Re: [PATCH] ls: add --sort=width (-W) option to sort by filename width

[Pádraig Brady]

On 09/04/2021 13:02, Carl Edquist wrote:
> Dear Coreutils Maintainers,
>
> I'd like to introduce my favorite 'ls' option, '-W', which I have been
> enjoying using regularly over the last few years.
>
> The concept is just to sort filenames by their printed widths.
>
>
> (If this sounds odd, I invite you hear it out, try and see for yourself!)
>
>
> I am including a patch with my implementation and accompanying tests - as
> well as some sample output.  And I'll happily field any requests for
> improvements.

I quite like this. It seems useful.
Also doing outside of ls is quite awkward,
especially considering multi column output.

I would avoid the -W short option, as that would clash with ls from FreeBSD for 
example.
It's probably best to not provide a short option for this at all.

thanks!
Pádraig