GNU bug report logs - #8513
stat list file name

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

From: - - <wififu <at> gmail.com>
To: bug-coreutils <at> gnu.org
Subject: stat list file name
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2011 04:47:59 +0200

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

here a small bug in stat:

stat -c %n *
stat : option invalide -- 's'
Saisissez « stat --help » pour plus d'informations.

ls
-sdjfè`@$&.txt

stat is not able to list a direstory if a file start with a -

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

Message #10 received at 8513-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Bob Proulx <bob <at> proulx.com>
To: - - <wififu <at> gmail.com>
Cc: 8513-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#8513: stat list file name
Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2011 23:51:10 -0600

- - wrote:
> here a small bug in stat:
> 
> stat -c %n *
> stat : option invalide -- 's'
> Saisissez « stat --help » pour plus d'informations.
> 
> ls
> -sdjfè`@$&.txt
> 
> stat is not able to list a direstory if a file start with a -

Thank you for your bug report but this is not a bug in stat but a
misunderstanding of how file globs operate with your command shell.

The '*' on your command line is expanded by the shell to all of the
files in the directory.  You have a filename that starts with a dash.
The resulting command line is the same as if you had placed the dash
on the command line yourself.

You can see this by using 'echo' to print out the command.

  $ echo stat -c %n *
  echo stat -c %n -sdjfè`@$&.txt

As you can see by using echo there is no difference between having a
file starting with a dash and placing an option with a dash on the
command line.  The only way to tell is for you to invoke the command
without the ambiguity.  Either use ./* to avoid having filenames start
with a dash or use "--" to signal to the command that there are no
further options.

Either:

  $ stat -c %n ./*

Or:

  $ stat -c %n -- *

Bob

Message #13 received at 8513 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Jesse Gordon <jesseg <at> nikola.com>
To: - - <wififu <at> gmail.com>
Cc: 8513 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#8513: stat list file name
Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2011 23:01:49 -0700

On 04/16/2011 07:47 PM, - - wrote:
> here a small bug in stat:
>
> stat -c %n *
> stat : option invalide -- 's'
> Saisissez « stat --help » pour plus d'informations.
>
> ls
> -sdjfè`@$&.txt
>
> stat is not able to list a direstory if a file start with a -
>
>
>    
That's not a bug with stat. It's due to the fact that the general unix 
style of command parameters starts with a dash. The problem is that for 
40 years, the writers of utilities assumed nobody would ever name a file 
starting with a dash -- which is why they used a dash to indicate a 
command line parameter.

Almost all utilities which use command line parameters or options which 
start with a dash will have the same problem with any file that starts 
with a dash, because when they see a "-" they think it's a parameter or 
option instead of a file.

The solution is to provide a fuller path to the file. Instead of doing 
stat * do stat ./*   or if the file is named -something, do stat 
./-something.  The leading "./" (which stands for "Current directory) 
comes in front of the dash and so stat doesn't think it's a parameter or 
option.

Jesse Gordon

Message #16 received at 8513 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Jim Meyering <jim <at> meyering.net>
To: 8513 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Cc: bob <at> proulx.com
Subject: Re: bug#8513: stat list file name
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2011 08:29:00 +0200

tags 8513 notabug
close 8513
thanks

Bob Proulx wrote:
> Thank you for your bug report but this is not a bug in stat but a
> misunderstanding of how file globs operate with your command shell.

And thank you for replying, Bob.

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