bug#21325: ls : feature request --width=zero

[Erik Auerswald]

Hi,

On Sat, Aug 22, 2015 at 08:58:01PM -0700, Paul Eggert wrote:
> Pádraig Brady wrote:
> >Also base64 -w0 has similar meaning.
> 
> I didn't know that, but I don't like that either.  Utilities should
> use an explicit representation for infinity, if that's what they
> need.  'Inf', say.
> 
> In the meantime, the patch that I installed is helpful even if we
> later add an explicit representation of infinity.

Using 0 to disable a length or width limit is quite common with networking
gear. I do not know any example requiring a keyword like "Inf", neither
UNIX (like) nor other CLIs.

Anyway, an explicit "Inf" keyword is still better than some number that
relies on system limits, which may change with time.

Thanks,
Erik