Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2002 09:53:51 GMT From: Mark Valentine <mark@thuvia.demon.co.uk> To: wollman@freebsd.org (Garrett Wollman), cvs-committers@freebsd.org, cvs-all@freebsd.org Subject: Re: cvs commit: src/bin/expr expr.1 expr.y src/include unistd.h src/lib/libc/gen Makefile.inc check_utility_compat.3 check_utility_compat.c Message-ID: <200210280953.g9S9rpwZ059414@dotar.thuvia.org> In-Reply-To: <mailpost.1035764725.47755@thuvia.demon.co.uk>
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> From: wollman@freebsd.org (Garrett Wollman) > Date: Sun 27 Oct, 2002 > Subject: cvs commit: src/bin/expr expr.1 expr.y src/include unistd.h src/lib/libc/gen Makefile.inc check_utility_compat.3 check_utility_compat.c > Create a small library function, check_utility_compat(3), to determine > whether a named utility should behave in FreeBSD 4.x-compatible mode > or in a standard mode (default standard). The configuration is done > malloc(3)-style, with either an environment variable or a symlink. > > Update expr(1) to use this new interface. The /etc/compat-FreeBSD-4-util symlink feature of this function is too dangerous - it will break any scripts run anywhere on the system which expect the default behaviour. If it stays, please add a suitable warning to the manual page. My advice is don't use this feature unless you have complete understanding of its effect on every script on your system (i.e. "never"). Similar woe occurs if you set the _COMPAT_FreeBSD_4 environment variable globally, or even in your .profile. Cheers, Mark. -- Mark Valentine, Thuvia Labs <mark@thuvia.co.uk> <http://www.thuvia.co.uk>; "Tigers will do ANYTHING for a tuna fish sandwich." Mark Valentine uses "We're kind of stupid that way." *munch* *munch* and endorses FreeBSD -- <http://www.calvinandhobbes.com>; <http://www.freebsd.org>; To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe cvs-all" in the body of the message
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