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program --help behavior
From: |
Ralf Wildenhues |
Subject: |
program --help behavior |
Date: |
Sat, 20 Nov 2010 07:07:13 +0100 |
User-agent: |
Mutt/1.5.20 (2010-08-04) |
In <http://debbugs.gnu.org/7434>, the question has come up whether the
--help argument to programs should work also when passed after invalid
command-line arguments, i.e., whether
$ automake --invalid-option --help
was
1) allowed by the GCS to produce --help output,
2) required by the GCS to produce --help output.
The current GCS text has this:
The standard `--help' option should output brief documentation for how
to invoke the program, on standard output, then exit successfully.
Other options and arguments should be ignored once this is seen, and
the program should not perform its normal function.
as well as this for --version:
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.
indicating a no on (2) but not being clear on (1).
I'd like to get a clarification on (1). My personal take is that even
a yes on (2) would be desirable but that convenience may just be me.
Thanks,
Ralf
- program --help behavior,
Ralf Wildenhues <=