now a decision has been reached on bug-standards *not* to tighten the specification about the behaviour of --help and --version: Considering that, do you agree to simplify the automake/aclocal option parsing by not trying to process --help/--version options encountered after invalid options? Regards, Stefano From unknown Sat Jun 21 05:19:43 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#7434: When an incorrect option is used before --help/--version, automake behaviour is inconsistent with that of other GNU programs. Resent-From: Ralf Wildenhues Original-Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-To: owner@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-CC: bug-automake@gnu.org Resent-Date: Sun, 28 Nov 2010 17:36:01 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: followup 7434 X-GNU-PR-Package: automake X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: Stefano Lattarini Cc: 7434@debbugs.gnu.org, Eric Blake Received: via spool by 7434-submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B7434.129096574412021 (code B ref 7434); Sun, 28 Nov 2010 17:36:01 +0000 Received: (at 7434) by debbugs.gnu.org; 28 Nov 2010 17:35:44 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PMlA7-00037p-M2 for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Sun, 28 Nov 2010 12:35:43 -0500 Received: from mailout-de.gmx.net ([213.165.64.22] helo=mail.gmx.net) by debbugs.gnu.org with smtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PMlA3-00037Z-2c for 7434@debbugs.gnu.org; Sun, 28 Nov 2010 12:35:40 -0500 Received: (qmail invoked by alias); 28 Nov 2010 17:41:09 -0000 Received: from xdsl-89-0-83-31.netcologne.de (EHLO localhost.localdomain) [89.0.83.31] by mail.gmx.net (mp054) with SMTP; 28 Nov 2010 18:41:09 +0100 X-Authenticated: #13673931 X-Provags-ID: V01U2FsdGVkX18+MfAmWN0+Eeu4kaGk9lFTKon6L5dbF7Ny81j0qN eFNVoPs4ny0QeR Received: from ralf by localhost.localdomain with local (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PMlFM-00017r-IH; Sun, 28 Nov 2010 18:41:08 +0100 Date: Sun, 28 Nov 2010 18:41:08 +0100 From: Ralf Wildenhues Message-ID: <20101128174108.GC2003@gmx.de> References: <201011181622.30983.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> <201011182201.08809.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> <201011191122.40919.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> <201011261841.21744.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <201011261841.21744.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> Organization: Institute for Numerical Simulation, University of Bonn User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.20 (2010-08-04) X-Y-GMX-Trusted: 0 X-Spam-Score: -2.7 (--) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.11 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org X-Spam-Score: -2.7 (--) * Stefano Lattarini wrote on Fri, Nov 26, 2010 at 06:41:20PM CET: > > Besides, in the particular case of automake, how often do automake > > or aclocal get invoked directly? To my experience, they are almost > > always invoked by autoreconf, ./bootstrap, or some custom autogen.sh > > script. (aside: autoreconf works just in the same way as automake in this respect.) > > > > Let's address this on bug-standards before changing any programs. > > > Now a decision has been reached on bug-standards *not* to tighten the > specification about the behaviour of --help and --version: > Nor to forbid the current behavior of automake. > Considering that, do you agree to simplify the automake/aclocal option > parsing by not trying to process --help/--version options encountered > after invalid options? I'm painfully aware that this is a near-bikeshed discussion, but I simply fail to see the advantage of taking away existing functionality helpful for the user, even if only a few users. Code simplification is nice, but this change wouldn't suddenly make automake fast, all that much more readable, or anything similar. Barring that there is a technical advantage for our users[1], I remain unconvinced. Sorry, Ralf [1] A technical reason would be something like: erroring instead of warning due to an unknown argument is better because it enables users to write robust configure tests for arguments. This doesn't apply here, of course. From unknown Sat Jun 21 05:19:43 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#7434: When an incorrect option is used before --help/--version, automake behaviour is inconsistent with that of other GNU programs. Resent-From: Stefano Lattarini Original-Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-To: owner@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-CC: bug-automake@gnu.org Resent-Date: Sun, 28 Nov 2010 18:25:02 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: followup 7434 X-GNU-PR-Package: automake X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: Ralf Wildenhues Cc: 7434@debbugs.gnu.org, Eric Blake Received: via spool by 7434-submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B7434.129096868516078 (code B ref 7434); Sun, 28 Nov 2010 18:25:02 +0000 Received: (at 7434) by debbugs.gnu.org; 28 Nov 2010 18:24:45 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PMlvZ-0004BG-76 for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Sun, 28 Nov 2010 13:24:45 -0500 Received: from mail-wy0-f172.google.com ([74.125.82.172]) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PMlvX-0004B2-DU for 7434@debbugs.gnu.org; Sun, 28 Nov 2010 13:24:44 -0500 Received: by wyf23 with SMTP id 23so2771141wyf.3 for <7434@debbugs.gnu.org>; Sun, 28 Nov 2010 10:30:14 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=domainkey-signature:received:received:from:to:subject:date :user-agent:cc:references:in-reply-to:mime-version:content-type :content-transfer-encoding:message-id; bh=go2JoOvzYOXmGDq+pO0cQVRJvlbaHIGWDClkZEWV1+M=; b=aR2muB0HMcKvNcTzGqAH773fr7fVN66rkf71qlfKs7vzXRRg8hJuV7fBHIy1TzVuF+ zqjVq6KF/FxAEkXRuO22B3JaCAEnCfMUVmf34irX1vasJCAmjQ1tlumQLPQHIzNR7OiY B63Lko45sfEKQUlnLpZmNd22GacxOqf3xxVfY= DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=from:to:subject:date:user-agent:cc:references:in-reply-to :mime-version:content-type:content-transfer-encoding:message-id; b=i2qRGULnoj3rX9iR01x9/KaDQcIzlnw0xU63kTCrtbmOyhWT24JB3UFhExHcfkU734 /6pG/M4Va/wq35Ep5/ZdzDjE1PV4oPrmcbME9Dud61SuKk3Frurn/S4Idz/6a59c7Sge 7PqnwT1qjH5UmCVfIF8jLur0ROdO2pjRAacf8= Received: by 10.227.132.208 with SMTP id c16mr4984467wbt.25.1290969014403; Sun, 28 Nov 2010 10:30:14 -0800 (PST) Received: from bigio.localnet (host61-32-dynamic.116-80-r.retail.telecomitalia.it [80.116.32.61]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id x59sm1987019weq.38.2010.11.28.10.30.12 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=RC4-MD5); Sun, 28 Nov 2010 10:30:13 -0800 (PST) From: Stefano Lattarini Date: Sun, 28 Nov 2010 19:30:03 +0100 User-Agent: KMail/1.13.3 (Linux/2.6.30-2-686; KDE/4.4.4; i686; ; ) References: <201011181622.30983.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> <201011261841.21744.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> <20101128174108.GC2003@gmx.de> In-Reply-To: <20101128174108.GC2003@gmx.de> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: Text/Plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Message-Id: <201011281930.03783.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> X-Spam-Score: -2.6 (--) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.11 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org X-Spam-Score: -2.6 (--) On Sunday 28 November 2010, Ralf Wildenhues wrote: > * Stefano Lattarini wrote on Fri, Nov 26, 2010 at 06:41:20PM CET: > > > Besides, in the particular case of automake, how often do automake > > > or aclocal get invoked directly? To my experience, they are almost > > > always invoked by autoreconf, ./bootstrap, or some custom autogen.sh > > > script. > > (aside: autoreconf works just in the same way as automake in this > respect.) > > > > > > Let's address this on bug-standards before changing any programs. > > > > > Now a decision has been reached on bug-standards *not* to tighten the > > specification about the behaviour of --help and --version: > > > > Nor to forbid the current behavior of automake. > True, but as I said before I never considered the automake behaviour to be wrong or not GCS-compliant, just (IMO uselessly) overzealous. > > Considering that, do you agree to simplify the automake/aclocal option > > parsing by not trying to process --help/--version options encountered > > after invalid options? > > I'm painfully aware that this is a near-bikeshed discussion, but I > simply fail to see the advantage of taking away existing functionality > helpful for the user, even if only a few users. > The point is that IMO such functionality is in fact not helpful for any user. But since this claim of mine lacks explicit evidence and is not backed up by quantitative data ATM, I'll have to accept your decision. > Code simplification is > nice, but this change wouldn't suddenly make automake fast, all that > much more readable, or anything similar. Barring that there is a > technical advantage for our users[1], > I don't think there is, unfortunately. > I remain unconvinced. > > Sorry, > Ralf > Regards, Stefano From unknown Sat Jun 21 05:19:43 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#7434: When an incorrect option is used before --help/--version, automake behaviour is inconsistent with that of other GNU programs. Resent-From: Stefano Lattarini Original-Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-To: owner@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-CC: bug-automake@gnu.org Resent-Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:29:01 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: followup 7434 X-GNU-PR-Package: automake X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: Ralf Wildenhues Cc: 7434@debbugs.gnu.org Received: via spool by 7434-submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B7434.129597652928498 (code B ref 7434); Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:29:01 +0000 Received: (at 7434) by debbugs.gnu.org; 25 Jan 2011 17:28:49 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PhmhE-0007Pa-Eq for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Tue, 25 Jan 2011 12:28:48 -0500 Received: from mail-ww0-f42.google.com ([74.125.82.42]) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PhmhD-0007PF-0D; Tue, 25 Jan 2011 12:28:47 -0500 Received: by wwi17 with SMTP id 17so4282927wwi.3 for ; Tue, 25 Jan 2011 09:36:51 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=domainkey-signature:from:to:subject:date:user-agent:cc:references :in-reply-to:mime-version:content-type:content-transfer-encoding :message-id; bh=YDVh7K2dllKLkHOxcWEE1Cp+O33IPFC2y4UNLt8rpsc=; b=uLmIST+kUtDCoB4EfiYk9OVotWbe+SyJSGuM55koI8mxM07HYx99HLVclB8KeRRaa4 wNKpWTDKe4Jhx3aynnutVt7xBH/AppOJnDNFhjgvhPEXice/znDk45GOnMx21lVKgsC9 EuS4Ymo+YDR7hgvdmhLiY0lYJ/v0ZddiUHXCg= DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=from:to:subject:date:user-agent:cc:references:in-reply-to :mime-version:content-type:content-transfer-encoding:message-id; b=NjRHJTjOXNe6wL0/Im5TQpp73J1VLPqpI3ABZsr3q0028PpuZ1arMftuv0iyzO9Zjo wCVp2902Vv1ZJ2ye9t9h71lsdrALdIaVCFlpxhvziZe1IMVit3DLllqvs/6RUTZHoKBz nb6jhkmn7eys528QFru03ZhfVpQzBqMptDDSs= Received: by 10.216.47.71 with SMTP id s49mr3774660web.106.1295977011453; Tue, 25 Jan 2011 09:36:51 -0800 (PST) Received: from bigio.localnet (host156-97-dynamic.30-79-r.retail.telecomitalia.it [79.30.97.156]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id t5sm7284133wes.33.2011.01.25.09.36.48 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=RC4-MD5); Tue, 25 Jan 2011 09:36:49 -0800 (PST) From: Stefano Lattarini Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:36:09 +0100 User-Agent: KMail/1.13.3 (Linux/2.6.30-2-686; KDE/4.4.4; i686; ; ) References: <201011181622.30983.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> <20101128174108.GC2003@gmx.de> <201011281930.03783.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> In-Reply-To: <201011281930.03783.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: Text/Plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Message-Id: <201101251836.10521.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> X-Spam-Score: -3.6 (---) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.11 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org X-Spam-Score: -3.6 (---) tags 7434 wontfix close 7434 thanks Hello Ralf. Since it seems to me that we "agreed to differ" on this issue, I'm tagging the report as "wontfix". Regards, Stefano From debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Sat Jan 14 10:31:44 2012 Received: (at control) by debbugs.gnu.org; 14 Jan 2012 15:31:44 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:57481 helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.72) (envelope-from ) id 1Rm5a2-0006wX-No for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Sat, 14 Jan 2012 10:31:44 -0500 Received: from mail-ee0-f44.google.com ([74.125.83.44]:36350) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.72) (envelope-from ) id 1Rm5a0-0006wP-8u for control@debbugs.gnu.org; Sat, 14 Jan 2012 10:31:41 -0500 Received: by eeit10 with SMTP id t10so531241eei.3 for ; Sat, 14 Jan 2012 07:30:56 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=message-id:date:from:mime-version:to:subject:content-type :content-transfer-encoding; bh=VaM5jLlxuSp4C850mDyMxpPYoAD7ZmseSI+wLOF2sEg=; b=GlH+e8n++zOuJ9+xgLYyi4psDep2FMpB/XeCc1iEYDbAzlAR1Sx20XEdpMOPyyFQAo 8T2BScQgCdmnvrtSmLt+eGa8pnKKZV9rpQ4Ae+/pDmNQyvMHDILa2iM7leAHlsKrlqrM CjH6Uw7CwGkY4Q8yrLP7iIvCISFtWqlg3J044= Received: by 10.213.20.147 with SMTP id f19mr763552ebb.42.1326555056281; Sat, 14 Jan 2012 07:30:56 -0800 (PST) Received: from [79.0.100.11] (host11-100-dynamic.0-79-r.retail.telecomitalia.it. [79.0.100.11]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id b49sm45103273eec.9.2012.01.14.07.30.55 (version=SSLv3 cipher=OTHER); Sat, 14 Jan 2012 07:30:55 -0800 (PST) Message-ID: <4F119FA3.2070400@gmail.com> Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:30:43 +0100 From: Stefano Lattarini MIME-Version: 1.0 To: control@debbugs.gnu.org Subject: x Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Spam-Score: -2.6 (--) X-Debbugs-Envelope-To: control X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.13 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org X-Spam-Score: -2.6 (--) unarchive 7434 reopen 7434 severity 7434 minor thanks From debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Sat Jan 14 11:22:52 2012 Received: (at control) by debbugs.gnu.org; 14 Jan 2012 16:22:52 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:57497 helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.72) (envelope-from ) id 1Rm6NX-0000Qh-QP for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Sat, 14 Jan 2012 11:22:52 -0500 Received: from mail-ee0-f44.google.com ([74.125.83.44]:53980) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.72) (envelope-from ) id 1Rm6NV-0000Qa-OC for control@debbugs.gnu.org; Sat, 14 Jan 2012 11:22:50 -0500 Received: by eeit10 with SMTP id t10so543265eei.3 for ; Sat, 14 Jan 2012 08:22:05 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=message-id:date:from:mime-version:to:subject:content-type :content-transfer-encoding; bh=G6ox2Fu54TQol6HnkRu0+h/ZvjhDzisTQI7+yMwZUsA=; b=BuvofRLsrWGKlhlkbmiqAWyJYldKRiDCwgDYCarMNH5X+xK7qfaE7rhNoA6L49JYol GOcjCuWnG+hWrWGZhAtHWRiiseIj8D/OWaIJxey1ViPftvCJR8XhdN2WTWSJ798WGbyt 79I8hJmdz+x3BmBOV9H31yfW/gd+Q2R7gdY0M= Received: by 10.213.3.66 with SMTP id 2mr1589256ebm.9.1326558125541; Sat, 14 Jan 2012 08:22:05 -0800 (PST) Received: from [79.0.100.11] (host11-100-dynamic.0-79-r.retail.telecomitalia.it. [79.0.100.11]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id t1sm45731295eeb.3.2012.01.14.08.22.03 (version=SSLv3 cipher=OTHER); Sat, 14 Jan 2012 08:22:04 -0800 (PST) Message-ID: <4F11ABA8.5080106@gmail.com> Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:22:00 +0100 From: Stefano Lattarini MIME-Version: 1.0 To: control@debbugs.gnu.org Subject: x Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Spam-Score: -2.6 (--) X-Debbugs-Envelope-To: control X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.13 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org X-Spam-Score: -2.6 (--) tags 7434 - wontfix thanks From unknown Sat Jun 21 05:19:43 2025 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MIME-tools 5.428 (Entity 5.428) X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org From: help-debbugs@gnu.org (GNU bug Tracking System) To: Stefano Lattarini Subject: bug#7434: closed (Re: bug#7434: When an incorrect option is used before --help/--version, automake behaviour is inconsistent with that of other GNU programs.) Message-ID: References: <4FE839D9.6000406@gmail.com> <201011181622.30983.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> X-Gnu-PR-Message: they-closed 7434 X-Gnu-PR-Package: automake Reply-To: 7434@debbugs.gnu.org Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2012 10:18:02 +0000 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="----------=_1340619482-19567-1" This is a multi-part message in MIME format... ------------=_1340619482-19567-1 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Your bug report #7434: When an incorrect option is used before --help/--version, automake b= ehaviour is inconsistent with that of other GNU programs. which was filed against the automake package, has been closed. The explanation is attached below, along with your original report. If you require more details, please reply to 7434@debbugs.gnu.org. --=20 7434: http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=3D7434 GNU Bug Tracking System Contact help-debbugs@gnu.org with problems ------------=_1340619482-19567-1 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Received: (at 7434-done) by debbugs.gnu.org; 25 Jun 2012 10:17:55 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:56183 helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.72) (envelope-from ) id 1Sj6Mh-000557-2r for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Mon, 25 Jun 2012 06:17:54 -0400 Received: from mail-bk0-f44.google.com ([209.85.214.44]:57994) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.72) (envelope-from ) id 1Sj6Mb-00054r-GF for 7434-done@debbugs.gnu.org; Mon, 25 Jun 2012 06:17:49 -0400 Received: by bkty8 with SMTP id y8so2909345bkt.3 for <7434-done@debbugs.gnu.org>; Mon, 25 Jun 2012 03:13:50 -0700 (PDT) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20120113; h=message-id:date:from:mime-version:cc:subject:references:in-reply-to :content-type:content-transfer-encoding; bh=r4hwZCX+FzC2NtBrA8XBt2xcfo5lXtcM9cZuoF7CnZQ=; b=FcwIw+5aL+qbBFjC4hVYEcm/7vAPoXQu0U9da5uSqNLFcKsEq666Y3TIcmcJjfVV9W YaY3tIjlVwbJpps5lSAKSmONCF/JkUSsjIH7S/PTabeCu1Y0qTyVHXPG38B9mZI/CHUY LmIje3Dc3319gxP4kBoi5Yw+vj/a6QCuPQRljIHM505af/dK3M/eMPstdD8f5BH7PYnI aOJl0UXcr0EfdbeWFeFrQkA9PH01IXNjYgRK9932dBL/34UwK30EACULrU97rMLDCWZI ke+N5UDS6SBAVrdC8MuFj7s7C6VG584Qt2/S98NbsutS/6qv1q3xU9DGQWo0PBTVmkCr +oUQ== Received: by 10.204.151.204 with SMTP id d12mr3693211bkw.72.1340619230179; Mon, 25 Jun 2012 03:13:50 -0700 (PDT) Received: from [87.4.96.175] (host175-96-dynamic.4-87-r.retail.telecomitalia.it. [87.4.96.175]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id e20sm45807165bkv.10.2012.06.25.03.13.47 (version=SSLv3 cipher=OTHER); Mon, 25 Jun 2012 03:13:49 -0700 (PDT) Message-ID: <4FE839D9.6000406@gmail.com> Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2012 12:13:45 +0200 From: Stefano Lattarini MIME-Version: 1.0 Subject: Re: bug#7434: When an incorrect option is used before --help/--version, automake behaviour is inconsistent with that of other GNU programs. References: <201011181622.30983.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> <20101128174108.GC2003@gmx.de> <201011281930.03783.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> <201101251836.10521.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> In-Reply-To: <201101251836.10521.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Spam-Score: -0.5 (/) X-Debbugs-Envelope-To: 7434-done Cc: 7434-done@debbugs.gnu.org X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.13 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org X-Spam-Score: -0.5 (/) On 01/25/2011 06:36 PM, Stefano Lattarini wrote: > > Since it seems to me that we "agreed to differ" on this issue, I'm > tagging the report as "wontfix". > Actually, all of this discussion has basically become quite moot after we have decided to share the option parsing code between Autoconf and Automake, and implemented that decision: I'm thus closing this bug report for good now, without tagging it as "wontfix". Regards, Stefano ------------=_1340619482-19567-1 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Received: (at submit) by debbugs.gnu.org; 18 Nov 2010 15:29:19 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PJ6QH-0004hY-S6 for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:29:18 -0500 Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([140.186.70.92]) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PJ6QG-0004hT-Ax for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:29:17 -0500 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1PJ6VA-0003f7-5C for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:34:21 -0500 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.3.1 (2010-03-16) on eggs.gnu.org X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.9 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00,FREEMAIL_FROM, RCVD_IN_DNSWL_NONE,T_DKIM_INVALID,T_TO_NO_BRKTS_FREEMAIL autolearn=unavailable version=3.3.1 Received: from lists.gnu.org ([199.232.76.165]:52199) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1PJ6V9-0003f2-QW for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:34:20 -0500 Received: from [140.186.70.92] (port=58396 helo=eggs.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1PJ6K3-0006pi-AR for bug-automake@gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:22:52 -0500 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1PJ6K2-0001o7-4Y for bug-automake@gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:22:51 -0500 Received: from mail-wy0-f169.google.com ([74.125.82.169]:40310) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1PJ6K1-0001nu-Vp for bug-automake@gnu.org; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:22:50 -0500 Received: by wyf23 with SMTP id 23so3448504wyf.0 for ; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 07:22:49 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=domainkey-signature:received:received:from:to:subject:date :user-agent:mime-version:message-id:content-type :content-transfer-encoding; bh=C5fhFHzDtdkGvjdGG1lyNZmRy4UcjRL05La0U0QxFL0=; b=ZfH4vDNuJrHH2yjbbKWcCPCU9PlSxFbaoqx4vFTKpp7MPC/GHStGBhmwJDhn4Wk1g9 j9cUANxpDNTowP+zMEXww1Tv7HqA5131GOZwVQTs7TJfb7rUplAwn998DHEXrHH4sRql GzQ4NgNc2yaoz2OVBYM0+nXg61J5A+u/0axFk= DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=from:to:subject:date:user-agent:mime-version:message-id :content-type:content-transfer-encoding; b=wQCenTDcb7S+2f3z4a6oxm0JBRGSy1i3V8nA6ILTLRNXhQyRaySmnxJrDvXPvBm8Ts XuhL+JSx/jxFM7yzZN4Fv3aY0+VznqM5HaSFiV/qnCTvRN3FfkOp+RFvyk3BM20hGJYV VFHVLfWAHDJIxxYy17mBkZ84qe9e0VGqJDzJk= Received: by 10.227.127.85 with SMTP id f21mr791712wbs.204.1290093762440; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 07:22:42 -0800 (PST) Received: from bigio.localnet (host55-52-dynamic.48-82-r.retail.telecomitalia.it [82.48.52.55]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id ga16sm344059wbb.7.2010.11.18.07.22.40 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=RC4-MD5); Thu, 18 Nov 2010 07:22:41 -0800 (PST) From: Stefano Lattarini To: bug-automake@gnu.org Subject: When an incorrect option is used before --help/--version, automake behaviour is inconsistent with that of other GNU programs. Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:22:29 +0100 User-Agent: KMail/1.13.3 (Linux/2.6.30-2-686; KDE/4.4.4; i686; ; ) MIME-Version: 1.0 Message-Id: <201011181622.30983.stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> Content-Type: Text/Plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: GNU/Linux 2.6 (newer, 2) X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: GNU/Linux 2.6 (newer, 2) X-Spam-Score: -4.3 (----) X-Debbugs-Envelope-To: submit X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.11 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org X-Spam-Score: -4.8 (----) Severity: wishlist Currently, automake and aclocal scan their command line looking for `--help' and `--version' even after an invalid option has been seen; and in case one of those two options is seen, it takes precedence even over error reporting about preceding invalid options. But this is inconsistent with the behaviour of many others GNU/free programs; for example: $ m4 --version --no-such-option; echo \$? = $? m4 (GNU M4) 1.4.14 Copyright (C) 2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later . This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law. Written by Rene' Seindal. $? = 0 $ m4 --no-such-option --version; echo \$? = $? m4: unrecognized option '--no-such-option' Try `m4 --help' for more information. $? = 1 The same beheaviour of GNU m4 can be observed with at least GNU sed, GNU awk, GNU coreutils, GNU bison, flex, gzip, bzip2, xz, GNU libtool, GNU autoconf, GNU tar, Zsh, and Git. On the other hand: - Bash exit with failure also in the case an invalid option is used *after* `--version' or `--help', but I see no reason to copy this behaviour, which IMHO is (slighty) suboptimal, and not at all widespread. - GCC behaves as automake and aclocal currently do, but it has always had a peculiar semantic of command-line scanning, for both intrinsic and historical reasons; so it's not a good model to follow IMHO. In conclusion: would you agree with a patch that converts automake and aclocal to the same cmdline-scanning behaviour of the majority of other GNU tools? Such a patch would also have the advantage of *simplifying* the current code for command line parsing in automake and aclocal. Regards, Stefano ------------=_1340619482-19567-1--