bug#21636: a question of the “wc” program

[Stephane Chazelas]

2015-10-06 10:01:15 -0600, Eric Blake:
> tag 21636 notabug
> thanks
> 
> On 10/06/2015 04:49 AM, JameDam wrote:
> > I have a file which is named *“-l”*, and I use the wc to count the file, 
> > undesirably wc requested the standard input rather than my file *"-l"* 
> > ,although 
> > I use it through the command
> > */wc -lw -l/*
> 
> Try either of:
> 
> wc -lw -- -l
> wc -lw ./-l
> 
> This is not a bug in wc.  Rather, it is a FAQ:
> https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/faq/coreutils-faq.html#I-have-a-file-called-_002d_002dhelp_002e-How-do-I-remove-it_003f
> 
> And like most utilities, using an explicit -- to mark the end of
> options, or spelling your file name with a leading ./ so that it can't
> be confused with an option, will do the trick.
[...]

Or:

wc -lw < -l

which in this case also has the benefit of not outputting the
file name.

Note that:

wc -lw -- "$file"

Doesn't work for a file called "-".

wc -lw < -
wc -lw ./-

are OK.

-- 
Stephane